Sounds like brakes. try driving and pull the handbrake on a bit till it just bites and see if the noise stops. If so, whip the drum off, visual check of the shoes and give it a good dose of brake cleaner.

Unlikely to be bearings at 33k on the rear tbh

A very high-pitched but relatively quiet squeaking noise appears to be coming from the rear of my 2001 Corsa C which has 33k miles on the clock. I think it may be a wheel bearing. The noise does not vary if I turn the steering wheel. The squeaking noise started about 4 months ago and is gradually occurring more frequently and on a drive yesterday the situation, currently typical, was as follows:

1. On an 8-mile outward drive, the noise occurred most of the time, whether in gear or freewheeling and travelling between 5mph and 40mph. Above 40mph, I cannot hear the noise maybe because it does no occur at speed or maybe because its drowned out by the car’s other noise.

2. Driving normally the noise occurred but I could not really determine where it was coming from.

3. Bizarrely, the noise stopped if I EITHER braked or accelerated, only to come back as my speed stabilised.

4. On the return 8 mile trip, there was no noise at all until I had travelled 6 miles home, then it came back but very quietly.


Any tips on how I can confirm if this is the bearing or something else would be appreciated.