I’ve been hearing a low-volume thump-thump noise from the back. I only hear it at very low speeds, but that could simply be because the noise is drowned out at higher speeds. Turning left or right did not give a consistent pattern of increased or decreased noise. Still, my best guess was a bad wheel bearing. So I jacked the car up and spun the rear wheels by hand to see if one of them showed more resistance.

To my surprise, there was a scratching sound at one point of every rotation of the wheel, slowing it down with each turn. Sounded to me like the brake pads were touching the rotors? I started the engine and pumped the brake pedal a few times, thinking that might reposition the pads, but nothing changed. It was exactly the same on both rear wheels.

Is this normal? Are the pads too close to the rotors somehow? Are the rotors warped? Or something with the parking brake shoes? When I drive the car, the brakes work smoothly, except for the infamous squeal in the back, which I was about cure with Volvo pads anyway.

But before I start messing around, I was hoping to hear from the experts.

.
--
'97 850 n/a Wagon, 120K mi