My girlfriend has said her Kia Picanto has been making a very intermittent high pitched noise whilst driving. I took the car out tonight round some country roads and heard the noise for myself near the end of my drive out, as I was turning right round a corner. Wiggled the car around and found that I heard it again and again when turning right. Went round a few roundabouts and typically didn't hear the noise! Got home, checked wheel bolts were tight (they were). Found that the right rear wheel (where I thought I heard the sound from) was quite hot, definitely hotter than the left rear wheel. I'm thinking either sticky brake drum or possibly a wheel bearing maybe? Anything else you guys can think of?

Wheel bearing would be my guess if only one side!

Sticking brake caliper or pads siezed in carrier or if not fitted with rear discs then just the brake drum full of dust maybe. 

Serious answer - I'm thinking sticky caliper, drum full of brake dust, stone stuck under dust shield, or maybe wheel bearing as well.

 

Not so serious answer - Based on a girl friend's one, throw away Picanto and buy a car instead. Look, we had to play shouldersie in it despite not being romantically involved or "with benefits" due to lack of width across the upper cabin.

Thanks for the replies. Girlfriend has just come back home after driving down 60 limit A roads and the noise was back again. Took it out myself round the local bypass and the noise appeared at 60-70mph and stayed through our village (30 limit) and slowly disappeared. Says wheel bearing to me.