Clicking noise coming from front tire?

[Q]

This just started (or I noticed it) two days ago while driving to campus.

Just like when we were all little and put a playing card on our bike spokes, my front left tire is making the same type of noise while driving (soft clicking). It increases when my speed increases, and vice versa. I looked, thinking it could be a stick or something stuck in between my steel rim and hubcap, but there's nothing there.

Any ideas on what it may be? I know it's a long shot, but figured it couldn't hurt to get some ideas on what to look at.

Thanks guys.

Necro-bump. Thread closed.

Zenmervolt - AnandTech Moderator

 

[LordMorpheus]

It could be a number of really simple things.

Once I had a rock stuck in my tire's tread that was easy enough to dislodge. A nail or something in the tire could make the same sound but would at least require a tire repair.

My car has a thin plate between the wheel and the brake in order to keep brake dust off the alloy. The plate is slightly offset out from the hub. When I got new tires, the place installed on side backwards so it was offset in, and it was banging on the brake caliper.

I don't think wheel bearings make noises like this but I could be wrong. if you have a front wheel drive car it could be a CV joint complaining.

 

[c3p0]

If you have not had the brakes done in a while, it's probably the brake pad wear indicator.

c3p0

 

[KIAman]

Is it a FWD car? If so, that is sure sign of a CV boot failure. Take a look to see if any grease is leaking.

 

[Lotheron]

It could be a number of really simple things.

Once I had a rock stuck in my tire's tread that was easy enough to dislodge. A nail or something in the tire could make the same sound but would at least require a tire repair.

My car has a thin plate between the wheel and the brake in order to keep brake dust off the alloy. The plate is slightly offset out from the hub. When I got new tires, the place installed on side backwards so it was offset in, and it was banging on the brake caliper.

I don't think wheel bearings make noises like this but I could be wrong. if you have a front wheel drive car it could be a CV joint complaining.

What he said. It could be something stuck in the wheel. Typically a bad hub bearing assembly makes a grinding type sound, but it might click. Does it happen more when you turn the wheel or all the time?

 

[LordMorpheus]

What he said. It could be something stuck in the wheel. Typically a bad hub bearing assembly makes a grinding type sound, but it might click. Does it happen more when you turn the wheel or all the time?

oh yeah, that last bit is an indicator of a CV joint making its exit. Not really used to dealing with them as my car is RWD and solid axle.

 

[CraigRT]

More than likely just a rock or screw (haha) in the tire.

Whenever I hear that noise, I usually end up extracting something from the tread.

 

[fstime]

Are you sure its simply not a rock pebble stuck in between the tread? this can make an annoying noise and has happened to be a couple times..... Even a small pebble can be annoying.

 

[Q]

I will take a closer look at my treads tomorrow -- today the noise has changed a bit, so it must be something like that, thanks.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Does it go away if you step on the brake? What happens if you go over bumps with out the brake on? I worked on GTI's and Jetta's for years which had little springs that would hold the brake pads in place. Very often those would go bad causing the pads to chatter in the caliper.

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

I got $10 on axle. Clickclickclickclick!

 

[AMCRambler]

If it sounds like as loud as a baseball car in a bicycle spoke, I'd lean towards a bad cv joint. If it's quieter like a loud clock ticking, probably a rock or screw. I had a big rock in my front tire the other day. When I hit 55 it dislodged with a loud plink! when it hit the wheel well.

 

[Q]

If it sounds like as loud as a baseball car in a bicycle spoke, I'd lean towards a bad cv joint. If it's quieter like a loud clock ticking, probably a rock or screw. I had a big rock in my front tire the other day. When I hit 55 it dislodged with a loud plink! when it hit the wheel well.

It started off decently load but as the days went by it got quieter and quieter, I think it may be gone now, guess it was just debris in the tire. Thanks all.

 

[Mober]

hi all,

I've got this problem too and I don't see anything in the tires. It's not very loud but gets faster as I drive. Eventually I can't hear it!

Also it doesn't make the noise when turning only driving straight.

I noticed this right after the car was serviced, any ideas?

 

[JJ.Martin]

One time I had my brakes done & a couple days later I heard clicking from one of my front tires & it got worse the faster I drove. Something told me to check the lug nuts. Turns out they forgot to tighten the nuts on the one tire. I tightened them & it was fine afterwards. So if you've had your tires removed for any reason check the lug nuts.

 

[Squisher]

A lot of good possibilities in this thread that should be checked out first, but if all this fails, at the bottom of your list should be to check the wheel bearing.

 

[WackyDan]

I have to say it could still be a wheel bearing. Had a tick-tick noise last time I had one go bad. You'll notice the noise mostly at very low speed though and not at cruising or highway speed.

Once I got home and jacked up that tire and tried wiggling the wheel top to bottom, sure enough there was play.