ticking/clicking noise

[BenDuBois]

I have a Chevy impala 2006, and ive been hearing a noise from my front driver side tire. i visually looked at my cv joints, and they dont look cracked or as if there was grease that leaked. It makes the noise when im driving on the road, but not on blacktop parking lots (at the same speeds) it only makes it between the speeds of 25mph and 45mph. (that i noticed) and i havent noticed it when im turning. shops are busy for the times im free, for at least 2 to 3 weeks. is it suspension noise? should i be worried until i can get my car in for inspection?

 

[boomerang]

Do the brakes feel any different? Any pulsing when stopping?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Is the clicking a steady tempo or does it change with the speed of the car? If it's the former, then your symptoms are almost identical to a slightly loose exhaust shield I had a few years back. It rattled, but it had a steady rhythm, and only when I was accelerating between 40-55mph, and I couldn't figure out where the heck it was coming from. (It seemed to "move" depending on whether I folded down the rear seats, opened the windows, etc.) Sympathetic vibrations are a stone cold $%&^*%$.

If the rate of the clicking changes, it might just be a loose trim piece. (I had a metal clip bouncing around inside my hubcap last year. bouncing off the steel wheel - sounded like a sleigh bell. Could only hear it with the windows down, it got faster as I accelerated, and was silent past 30mph.)

Check for stupid crap like that. Then you can worry.

But then prepare to be disappointed because the car won't make the noise, or they won't know, or they'll throw some parts at what they think is the problem, but it will still do it the next day. Etc., etc., etc.

 

[mindless1]

It may seem TOO easy but check to see if your wheel hubcap or center cap is loose (if you have one). You might take it off and swap it with another wheel, or even rotate your tires to see if the noise follows the tire, and of course inspect the hub, brakes, suspension while the wheel is off.

I'd also inspect the exhaust as Dave mentioned, but not only the heat shields, also look for broken support hangers that could cause it to have excessive movement, though most of the exhaust is not going to make the sound seem like it's coming from the front wheel. You might check for loose pollution control or other things mounted near that wheel under the hood or a loose wheel well liner. Heh, grab and wiggle everything.

No you should not be worried. Ticking does not indicate something Very Bad is about to happen, unless your lug nuts are loose and the wheel falls off. Don't let that happen. I suppose depending on engine orientation it could be a timing chain but you should hear that at park with the engine at certain RPM and temperature, not just cruising on rougher concrete surfaces.

 

[KIAman]

So normal roads make the clicking but a smooth road doesn't? I would check your suspension, push down on the front driver corner really hard and listen for the clicks. A friend had a similar problem and it ended up being the strut mount had a loose screw.

 

[bradly1101]

Could be different things, including a wheel bearing which experiences more load on rough surfaces (along with everything else).

 

[bradly1101]

If it clicks regularly with wheel rotation, I would suspect wheel bearings. If it's more irregular, I would suspect suspension.