[paimon.soror]

Just wondering if anyone has had to hunt down a noise that could be wheel bearing related. I don't have a video quite yet because i don't have a safe way of getting one, but one thing I have been noticing when driving, is a ticking noise coming from both sides of the car it seems.

It sounds almost like the tick-tick-tick of a 10 speed bicycle when you stop pedaling and just coast.

It doesn't seem to be speed related, although it's hard to tell the faster you go as road noise and wind starts to pick up.

[thejeremyman9]

Get the tires off the ground and spin them by hand. If the wheel bearings are bad enough, you would also start to get horizonal/vertical play in the tire, like if you grab it from the top and try to push/pull it (while off the ground).

[paimon.soror]

Good call out, I'll give that a go. Outside of bearings I'm trying to think of what else would make the noise. At first i thought maybe there was something in the tire causing the ticking, then noticed it's coming from both sides.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

Good call out, I'll give that a go. Outside of bearings I'm trying to think of what else would make the noise. At first i thought maybe there was something in the tire causing the ticking, then noticed it's coming from both sides.

Is it coming from the front or rear?

[paimon.soror]

Sounds like it's from the front for sure

I'll see if i can get a recording tomorrow

[Watsey]

Check your wheels bolts are torqued correctly as well. Incorrect torque has been known to cause a ticking noise as you describe.

It could be the bearings. Apparently the fronts can tick when worn whereas the rears tend to whine/drone (as per my car which has been diagnosed with a shot rear left bearing).

[oksymoroni]

FWIW from my experience with other cars, bad wheel bearings usually sound like a constant droning, not ticking.

[Vincenz099]

My first thought is bearings, or warped brake disks that come in contact with the pads every rotation briefly.

[paimon.soror]

Thanks all for the advice. Been meaning to get some work done (video/jack car up and test wheels) but between work and the rediculous heat the last few days, I haven't had a chance.

[paimon.soror]

Ok so no play on either side with respect to the wheels. And no noise from spinning the wheels by hand.

I did have another though though.... Is it possible the noise is from having slotted and dimpled rotors? Not sure if they are naturally "noisy"

[5w20]

Originally Posted by oksymoroni

FWIW from my experience with other cars, bad wheel bearings usually sound like a constant droning, not ticking.

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

Get the tires off the ground and spin them by hand. If the wheel bearings are bad enough, you would also start to get horizonal/vertical play in the tire, like if you grab it from the top and try to push/pull it (while off the ground).

Sometimes bearings can be noisy without having play, but yeah, they usually do have some wobble when they go bad.

Originally Posted by Watsey

Check your wheels bolts are torqued correctly as well. Incorrect torque has been known to cause a ticking noise as you describe.

It could be the bearings. Apparently the fronts can tick when worn whereas the rears tend to whine/drone (as per my car which has been diagnosed with a shot rear left bearing).

After replacing probably 200 wheel/hub bearings or so, (previously worked as a tech), I finally replaced my first wheel/hub bearing that ticked.



An easy way to diagnose the noise would be spin the wheel and listen to it through a stethoscope. It's much easier if it's a drive wheel.

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

I did have another though though.... Is it possible the noise is from having slotted and dimpled rotors? Not sure if they are naturally "noisy"

Yes, very possible although my experience is that the noise is only audible once the car is travelling at, say, more than 20-30mph. The sound is even easier to hear with windows down (obv) and as you drive past stationary cars or nearby buildings - the sound is reflected back.

I wouldn't describe it as ticking though - it's more of a continuous noise at that speed.

[WDE82]

Ticking at wheel rotation frequency is probably just a big rock stuck in the tire tread...

[Bugyman85]

recomand w40, will be worked

[paimon.soror]

Ok finally got a video

This was on the highway. Sound is bouncing off the jersey barriers. No noise in the cabin when the windows are up. No shaking or feedback in the steering or brakes