Clicking/Tapping sound from front end/wheels?

[BrianTheLion]

Hi All,

2014 Ford Ford Explorer Sport with 60,000 miles.

Video says it all but I have a loud tapping sound that reminds me of putting a piece of plastic against your bike spokes as a kid.



Characteristics are:

• Rotational noise and frequency increases with speed
• Makes the noise in drive and reverse and only when moving
• No sound at idle or if revved in park
• Makes it in a straight line or turning
• Seems to be less noisy at speed

Any suggestions? I've had a wheel bearing replaced before and it was a different type of noise in that case, but who knows. Hoping it's not a CV joint.

Any suggestions appreciated for diagnosing and/or repairs - if it's likely to be a bearing then I would attempt myself.

Thanks

 

[peterk9]

It might help to isolate the noise if you can get it up on a hoist. I thought perhaps UV joints but after reading up on that, they supposedly make a 'clunking' sound.

Peter

 

[mguy13sport]

Jack up the front tires and try to shake side to side and up and down.

Most CV axles click when turning however you may have a ripped boot with some debris inside now. May be worth inspecting.

 

[BrianTheLion]

Jack up the front tires and try to shake side to side and up and down.

Most CV axles click when turning however you may have a ripped boot with some debris inside now. May be worth inspecting.

Thank you @peterk9 @mguy13sport - really appreciate the insights.

I don't have a hoist unfortunately (just a single jackstand and a floor jack) but I'll get it in the air and take the wheel off to see if there's anything obvious. It only started two days ago and there hasn't been any degradation in driving (yet!) so I'm hoping it's something foreign that got stuck.

 

[BrianTheLion]

A slightly unexpected conclusion to this one. After jacking up each front wheel I couldn't see any obvious issues so I took it to the local independent who got it up on the hoist.

Turns out the bolts that were supposed to hold the carrier bearing in place had come completely loose so it was the carrier bearing rattling around. No one has done anything to the underside of the car since the dealership did engine and transmission work on it, so my guess is that they didn't tighten the bolts properly or hand torqued them and forgot to finish the job.

Either way, mystery noise is solved and probably won't be experienced by many on here

 

[peterk9]

Appreciate the update Brian.

Peter