My car is making a ticking noise from the front end when I drive.
The faster I go the louder the noise. At certain speeds I can also feel a thump, thump, thump type thing. Kinda feels like a flat tire but it's not. The ticking noise sounds like ball bearings in a can.
If I accelerate hard off the line such as spinning on ice I also hear a growl sound for a few seconds.
Otherwise the car drives fine. Doesn't pull at all.
From past experience I know that wheel bearing usually make a loud hum when they are going.
I have no humming at all.
I know CV joints will make clunking when taking sharp turns or accelerating.
Maybe I just have a bad tire or something.
I'll have to look at it tonight.
Any ideas? Anyone ever had a problem like this?
My car is a 98 GT 5speed with 150,000kms.
It wouldn't surprise me to have a wheel bearing go at 150k but it's not making the typicall humming noise.
Gotta love the "Help my car's making a noise" thread. lol.
Thanks.
<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/stangfire/stangfire.jpg">
I should also add.........
I did notice a humming the day before it starting making this noise.
Even coasting in neutral with the engine off it makes the noise.
What's the best way to check wheel bearings once I take the wheels off?
<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/stangfire/stangfire.jpg">
You shouldn't have to take the wheels off to check the bearings. Just jack up the car, grip the tire at the top and bottom, and try to wiggle it. If it moves AT ALL, then your bearings are bad. The allowable tolerances for the bearing are so small they shouldn't be noticeable.
As for your problem, it doesn't sound like a wheel bearing....but I'm not sure.
Turned out I had a bolt sticking out of my tire.
<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/stangfire/stangfire.jpg">
