ticking noise above 40km/h

[tomee]

hey guys,

i have a 02 corolla, and noticed today when i had my window down, that when i travel above 40km/h i hear ticking noise somewhere under the car.

its only when driving straight so i dont think its the CV joints.

any ideas?

[Blind Kid Seeks]

may sound stupid.. but have you got a stone (or a nail) in your tread?

[tomee]

i checked that, couldnt see anything

they're new too

could it be front hub/wheel bearing?

[robie]

if you couldnt hear it with the window up y worry bout it n you probably only heard it driving along side a wall or another vehicle you know wat my moto is if it aint broke dont fix it n if it drives the same handles the same its more then likely the same only thing thats changed was your window down

[tomee]

well something is probably on the way out, hence why i could hear it.

no cars next to me as it was a residential street.

coudlnt be a stone as its only when i go above around 40km

Edited January 3, 2009 by tomee

[Keisari]

well something is probably on the way out, hence why i could hear it.

no cars next to me as it was a residential street.

coudlnt be a stone as its only when i go above around 40km

I've had straight-line ticking noises associated with a loose handbrake cable, which happened after having the wheels off to do the usual inspections. Simple handbrake adjustment.

I've also had straight line, speed-dependent ticking/knocking noises associated with a poorly affixed brake caliper, after having one of the wheels off to inspect the drive shaft. This generated scalding amounts of heat. After going for a drive, check the temperature of the front and rear left wheels by touching them and compare them to the corresponding right wheels (front and rear should be different temps). You'll know if there's something wrong...

You are likely correct that it is not a failed CV joint. It is probably not failed bearings either, since they usually emit a whiny sound rathet than a ticking one AFAIK.

Edited January 3, 2009 by Keisari

[tomee]

well something is probably on the way out, hence why i could hear it.

no cars next to me as it was a residential street.

coudlnt be a stone as its only when i go above around 40km

I've had straight-line ticking noises associated with a loose handbrake cable, which happened after having the wheels off to do the usual inspections. Simple handbrake adjustment.

I've also had straight line, speed-dependent ticking/knocking noises associated with a poorly affixed brake caliper, after having one of the wheels off to inspect the drive shaft. This generated scalding amounts of heat. After going for a drive, check the temperature of the front and rear left wheels by touching them and compare them to the corresponding right wheels (front and rear should be different temps). You'll know if there's something wrong...

You are likely correct that it is not a failed CV joint. It is probably not failed bearings either, since they usually emit a whiny sound rathet than a ticking one AFAIK.

i love replies like this, as its informative :D

curious, how does a loose handbrake cable make the ticking noise?

did your noises happen on speed dependencies?

thakns man ill check it out and let you know the outcome

Edited January 3, 2009 by tomee

[Keisari]

Hehe, thanks. I'm glad you found it informative.

I don't know how the cable made the noise, a shop did the work for me after I got some tyres and a suspension inspection from them. They said that it was because of the cable, but this might mean that: 1) there was something wrong with the cable itself, or 2) something wrong with the caliper clearance requiring a cable adjustment, or 3) both. In any case, you could only hear it when doing roughly 50 or above, but the frequency of the tapping increased with speed.

With the caliper issue, it ended up having to be overhauled. When driving, sound was always there, but the frequency of the tapping and knocking increased with speed.

By the way, the improperly fitted caliper happened first then the handbrake issue about 9 months later.

Edited January 3, 2009 by Keisari

[tomee]

Hehe, thanks. I'm glad you found it informative.

I don't know how the cable made the noise, a shop did the work for me after I got some tyres and a suspension inspection from them. They said that it was because of the cable, but this might mean that: 1) there was something wrong with the cable itself, or 2) something wrong with the caliper clearance requiring a cable adjustment, or 3) both. In any case, you could only hear it when doing roughly 50 or above, but the frequency of the tapping increased with speed.

With the caliper issue, it ended up having to be overhauled. When driving, sound was always there, but the frequency of the tapping and knocking increased with speed.

By the way, the improperly fitted caliper happened first then the handbrake issue about 9 months later.

thanks,

i only went for a short drive before only like 5 mins, couldnt really tell the heat on the rear discs properly. will have to go for a longer drive tomorrow

but yeah mine only comes on after 40km/h.

i have to try it when im doing like 80 then slow down with the brakes to see if the noise is still there when i brake and not accelerate

where did you get your work done?

[Keisari]

The brake caliper issue happened after taking it for a service at a (supposedly reputable) garage in Kingston, VIC. I eventually took it to Toyota in Dandenong, who (after about a week) fixed it properly.

The handbrake issue happened after taking it to Tyrepower in Clayton, VIC. An exhaust shop next to them ended up fixing it since Tyrepower couldn't.

I would discourage anyone from going to any of these places, especially the first two.

One thing you might try - when you can clearly hear the noise (eg: 80km/h) and it's safe to do so, pull on the handbrake to the first one or two clicks. If the noise becomes softer or disappears entirely, it's a good chance that the problem lies there.

[tiet]

why kind of ticking noise?

awhile back with my car, when i would travel above 40km it would make a knocking noise, but only when i was traveling straight, when i turned at 40km or 40km+ the sound would disappear and come back as the wheels straightened up. after a bit we worked out it was the big bolt in the centre of the rear tyre. don't know if this would help you but this is what happened to me :)

[tomee]

thanks guys,

i will try the handbrake and brake test to see if the noise goes away.

tiet: the noise is like a CV joint ticking noise

[robie]

if your car is zze it has an hydraulic tensioner on the engine it may be that ive replaced a few of them if the tensioner is on its way out it can cause the belt to slap this will sound like a clicking noise n will only happen at curtain loads n rpm

[robie]

if your car is zze it has an hydraulic tensioner on the engine it may be that ive replaced a few of them if the tensioner is on its way out it can cause the belt to slap this will sound like a clicking noise n will only happen at curtain loads n rpm it could be ne thing tho with out hearing the noise n where its comeing from we cant help u just make suggestion it could even be a centre cap on your wheels who knows ur wheel nuts might not be tight enough the cv nut might not be tight enough coiuld be a bush worn on any of the suspension components like i said we can only suggest places for u to look but with out hearing the noise we cant fix it

[tomee]

thanks robie,

does that slap happen when decelerating or acceleration or both?

the sound is comming form the back of the vehicle, and sounds like a CV kind of tick.

took it for a drive before and it only happens inbetween 40 and 60km/h.

i jacked up the car and spun all wheels and made sure they werent loose. i couldnt get any noises from it, i got under the car and nothing unusual that i could spot.

[robie]

if its from the rear it still could be to do with suspension first id try checkin all the nuts n bolts for security both under nieth n dont forget the top shock bolts if thats all good with the car off the ground wipe around the top of the socks they could be leaking chech all the bushings and check the tyres for roundness eg spin tyre and whilst the tyre is spining rub your hand over the tyre surface see if its lumpy theres so many things that arnt dentramental to your car or your safety that can make noises in a car its not funny but people that arnt car savy freak out like i said earlier if it handles the same n drives the same i wouldnt worry bout it unless the cars under warrenty then take it to where u purchased it from an say i dont want it back till its fixed

[tomee]

if its from the rear it still could be to do with suspension first id try checkin all the nuts n bolts for security both under nieth n dont forget the top shock bolts if thats all good with the car off the ground wipe around the top of the socks they could be leaking chech all the bushings and check the tyres for roundness eg spin tyre and whilst the tyre is spining rub your hand over the tyre surface see if its lumpy theres so many things that arnt dentramental to your car or your safety that can make noises in a car its not funny but people that arnt car savy freak out like i said earlier if it handles the same n drives the same i wouldnt worry bout it unless the cars under warrenty then take it to where u purchased it from an say i dont want it back till its fixed

thanks,

yeah i checked for roundness while i was spinning the wheels.

they are brand new tyres too, no leaks form the shocks from what i could see.

i also did the hand brake test while i was hearing the sound and that made no difference, and stepped on the brake while i was hearing it aswell, still didnt go away.

sucks as i only hear it when the window is down.

will check the bolts now

[robie]

it there any way of makin it make the noise with the wheels off the ground so you can be under nieth the car while its makin the noise thats your best bet

[tomee]

well im stumped, couldnt find anything that would be causing the issue.

ive booked the car to get looked at heidleberg toyota

how much would i get stung if its a wheel hub / bearing?

[Spirited]

How new are your tyres?

Seeing as you say it is coming from the rear, I would like to suggest possibly checking the pivots and joins to the wheel hubs where the hub is connected to the body via bars, arms. etc.

If the noise only occures when the vehicle is in motion, but isn't bouncing over bumps and is steady, as in the noise is a rotational click, possibly pursue the subject based on the handbrake as mentioned earlier.

When new tyres are manufactured, there are small imperfections in the tread which are rectified when the tyres bedded in after driving, which may also contribute to road noise etc.

Does the sound change when you go onto different types of bitumen? Sounds silly, but I'm not sure what else to suggest.

Hope this helps.

Goodluck.

[tomee]

How new are your tyres?

Seeing as you say it is coming from the rear, I would like to suggest possibly checking the pivots and joins to the wheel hubs where the hub is connected to the body via bars, arms. etc.

If the noise only occures when the vehicle is in motion, but isn't bouncing over bumps and is steady, as in the noise is a rotational click, possibly pursue the subject based on the handbrake as mentioned earlier.

When new tyres are manufactured, there are small imperfections in the tread which are rectified when the tyres bedded in after driving, which may also contribute to road noise etc.

Does the sound change when you go onto different types of bitumen? Sounds silly, but I'm not sure what else to suggest.

Hope this helps.

Goodluck.

thanks for the info.

the tyres are literally brand new when i bought the car, the rear tyres still have those little hairs on them on the tread

yeah the sound is the same on all types on road.

i tried the handbrake and brake driving yesterday.

i would cruise at 50 when i hear the noise i lifted the handbrake up and the noise didnt change.

also did the same thing cruise at 50 and my left foot was on the brake and it didnt change aswell.

doesnt matter if the road is bumpy or smooth its always there inbetween those speeds, so i dont think its a suspension issue, because wouldnt the noise be comming on if i drive over gravel roads, which i did this morning and no noise, but i was only going like 10km/h

[Spirited]

Good points mate.

I could even be the bearing like you said, just trying to narrow things down. Be sure it is coming from the back, where as if it was coming from the front there are many moving parts that can come into play when considering what it could be.

I hope you can find your problem and isolate it mate. Is the noise consistant with the speed of the car? eg. increase in speed will cause a faster tick. Does it seem like the tick occures at a similar speed in relation to the speed of the tyres spinning? or faster? assuming it only ticks once per revolution, and appears faster than the speed of the wheels spinning, it may be related to something geared, which spins faster than the wheels. Just throwing things out there mate. :P

Hope you can find it.

Sam.

[tomee]

Good points mate.

I could even be the bearing like you said, just trying to narrow things down. Be sure it is coming from the back, where as if it was coming from the front there are many moving parts that can come into play when considering what it could be.

I hope you can find your problem and isolate it mate. Is the noise consistant with the speed of the car? eg. increase in speed will cause a faster tick. Does it seem like the tick occures at a similar speed in relation to the speed of the tyres spinning? or faster? assuming it only ticks once per revolution, and appears faster than the speed of the wheels spinning, it may be related to something geared, which spins faster than the wheels. Just throwing things out there mate. :P

Hope you can find it.

Sam.

now the ticking doesnt really go faster than the wheels, so its not as fast as say if you had a rock or nail in the tyre. but it does get faster but only by a little bit

this is doing my head in!

[robie]

well i dont know wat the labour charge is at that particular toyota but they'll charge you atleast an hrs worth n if its the same pricing as the AE series corolla rear wheel bearing/hub be prepered to pay $400-$600 in parts alone so yeah you wanna hope its not the wheel bearing if it is like i said until it effects the way it drives just drive it (if it aint broke dont fix it)

Edited January 5, 2009 by robie

[boetab]

I have exactly the same problem! Im hearing a ticking noise from the front right wheel especially when travelling on the motorway. I thought it could be my tires so i had them rotated and the problem is still there!

And i thought i was going mad!!

A solution to this would be awesome!