Driver side noise troubleshooting

[afgman786]

I've had a noise that's started last year when the weather was nice and went away when the weather started getting cold and I switched back to stock rims on 33s, and hoping there's something you guys see that I'm missing.

Background:
Noise started last year with RW on 33s and isolated to driver front. The noise starts around 20mph and sounds almost like a flip flop smack is closest noise I can think of, as I get around 40mph it sounds more of a metal noise.

Noise does not matter whether on throttle, coasting, braking, or turning. Starts around 20mph and stays up to around 40-45 then either it goes away or wind noise is too loud for me to hear the noise.

Troubleshooting done:
- I had rotated wheels to make sure it wasn't related to one of the wheels. No dice, noise stayed at driver front.
- While doing rotation I checked to make sure spacers were tight in case the rotor was walking. Caliper bolts and everything was tight and nothing seemed loose.

Interesting tid bits:
When it came winter time I swapped back to the stock rims for my winter setup and never heard the noise. When I got the new tires for the RWs the next day the noise was back. Got back under the rig and looked everything over and can't seem to see what would be causing the issue. Today I have taken some videos to share and help troubleshoot. Could this be a CV on it's way out or wheel bearings?



Video 1: The noise is hard to hear in this one but can notice around 0:25


Video 2: Noise starts after 0:10


Video 3: Noise starts around 0:20 and gets real noticeable at 0:35

Video 3 of driver side noise

youtu.be

 

[GOLIGHTLY]

Am I hearing correctly that it seems to be in sync with the CV/wheel rotation? Wonder if it’s anything to do with CV joints (grease/wear)

 

[cboyd]

Stock rotors? Clearance on RW can be a little tight, and I’ve had a warped RW.
.

 

[afgman786]

Stock rotors? Clearance on RW can be a little tight, and I’ve had a warped RW.
.

DBA rotors. Haven't been able to find any marking to show they're touching

 

[afgman786]

Am I hearing correctly that it seems to be in sync with the CV/wheel rotation? Wonder if it’s anything to do with CV joints (grease/wear)

Yea the noise is definitely rotational and picks up with speed.

 

[landwagon]

The way the CV boot fins are touching it looks like the axle angle is pretty steep.

 

[afgman786]

The way the CV boot fins are touching it looks like the axle angle is pretty steep.

Oh yea, that's always been there though. But on the 18s I don't get this noise.. I might have to throw the 18s back on now that it's hot to make sure I'm not making things up with only the RWs making noise.

Wondering if that extra 10mm of offset can provide enough stress somewhere to make the noise present that the stock rims don't make happen.

 

[landwagon]

Oh yea, that's always been there though. But on the 18s I don't get this noise.. I might have to throw the 18s back on now that it's hot to make sure I'm not making things up with only the RWs making noise.

Wondering if that extra 10mm of offset can provide enough stress somewhere to make the noise present that the stock rims don't make happen.

I would, that to me would narrow it down to wheels and tires.
Which doesn’t make sense.

 

[Fisher23]

I would go check the wheel bearing. Is it loose?

 

[grinchy]

I agree with the thought that it’s to do with the rws. So narrowed barrel and maybe into the brake calipers or wheel weights. Or increased offset and tire rubbing somewhere.

 

[radman]

Maybe the extra weight?
I have clicking on a rear wheel with 35s on (wheel bearing), and I’m wondering if it will go away when I put stockies back on to make a trip to the dealer

 

[afgman786]

Maybe the extra weight?
I have clicking on a rear wheel with 35s on (wheel bearing), and I’m wondering if it will go away when I put stockies back on to make a trip to the dealer

So the noise was there when I had 33s on my RW as well. Stock rims also have 33s and weight setup was almost the same but only RWs make the noise.

I agree with the thought that it’s to do with the rws. So narrowed barrel and maybe into the brake calipers or wheel weights. Or increased offset and tire rubbing somewhere.

I would've expected the noise to become a different tone or at different speeed if it was weights or something hitting. This is the 3rd RW in that corner and only this one makes noise.

 

[afgman786]

I would go check the wheel bearing. Is it loose?

I'll have to do that as I can't remember if I noticed play when I did the rotation or put the recent tires on.

 

[afgman786]

So the noise is there at all speeds above 45. In normal conditions the wind noise drowns it out. Today on the highway I managed to get nice and close to the concrete dividers and could hear the ticking noise.

Also thinking it might be the cv since looking back at the 3rd video the noise becomes more apparent as the gopro points to the diff.. I assume the mic on a gopro is on the front.

 

[prharper]

I've had a noise that's started last year when the weather was nice and went away when the weather started getting cold and I switched back to stock rims on 33s, and hoping there's something you guys see that I'm missing.

Background:
Noise started last year with RW on 33s and isolated to driver front. The noise starts around 20mph and sounds almost like a flip flop smack is closest noise I can think of, as I get around 40mph it sounds more of a metal noise.

Noise does not matter whether on throttle, coasting, braking, or turning. Starts around 20mph and stays up to around 40-45 then either it goes away or wind noise is too loud for me to hear the noise.

Troubleshooting done:
- I had rotated wheels to make sure it wasn't related to one of the wheels. No dice, noise stayed at driver front.
- While doing rotation I checked to make sure spacers were tight in case the rotor was walking. Caliper bolts and everything was tight and nothing seemed loose.

Interesting tid bits:
When it came winter time I swapped back to the stock rims for my winter setup and never heard the noise. When I got the new tires for the RWs the next day the noise was back. Got back under the rig and looked everything over and can't seem to see what would be causing the issue. Today I have taken some videos to share and help troubleshoot. Could this be a CV on it's way out or wheel bearings?



Video 1: The noise is hard to hear in this one but can notice around 0:25


Video 2: Noise starts after 0:10


Video 3: Noise starts around 0:20 and gets real noticeable at 0:35

Video 3 of driver side noise

youtu.be

Nice video. What did you use to capture the audio and video?

 

[afgman786]

Maybe it's not a CV... rain storm passed thru and Temps have dropped. Now I have no noise anymore when I first started driving. After 15mins the noise is slightly back... am I crazy to think some rubber is expanding some where causing this? Maybe the cv boots are making the noise when they get hot and stuck to themselves?

 

[afgman786]

Nice video. What did you use to capture the audio and video?

Gopro hero 7 is what I think I bought

 

[grinchy]

Chassis ears to the rescue?

 

[afgman786]

Chassis ears to the rescue?

Yup.. hoping to do get a pair from a club member to use and track this down.
A CV issue or anything else at that level should be there whether cold or hot outside I'd imagine. This only being present in the summer/warm weather is getting to me. Which explains why I only hear it with the RWs and never stock rims.

 

[Markuson]

This is the 3rd RW in that corner and only this one makes noise.

That answered my next suggestion/question.

If you moved various wheels to that corner and only the one makes the noise, then that should rule out the CV, and rule out the bearing, since those would sound no matter which particular RW was there.