I have a loud clicking noise coming from the area of the NSF wheel. It was diagnosed as a wheel bearing so I had it replaced with a brand new one (at considerable expense). The brake pads were also changed at the same time (probably unrelated). It was gone at first, but within 500 miles the noise has returned.

It happens when right lock is applied, ie when the NSF is loaded. The noise is variable with speed. I can only describe it as a clicking noise, the frequency is a bit like mobile phone interference - the noise your car radio makes when you're about to receive a mobile call - duh-d-d-duh-d-d-duh-d-d if that makes sense

Could it be the CV joint? Anyone got any ideas?

 

I would suggest to look at the CV. Lock to lock turning the car should be avoided anyway, always turn without turning the wheel fully on front wheel cars and 4x4 cars with CV type joints when moving/under load....

 

Mines doing the same looks like inner cv joint worn

 

On mine the noise very definitely sounds like its coming from the hub/caliper area, ie the outside of the car, not the inside. I have read many threads with similar symptoms, guess I just need to get my mechanic to take a look.

 

Cheers for the PM Carlos, but I haven't got to the bottom of the problem. Instead of changing the bearings, I changed the outer CV's at great expense.
The noise didn't go away at all (it is exactly as you describe)
Like a bit of cardboard in your old chopper bicycle spokes as a kid.
next up is the bearings, hopefully that'll solve it.

Andy

 

I had a similar noise a while back, turned out to be the wheel weights stuck on the inside of the front wheel and was clipping the caliper, re-positioned the weights and was fine!. Have a look at them mate.

Daz.

 

I paid £350 for a new bearing and reconditioned hub and am less than ecstatic to still have the problem.

Looking through the search it seems quite a few have had similar problems and not solved them. It's unbearable though, I can't go on with it.

I can't believe it is the wheel weights as it happens only when the wheel is turned - the position of the caliper relative to the wheel does not alter when you apply lock. Also its been happening for a few track days and over 1000 miles, sure the weights would have worn down or been pulled off by now if they were the cause. Will check though - I'll try anything!

 

I may have a driveshaft for sale if yours has the ABS ring on the CV joint.

Just bought it in error to replace mine as mine has the ABS ring on the hub.

Let me know if you are interested. You can have it for what i paid £60 plus P&P.

Just got to figure out if i can use it on mine first (when someone replies to my thread)

Craig

 

Could it be the "anti rattle" plates that fit around/in the calipers/pads?

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but no, we thought of that and tried it to see if it still happens with the brakes applied, it does

 

Update!

Had the outer CV joint changed. Big joy as the sound is gone, did a few roundabouts at full tilt and no sign of the clicking.

Then took the car on track at Bedford, the clicking was back within one lap!

I am stumped.

 

I've got the same problem, I can feel the clonking through the steering wheel going round corners at speed and when I pull in to my drive slowly it make a horrible noise. I thought it may have been a driveshaft so I spent the best part of 3 hours changing it to find the metallic clonking noise is still there I've got a mate looking at it tomorrow who runs a garage so hopefully I may have more info.

Rgds, Bryan

 

Any news Bryan?

 

any more info bryan

 

My wheel bearing turned up today

Too bloody hot to fit it though.

 

Mine turned out to be the wheel bearing although I could not feel any play on the wheel until the very end. Finally the bearing broke up and I could definitely feel it then !!

 

bump

 

I had exactly the same problem.

Full lock in B & Q carpark, and yes it was bl**dy annoying started one wheel at first and sometimes came from both sides.

New tyres solved the problem !!!

I am not sure if worn tyres created a greater lean or angle on something hence the noise or it was repositioned wheel weights not catching part of the caliper, but it is now gone.

I have a new noise now but I know what that is.

Del

 

Not got round to doing mine yet.

Andy

 

Went out last night. I seem to have developed a similar frequency noise on the other side, thought not as loud.

Its bloody falling apart!

 

Had the car in to a local mechanic who I trust yesterday for some other work. Given that I have had a new bearing/hub and outer CV join he is thinking it might be the drive flange splines.

To recap, the problem has disappeared for the first few miles when the hub/bearing was done and again when the CV joint was done. The large centre nut was fully tightened of course when these jobs were done. There is a small amount of slack appearing in the big centre nut (sorry don't know the technical term).

Is it possible that the CV joint not sitting correctly on the drive flange splines might cause a bit of movement that over time could cause the nut to slacken and the noise re-appear?

We have tightened the nut again to see if it loosens itself again. If it does, I think I'm going to replace the drive flange. Is there an alternative to being raped by the local dealer for the parts?

 

Sorry for the slow response guys, I've been a little busy.

The car past it's mot, we then spent a further 3 hours pushing pulling on the wheels steering rack ball joints and track rod ends and didn't find anything We them backed the car of the ramp, turned the steering wheel and there was that bloody clonking again.... since them the front struts have been replaced, the driveshaft have been replaced and I have just ordered 2 new lower ball joints, if it's not these I will then order 2 new track rod ends, if its not that it can only be the steering rack.

We will get to the bottom of this.......

 

If you got StopTech brakes like me, then you learn to live with noises like that! LOL. I get that with these **** brakes.

 

Have you checked the castors/bushes on your suspension lower arms?

Craig

 

FINALLY got round to doing the wheel bearing on the loudest of the two wheels.

First impressions show that it's as quiet as a mouse now.


Didn't have enough fuel to take it for a proper spin, so that will have to wait until I've finished putting the interior in now.


Andy

 

When the wheel bearing went on my car the drive flange was worn so that had to be replaced too. Total cost was £300, all new subaru parts, no reconditioned bits.

I get a clunking noise similar to described. I am going to have the anti roll bar bushes greased at the next service as I have had that before. The bush moves about in a jerky fashion and a bit of grease stops this and stops the noise.

 

Got exactly the same problem on a 93WRX. Sounds like outers, but happens with quite small steering angles. Comes from both sides. Replaced the front driveshafts with a secondhand pair and the noise went away, ran the car at a sprint and it came back worse than ever. I'm wondering about the hubs/diff now.

To those of you that report a clonking, this is definitely a clicking. TBH it doesnt seem to affect the way the car drives, but I'd like to find out what it is.