I was on the highway to work like a half hour ago, doing 65-70ish. Suddenly out of nowhere, didn't hit a pothole or debris or anything, this REALLY LOUD and fast ticking noise starts from the area of the driver's side wheel. When I say loud, I mean it was MUCH louder than the wind noise, tire noise, exhaust noise (GReddy Ti = droooooooooone), and the music I was playing loudly to drown the rest of the noises out .

As soon as I heard it I shut the radio off and considered pulling over because I was afraid the tire got a puncture or something. But after a minute or so, it was clear the car was driving fine and not pulling to one side or anything.

I looked at the wheel quickly when I got to work. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. I will jack it up at home to get a better look. The noise is absolutely dependent on speed. It's pretty faint at low speeds but at anything over 35 or so, it is LOUD. The best way I can describe it is to liken it to a twig or big zip-tie or something being caught in the wheel and hitting the caliper every time it rotates. That's what it sounds like to me.

Car drives fine but I'm supposed to be taking it up to Elkhart Lake for ALMS tonight and I'd rather not be worried about something failing when I do. I can take it to a local dealership on my lunch break I guess.

Anyone experience this before? Could it be a tire issue? My tires are pretty low on tread depth.

 

Does it get better or worse while in a turn?

 

Doesn't seem to make a difference. Just speed.

 

+1 on the getting louder with a turn, same thing I was thinking, cv joint is going out or you better hope thats what is wrong!

 

Yep, the axle was my first thought, but if it doesnt change while turning most likely not the issue. Just pull the wheel and hope something is stuck in the area. Make sure to check the brake line and wheel speed sensor harness are in place.

 

Plus, when you first jack it up, shake the wheel back/forth up/down to check for play in the wheel bearing.

 

Maybe your brake shield or something, like bent over and hitting the rim like a baseball card in a bicycle tire?, idk just a thought.

 

Is it just a ticking or more like a rotational noise. If more of a rotational I'd say wheel bearing.

 

it does sound like either a wheel bearing or your tires rubbing

 

maybe your tone ring for the ABS is cracked and the higher rotational speed makes it contact something. My tone ring in the rear did this, made noise and eventually the ABS started acting funnny.

 

Sounds like it could be the wheel bearing which is a easy fix just buy a wheel hub bearing if thats the problem

 

update? quite interested in cause of noise.

 

Happened to me to yesterday. Mine is the plastic around the wheel well broke and it is now flapping back and forth quickly while driving. Driving me crazy right now.

 

not to sound like an *** but have you checked for nails? i've had this happen on many occasions and it fits the description you gave...loud ticking sound dependent on speed

if not, i'd check wheel bearing

 

+1 sounds to be the problem... don't think it could be the shield...would have to be one hell of a pot hole.