Front End Clicking

[BurleyPiper]

I have searched the forums and have found similar questions, but not quite the same symtoms that I am having, so here goes. I have a 97 GAGT. I randomly get a clicking sound coming from the passenger front area. it does not happen all the time, only when it wants to. Some days it does not happens at all, others, it is constant. It will stop when the brakes are applied. The car has just had a complete inspection, they say the brakes are good and the left front strut was replaced. I would like to know if anyone else has this or any suggestions that I can take back to my mechanic. He is good, but I would like to be able to help explain the problem better to him.

Thanks for any help anyone can give.

[PhilL]

If the problem goes away it most likely is not an engine problem but a mechanical problem on the movement side of the vehicle or the body side. Does it have a rythm at all? If it has a rythm does it follow the engine RPM or the speed? Have you checked the cv joint and its boots?

Phil

[BurleyPiper]

No rythm at all, no sound when not moving. I was told all of the CV joints and boots were checked, all is good. We have a very strict inspection process in New Brunswick, but I guess a problem could be missed if it was not making any noise when they took it in. I will problaby have to have it looked at more closely.

[-grandamfan99-]

yeah, had that prob... and still havin that problem and they have so far; replaced the entire brake assembly (rotors, pads, lines) and last week they checked all the joints where it could be coming from and no good. I gave up after the third trip to the shop but its hardly noticable now, but i still feel it a little. Good luck and if you find out what it is post it.

[pokesmot]

just because the boots are good doesnt neccesarily mean the cv halfshafts are ok.

have you ever bumped into a curb or other object while driving?
it is possible to chip the bearings inside the cv halfshaft boot. The bearing will still move freely but they will grind slightly and create clicking noises usually most evident while cornering.

[GrandAmMN]

I had a 'phantom clicking' and it turned out to be a section of metal fuel line clicking against the plastic power steering fluid reservoir. The motor mounts were shot, so the engine would shake, causing various pieces to come into contact. It was just a quirk that the metal line would snap against the plastic hard enough to emit a random, but audible clicking. Hope the cause of yours is as goofy.

[BurleyPiper]

pokesmot, that is a very interesting response. I am sure that a few curbs have been hit, my kids/wife have driven the car and that is probably not something I would be told. I guess I would have to have everything taken apart to see if that is it. Might be the only way to find out, but I will pass that info on.

I also do not see or feel anything loose, so I probably do not have a goofy cause, wish it was though. Besides the randon clicking, it is a great car.

Thanks

[PhilL]

Here is one thing I did on a Honda I used to own to check the CV joint. Put the front end on stands so both front wheel sare off the ground. Engine off, tranny in Neutral, turn wheel to far right and someone hold it there. Rotate each wheel and see that it moves smoothly with no noise. Turn to far left and again have it held and rotate the wheel. This is jsut a shot as sometimes on CV's with jsut a little wear it will not have any bad feel to it with no weight on the system.

As far as the boots being ok that is a good thing because once they open up they are worn quickly.

Do you feel any type of push, pop, or fighting from the stearing wheel when it makes this noise? Is this noise loud?

One more thing would be to do circles in an empty parking lot for a few munites. If the CV has wear it will heat up quickly as more stress is put on them in hard turns. Check both directions.


Phil

[BurleyPiper]

Well the problem has been found. Seems as if one of the clips from the disc brake pad was broken off, not sure how, and this caused the pad to shift whenever it wanted to. It did not effect braking at all, and never fell out, but would click when it was warmed up. So I guess it was a simple fix after all.