Good morning everyone,

My 2006 V8 Sport Edition (120k miles) is making a slightly odd clicking/ticking noise at lower speeds, and wanted to see if anyone may be able to identify the culprit. I am including a link to a recording here: Car Noise by thmclaugh | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Some information on work done recently:
- Replace old XREAS with Bilstein 5100s, OME 895 coils in back, new SPC UCAs and new OEM LCAs, diff drop kit
- Replace timing belt and water pump
- Replace stock tires with 285x70x17 Falken wildpeaks (also BMC to fit these)
- Split transfer case to fix actuator seal that was leaking oil (ugh)
- Install Sherpa Princeton roof rack

I am a relatively newer owner, only had the truck about 5 months so maybe this noise is normal? But it seems a bit suspect. Hopefully you guys can hear it on that recording. Here is a little info on the noise as well:

This noise speeds up as the tires rotate faster, and is heard at lower speeds 25mph or less. Sounds like it is coming from the front end of the truck/maybe engine bay or around there? It seems to be the loudest after starting the car up, and fades away basically entirely after driving for a bit then returning to lower speed. Also, no noise is heard in reverse at lower speeds or when not moving.

To follow up on this, does anyone think this noise could be a cracked exhaust manifold?

I had a manifold crack, it is not that. Where did you take the recording from, inside the cabin?
To me it sounds like a contact rattle. If you say it is proportional to wheel speed then it is definitely something interfering. Typically brake components or parts in the wheel assembly make more of a grinding noise.
If you just did your belts and pump then it is likely something with the fan/shroud rubbing slightly.

Yeah, that recording is from inside the cabin in the driver's seat. That would make sense on the fan/shroud..I will look into that!

Go underneath the car and see if the noise gets louder or seems to be coming from the bell housing which could indicate a cracked flex plate. full disclosure, I don't have a 4th gen but similar sound is indicative of a cracked flex plate in 3rd gens.

Hard to tell, bring it into a parking garage that has walls and try to pin point it while moving.