Clicking / Creaking Wheel Noise

[nathannookie]

Anyone ever heard a clicking / creaking wheel noise? It seems to click on each revolution of the wheel (maybe right rear wheel), almost as if it had hubcaps, and the hubcap was creaking, or the wheel was loose.

If the windows are closed I don't hear it, but if I'm driving next to a cement wall, or high curb, it's easy to hear. It's intermittent, and only happens sometimes when I'm going slowly, less than 30MPH.

The lugnuts and wheel locks seem tight, but maybe should be tightened more...

 

[TechWrench]

The first thing I would try is to have all the lug nuts on each wheel removed, remove the wheel and reinstall it in a slightly different position (rotate it so the lug studs are in different holes in the wheel), and then make sure the lugs are torqued to the proper spec. I would suggest you use a good torque wrench, and not one of those torque sticks they use on air guns. And be sure the wheels are sitting flush on the hubs. If you still have the noise, and are sure which wheel it is coming from, try moving the wheel to a different position on the vehicle and see if the noise moves. If so, you may have a problem with the tire/wheel. If not, then it is a hub or brake problem.

 

[nathannookie]

Thanks TechWrench. I'll try your suggestions.

 

[bool]

My old 4Runner used to do that and nobody could figure out what was causing it at the dealer (I think they just didn't look hard enough). I took it to a mechanic that we knew and he figured it out after an hour or so. He jacked it up and spun the wheel that he thought was the cause of the problem. If I remember right, it had something to do with the dust shield in the driver's front wheel.

 

[nathannookie]

My old 4Runner used to do that and nobody could figure out what was causing it at the dealer (I think they just didn't look hard enough). I took it to a mechanic that we knew and he figured it out after an hour or so. He jacked it up and spun the wheel that he thought was the cause of the problem. If I remember right, it had something to do with the dust shield in the driver's front wheel.

Well, I'll have to admit, it sounds like a dust shield metalic kind of sound. But then I'm assuming a lot. Seems like it's taking a couple of miles for something to warm up, and then the clicking comes back. I've checked all the lug nuts, (fine), and still have to swap the front and rear wheels. I'm thinking of jacking the wheels up too, rotating them by hand, and trying to figure it out.

 

[bobronco]

ticking

I have a similar noise coming from my front drivers side wheel. It sounds very much like a nail or screw in the tire. (I am positive that it is not.)

My sound only comes when I go 100Kms or more and I can only hear it when the window is open and more prominently when there is a concrete divider to my left. It's a clicking sound that gets faster with vehicle speed. It also gets louder when I turn right. I drive a 04 V6 t4r. If you ever figure it out please let me know what caused it.

Thanks
Darren