Tires Rotated and Thump!

[88Center]

Got my tires rotated yesterday and driving home.

Drove away and a couple miles down the road, I started to hear something. Then it got louder. Sounded like my wheel was hitting something on every rotation. I thought it was a flat tire at first, but then could feel the vehicle speed dropping with each thump. It got louder as I drove back to my tire place.

They took off the right rear wheel where the noise was coming from and couldn't find anything. I was standing directly over them, looking at it myself and saw nothing.

They put the wheel back on and I drove home with no noise until I get about a block from my house and it starts again.

Going to investigate further soon as I get a chance from work. But so far, I can't find anything.

Is my wheel hub going bad? What else should I check.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Got my tires rotated yesterday and driving home.

Drove away and a couple miles down the road, I started to hear something. Then it got louder. Sounded like my wheel was hitting something on every rotation. I thought it was a flat tire at first, but then could feel the vehicle speed dropping with each thump. It got louder as I drove back to my tire place.

They took off the right rear wheel where the noise was coming from and couldn't find anything. I was standing directly over them, looking at it myself and saw nothing.

They put the wheel back on and I drove home with no noise until I get about a block from my house and it starts again.

Going to investigate further soon as I get a chance from work. But so far, I can't find anything.

Is my wheel hub going bad? What else should I check.

I've had something similar but it was more like a click click than a clunk. It was E-brake hardware hitting the back side of the lug nut studs on the rotor.

 

[Buckaroo]

Got my tires rotated yesterday and driving home.

Drove away and a couple miles down the road, I started to hear something. Then it got louder. Sounded like my wheel was hitting something on every rotation. I thought it was a flat tire at first, but then could feel the vehicle speed dropping with each thump. It got louder as I drove back to my tire place.

They took off the right rear wheel where the noise was coming from and couldn't find anything. I was standing directly over them, looking at it myself and saw nothing.

They put the wheel back on and I drove home with no noise until I get about a block from my house and it starts again.

Going to investigate further soon as I get a chance from work. But so far, I can't find anything.

Is my wheel hub going bad? What else should I check.

I would wonder about the parking brake. If the wheel was rusted to the rotor, they might have had to pry it off or bang on it (not unusual) to get it off. The parking brake shoe springs and/or the mechanical anchors inside the rotor hat might have moved around causing the shoes to make contact with the rotor. Try setting/releasing your parking brake and see if the noise changes. You might have to pull off that rotor and check it out.

 

[88Center]

I did not even think about checking the parking brake. :wow:

Thanks, I will check this out soon as I'm done with work. Thx

 

[Hungryhawk]

I had delaminated tires on my 1995 Ford Explorer that made weird noises. They looked normal and I fortunately replaced before a blow out.
Any specifications brand, mileage, photos etc of your tires?

 

[AuSeeker]

I had delaminated tires on my 1995 Ford Explorer that made weird noises. They looked normal and I fortunately replaced before a blow out.
Any specifications brand, mileage, photos etc of your tires?

If it was a delaminated tire it would be a constant thump and not go away and come back as it is doing on his T4R.

 

[88Center]

I had delaminated tires on my 1995 Ford Explorer that made weird noises. They looked normal and I fortunately replaced before a blow out.
Any specifications brand, mileage, photos etc of your tires?

Tires are brand new. Only 5k miles on them. Open Country AT3.

Haven't got a chance to check it yet. Work got me in a crunch right now for time.

Was talking with a friend and he mentioned the fact they used the air gun to tighten all the lugs (like all tire shops?). Said they can too easily overtighten and warp the rotors. Given the symptoms, I think this is might be a possibility. Especially with it making a sound on every tire rotation, rather than a constant noise.

Now the debate. Take it apart myself and fix or tow it back to their place and force them to fix?

 

[MikeinNH67]

I don't see warping by airgun creating a noise like this, brake pulsation maybe. All it takes for a clicking sound if for the parking brake retention pin to bend slightly which allows the retention cap to hit the back of the lug studs. My click mainly happened when going around a corner in one direction. Just enough movement in the axle bearing to allow the retainer to touch the moving lug heads on the hub. You have to pull the caliper and rotor to check the spacing. Those parking brake shoe pins are a bear to get in.

 

[Buckaroo]

Agree w/ Mike. If you don't want to tackle this yourself, suspect you will need to pay to have this fixed. So if you like these guys, take it back and be prepared to pay if they won't do it for free. If you don't like them, take it to somebody you might like better and pay them.