I noticed this noise a couple weeks ago and it has gotten slightly louder. I hear a knocking sound that sounds like it is coming from the front wheel area. You can also feel the knocking in the steering wheel as well. It starts as soon as the car starts moving, but when you turn, or slightly turn the wheel it goes away. It also goes away when you press the brake down slightly as well.

I just got back from a trip so I am going to take a look this weekend as it possibly might be my wheel spacer with extended studs? Maybe the wheel spacer is loose I am not sure. Anything I should look at in particular besides that? I just find it odd that it goes away when you turn/slight turn or when you slightly press down the brakes.


New oem front brake pads were installed about ~8k miles ago. How ever I did not replace/turn the rotors (will probably replace the rotors and new pads soon anyway).

 

I would jack up the left wheel by its self and check for play up and down, then side to side. Same for driver side. Look at the ball joints and the tie rod end while someone is doing this. If the joints are tight, check the wheels next. Thirdly, check the calipers. I cant tell you how many times ppl come to me because they did their own brakes and a slide pin came out because they didnt tighten it enough. The caliper was slapping the barrel of the rim.

 

I will certainly check that out this weekend, thanks for the input!

 

No prob! Keep us posted

 

Well I removed both front wheels, the wheel spacer is on there tight and the brake/caliper are not loose either. I spun the wheel when it was in the air and it did not make any pop/thump sound. How ever when the car was back on the ground and the wheels attatched, i pulled the front wheel outward (put my hands on the ap2 spokes and pulled towards me and it makes a slight pop sound). Maybe this is the reason why it does it, and not when turning?

edit: Car does have 91k miles if that helps determine anything.

 

Hmmm interesting. At least now you are on to something. Sounds like the upper ball joint might be loose/worn. Did you happend to notice which direction you pulled the wheel to simulate the noise? ex: downward towards you, upwards towards you. I would next jack up one side by the lower control arm (this is essential, it simulates a load on the ball joints) with the wheel still attached. Jack it up enough just to get a pry bar or something similar between the ground and the tire. Now, pry up and down slightly, just enough to simulate the noise. While doing this take a look at the upper ball joint and lower ball joint with a flash light. You should see a slight bit of play in the joint that is bad. If both are tight the only suspension component left would be the top hats/strut mounts. Maybe the center nut keeping the spring contained has came loose or the three top hat nuts on the strut towers came loose.

Hope this helps, let me know.

 

Im going to drive it down my street tomorrow after work and have my dad try and see which side the noise is coming from but from inside the car it seems like its the drivers front. As far as turning, the noise stops when you turn left or right. It also appears to stop when you apply the brakes as well when moving.

 

So I just took it around the block again, the noise is definately coming from the driver side front. Also the noise is still there when you turn left as your moving except the sound seems to change as were it is coming from (maybe because the wheel is turned?). But when I do turn the wheel to the right while moving, the sound seems to dissapear. Also when driving straight there is a slight noise that sounds like a bird chirping (kind of faint but it goes in and out just like the thumping sound).

I should have time to jack it back up this week sometime but does any of that information maybe pinpoint what it might be?

 

The chirping noise might be your brakes. Visually inspect the pads to see if the squeal tab is touching the rotor, or look for a line in your rotor if it has been doing it for a while lol.

Has any service been done to the car or an accident happen before you heard this noise begin?

 

I did replace the front pads around 8-10k miles ago. How ever I did not replace the front rotors. I know what the sound it makes when the pad is practically used up as that already happened to me in this car (terrible noise lol). No abnormal lines on the rotor. However when the car is jacked up and you free spin the wheel you can hear the brake catch the rotor in a few certain spots (applies for both front wheels). I plan on picking up some new rotors in the next couple weeks.