General Technical... Tapping from front left wheel.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

And no.... it's not a stone :wink:

Not really specific to a 90 series so I've put it here so more might look (Mods, feel free to move it if you need to)

For quite some time now I have had a tapping noise coming from what I think is the front left wheel (or that vicinity). Sounds like a stone in the tyre tread but isn't fast enough to be a stone.
My mechanic has had two looks for it so far but has had no luck finding the cause.

First time they found a damaged spring and retainer in the handbrake assembly in the left rear wheel. Fixed that but didn't fix the noise.

2nd time, they replaced the sway bar bushes which were well worn (as was one suggestion from a tyre/suspension shop) but still the noise wasn't fixed.

It's a '98 Prado (petrol), Lovells suspension and Cooper ST's.
The suspension and tyres have been on for a long time before the noise started but the noise started (I think) a short time after a service by Toyota (who I'll never go near again :evil: ) but I don't think they did anything major enough to cause this issue.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

If it is a clack clack noise it is the CV joint.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

If it is a clack clack noise it is the CV joint.

Sounds very much like a stone but is too slow to be on the OSD of the wheel... CV have been suggested before so I'll be looking into that next week with the mechanic.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

If it is a clack clack noise it is the CV joint.

Sounds very much like a stone but is too slow to be on the OSD of the wheel... CV have been suggested before so I'll be looking into that next week with the mechanic.

I would be betting that that is where the problem lies, CVs starting making this sound and it will get worse before complete failure of the joint.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

If it is a clack clack noise it is the CV joint.

Sounds very much like a stone but is too slow to be on the OSD of the wheel... CV have been suggested before so I'll be looking into that next week with the mechanic.

I would be betting that that is where the problem lies, CVs starting making this sound and it will get worse before complete failure of the joint.

Thankfully I have a few days off next week and I'll be able to spend a bit of time with the mechanic. Sounds like this will be the first thing we look into.
We've been trying to find the cause for about 2000k's now so I'm starting to get worried I might be doing more damage... although everyone I have spoken to has said don't worry :?

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

After Kel and my trip to Mt Mee last Monday the tapping noise seems to have disappeared :?
Apparently the ol' girl just needed a bit of a stretch... and a bit of time in her natural environment... the bush

So... who knows what it was?? Haven't heard the noise since we left the tarmac that day so hopefully it will stay away and hasn't caused any damage out of sight.

Thanks for the suggestions anyway

[clifton Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close clifton]

Hi Snaga,
Find a nice quiet flat cement carpark and slowly drive around on full lock in both directions with drivers and passenger windows down and listen for any noises comming from the front end. If you do detect any clack clack noises its time to check out the front hubs, grease and replace CV's.
Another thing you can check which your mechanic which he has probably done, is the condition of your front drive shafts CV joints rubber boots if they are damaged/split nine times out of ten the attendent joint will be on the way to being unserviceable (stuffed).
Hope this helps a little

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Hi clifton,

I've made the suggestion of checking CV's etc... based on it popping up a few times... here and over at Overlander. He's adamant it's not CV's as it's the wrong type of tapping (as you said it would be more of a clunk clunk )
He also says it wouldn't be a problem in a straight line if it was the CV's.
The boots are nice and sealed... good condition. There's no free play in either of the front wheels so I'm hoping it stays away now.

Stick my head in the sand and pretend it was never there ops: 8)

[clifton Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close clifton]

Hi Snaga,
Well I guess it's a wait and see job, I hope it stays away.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Hi Snaga,
Well I guess it's a wait and see job, I hope it stays away.

Me too 8)