Creaking/clicking sounds from drivers side front tire

iGoblin · #1 10-25-2009, 06:05 PM

I went through the similar threads and found some things that were close but I'm not sure if they are exactly what I'm experiencing.

Coming from the drivers side front tire is what sounds like a creaking/clicking sound and it only seems to do it when I'm in first gear accelerating at light or pulling forward into a parking space and when I'm backing up. I can't hear it any other time and it doesn't do it only when I'm turning. I can be going straight or a gradual turn like when I go through the drive thru. It only lasts a few seconds and after I'm out of first gear I don't hear it. Does anyone have an idea what it could be? I'm going to be leaving on a road trip next weekend so I hope it's not something that will go out or need replacing before then. I've only owned the car for about a month a half and it just started within the last two weeks. It's a 2003 base model with 74,000 miles on it.

bee1000n · #2 10-25-2009, 06:12 PM

If it sounds like someone hitting a ping pong ball, it's probably the main axle nut. I get the same noise if I don't start smoothly from a stop. The shop checked anything in the area that could be loose and came up with nothing. I heard about the axle nut here, they checked it and said it wasn't loose either. If they're right, than my noise is a mystery. The good news is it hasn't gotten worse in what I think is over a year since it started.

Take your car in for an oil change and ask them to look around for anything that could be loose. Maybe they'll find something, maybe not.

iGoblin · #3 10-25-2009, 06:23 PM

Thanks for the help, I don't think it sounds like someone hitting a ping pong ball but I don't know how else to describe it other than the creaking sound. I am taking it in for an oil change tomorrow so I will have them see if they can tell what it might be.

**-=gRay rAvEn=-** · #4 10-25-2009, 08:14 PM

When my 03 MCS had 70K miles on it I had a similar problem, and was very noticable in parking lots when driving slowly. At higher speeds it went away but when ever driving along side jersey barrier or stone wall I could hear the same sound being reflected back to the car.

I bought new tires and rims and sound went away. I was running S-lites at the time with Good Year run flats.

To me it sounded like creaking sound similar to wet sneakers on a freshly waxed floor....

All I can figure is that it had somthing to do with the stiff side walls of the runflat tires and the tire bead rubbing against the edge of the rim....

iGoblin · #5 10-25-2009, 08:29 PM

Yeah, I can only hear it while going slow. I had my girlfriend stand outside of the car while I backed up and pulled forward into the parking spot to see where it was coming from and it's definitely the front tire drivers side and only there. I have 17 inch tires on there with factory MINI rims, non run-flat.

I don't have a problem with the sound itself, I just don't want something to go wrong especially with the trip coming up. I will report back here tomorrow with any update. I'm taking it to a place who specializes in BMW's and MINI's.

iGoblin · #6 10-26-2009, 01:32 PM

I took it in for the oil change and had them check around to see if there was any cause for concern and nothing. Everything was in great condition, new tires, he said the brakes had been replaced recently. The car is very roadworthy and to just drive it until the noise happens more frequently since right now it doesn't do it all the time. That's a huge relief! Thanks everyone for their suggestions.

bee1000n · #7 10-26-2009, 03:59 PM

Sounds like the same diagnosis my Mini got! Good luck and keep us posted.

KurTecH · #8 11-12-2009, 07:32 PM

my mini is having the same issue. '03 R53 85K.

i recently blew a rod and decided to have it bore'd out and put new CP 9:1 pistons. after re-installing the motor, i found out i forgot to put a curved square bushing back into the transmission mount. see the following post:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-piece-go.html

my sound is a very distinct click, the ping-pong noise, and it too seems to be comming from the left side if the engine, drivers side, and is most noticable when in 1st gear.

i sure would like to know exactly what this is since i just got done putting everything back together.

once i find out exactly where this bushing goes, i will install that and see if it makes a difference.

NightFlyR · #9 11-13-2009, 03:11 AM

Does it sound like to Cue balls hitting each other?

KurTecH · #10 11-13-2009, 06:36 AM

yeah, something like that. and it only happens when i gas on it and when i lay off the gas.

NightFlyR · #11 11-14-2009, 03:29 AM

I had the same thing on the Passenger side, it was the CV joint, once they replaced it the noise was gone

KurTecH · #12 11-15-2009, 09:53 PM

The noise is gone!!!

It might have been a couple things, but most of all I think it was my missing piece in the link 2 posts above, and not having my tranny mount screw, the long one, tight!

Now for new bushings to get rid of the 'lumping' you feel when laying off the gas at high speeds.

drfubar · #13 11-17-2009, 12:16 PM

Same clicking noise from under drivers side tire.... click click click creeeak..The pitch of the sound is that of a firm bicycle chain being tapped by a metal screwdriver.
I only hear it on slow acceleration from standstill or laying off the gas. I notice it because I hear the sound bounce off other objects.
I also have S-lites. 17in Non-runflats. HELP.

drink8648 · #14 04-18-2010, 02:25 PM

I'm not going to post this in the many threads that are out there on this problem so share away this info where ever necessary. I had this noise and I actually started a thread on it.
I tried the tightening of the axle bolt but this did not cure the problem. It has for some but as I've read, it was temporary. The tech that did the work said I needed new front axles and that is what I did. It was expensive, I was under warranty and it worked. No more noise and seems there is less vibration up front.