Noise, steering

[Sky]

Heyas,

I\'ve got a bit of a problem with my FD and I thought I\'d see what you guys think before I get it checked out properly. Basically, I\'ve got two symptoms - at between 30-40mph, if I drive with the window open, I can hear a metallic clicking noise from the nearside rear. I\'m pretty sure it\'s nearside, anyway, because if I close the passenger window I can\'t hear it. It sounds like someone playing marbles with two metal balls - it\'s exactly that sort of click.

Anyway, I figured it might not be a big deal, but I think the car\'s pulling very slightly left. It\'s not a big pull, but it\'s quite noticeable when I change down through gears and the revs jump up, or when I put my foot down properly. It\'s just enough to make the car annoying to drive - it\'s usually so well balanced.

I\'m actually wondering if it\'s a wheel balance thing (do those weights they use ever fall off?) but I\'m really not sure.

Any suggestions as to what\'s wrong? Help much appreciated.

Cheers,

Rick

[Donato]

Wheel balance or imbalance usually gives you vibrations, highly unlikely it would cause that sort of noise.

Check to see if anything is loose in that area, might be something vibrating and hitting something else...

Might be the wheel bearings...? If you jack the car up and turn the wheel in question by hand you should be able to tell if the bearings away...

If that fails shut the window and turn the stereo up!

[davehg]

this will sound a little crazt but check that you dont have a nail etc in your tyre, i did and i heard the very same noise, as the pressure in the tyre drops the car will pull one way under acceleration or normal driving. id check all the tyres and also the pressures first. you never know

[Sky]

Thanks guys, I\'ll jack it up and check tomorrow. What should I expect to see if it\'s a wheel bearing problem?

[Sky]

I came down this morning to find the tyre completely flat. In fact, there was even an obvious screw stuck in it too, so that worked out fairly easily. One trip to puncture repair place later, car\'s sorted and feels great. It was huge though - a good 3 inches long or so, I was really shocked when the guy showed it to me.

Car wouldn\'t start to take it out of the garage, but that\'s a battery thing and I fixed that today too \\o/