Annoying tapping

[MMcConnell]

I was driving my truck last week with the windows down and radio turned off enjoying the warm weather and the sweet sound of my Cummins exhaust note. As I began to slow down for a stoplight, I heard a light tapping sound coming from the passenger side which seemed to be in sync with tire rotation. To be honest, it sounded just like a tire with a nail or a rock stuck in it. After getting the truck home, and lifting every wheel off the ground and rotating them, I have been unable to find anything lodged in the tires. The truck continues to make this sound and from additional observations, I have noticed that you can not hear it at speeds below 20 mph, it is most prominent between 20 - 30 mph until it disappears to the hum of my Toyo M/T's. What could be causing this annoying ticking sound? I am not experiencing any vibrations or any changes in the ticking when turning left/right or while braking, it seems to be only speed related. Any advice on what I should look for next? Thanks in advance!!

 

[MVenditti]

Give a check of the lugs. Mine was clicking a little on turns and it was loose lugs. with aluminum wheels you have to torque them right. 135 foot pounds.

 

[MMcConnell]

Checked all the lugs and they were properly torqued to 135 foot pounds. Any other ideas?

 

[MVenditti]

Checked all the lugs and they were properly torqued to 135 foot pounds. Any other ideas?

When my ball joints were done I heard noise that changed with speed and it was a backing plate that got tweaked and was hitting and noticed at those speeds. To find problem service guy put truck on lift running and in gear to find the problem. It may help to find your problem.

 

[MMcConnell]

This past weekend, I pulled the wheels and inspected everything. Couldn't find any play in any of the wheel bearings, ball joints, or axle joints. I put the truck on jack stands and put in it 2wd first, then 4wd and ran the truck up to 25mph. I could not detect even the slightest tapping sound. Put it back on the ground and went down the road, and sure enough at approximately 20mph, the tapping sound came back. I have come to the conclusion that it must be caused by a tire. When I placed the truck on jack stands and ran the truck to 25mph, I felt positive I could locate the problem. The only difference between it being on jack stands vs driving down the roadway is that the weight is no longer on the wheels. If it is not a tire, I have ran out of ideas...

 

[MAshley]

Grab the ujoint while the front is raised up, Mine looks ok but after grabbing it its shot and failing. Just my idea

 

[Bulldog80]

Mine makes exactly the same sound but from the drivers side. Never been able to figure it out either. Replaced ball joints and checked ujoints. Don't know what else to check.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Why don't you put your spare on and see what happens when you swap the 2 passenger side tires? Or, next time you rotate your tires, depending on which technique you use, you should be able to tell if the sound swapped sides with one of the tires. Little things like this will drive ya nuts...



Good luck

 

[MMcConnell]

Why don't you put your spare on and see what happens when you swap the 2 passenger side tires? Or, next time you rotate your tires, depending on which technique you use, you should be able to tell if the sound swapped sides with one of the tires. Little things like this will drive ya nuts...



Good luck

First chance I get, I am going to switch the tires from the left to the right side and see if the noise moves. Is so, then I will know it is a tire. I have tried everything else I know to do. You are right, little things like this will drive you crazy.

 

[S Ski]

Hi guys I was gonna just ask this same question today,I changed both side hubs yesterday,pulled off backing plates must get new ones the old ones were shot,lugs good,it seems to make the noise more on the right but also the left side a little at speeds between 35mph and 40 is when i really here and more so if the temp is warmer ouside,and is driving me crazy. If anyone finds anything else to try please let us know.

 

[Crunch]

Are you sure it is coming from the passenger side? I've heard a tapping since I bought my truck new, but it only happens when the winds are just right, and usually at highway speeds. Turns out the tapping is coming from the ribbed, black plastic plate that fits in front of the windshield and under the wipers. You can see it moving up and down as it catches the wind.

 

[MMcConnell]

Are you sure it is coming from the passenger side? I've heard a tapping since I bought my truck new, but it only happens when the winds are just right, and usually at highway speeds. Turns out the tapping is coming from the ribbed, black plastic plate that fits in front of the windshield and under the wipers. You can see it moving up and down as it catches the wind.

Yeah, I am positive it is coming from the right front wheel area. Last week, I got a friend of mine who owns a diesel performance and repair shop and took him for a ride. With him hanging his head out the passenger side window, he verified it was coming from the right front. It has him scratching his head as well. The sound doesnt seem to be getting better or worse. I'm going to keep driving it until something gives, either by it getting worse to where the problem becomes obvious or breakage occurs.

 

[MMcConnell]

Well, whatever it was that was making the annoying as hell tapping on my truck is finally gone. I took the truck today to get the tires balanced and have them filled with nitrogen. After this was done, the tapping disappeared. The tech didn't say, but I would just about bet that it was a loose wheel weight causing the tapping. That would explain why it would start and stop at a certain speed as centrifugal force was being applied. None the less problem solved. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[S Ski]

Just found out my tapping noise in case anyone needs to look else where it was the front drive shaft,should have seen it right away ,but well you how that goes,gotta drop it off to get Rebuilt. just thought I would add in my problem,and fix.

 

[Bulldog80]

Thats what mine was too. I thought it was the drivers side ujoint. When we got in there it was a mess. The drivers side shaft had enough play in it that the gears were binding causing the clicking. Had to replace almost everything including diff carrier.

 

[S Ski]

Damm, so I guess i got away kinda light, I just got the truck a few mounths ago,just woking the bugs out( which I do expect from a used truck) and did hubs,and some small odds and ends, and all the fluids, after the drive shaft is done hope to start playing.