Creaking sound front left tire

Tiny
BRENTULRICH88
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 203,000 MILES
Hello,

Had my car inspected a week ago and got two new tires put on front. Just today I noticed a creaking sound as I slow down or even if I just coast like in a parking lot. Looked for rocks and didn’t find any. There’s a video attached for your reference. I do not believe it is the ball joint.
Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 12:50 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
This sounds more like a clicking noise. Clearly this could be due to the video but if this is a rotational clicking noise it is most likely a CV axle. Does it get faster when you move faster?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-cv-axle-joint

I am with you that I don't think this is a ball joint. However, we need to limit it down with some more info. If all that was done was replacing tires and this started a little while later, I am going to assume it is not related. That means we need to find out what makes the noise go away and each situation it does do it.

Let me know and we can go from there. Thanks
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 4:31 PM
Tiny
BRENTULRICH88
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So after looking at further videos, it does not sound like a CV axle. What it really sounds like is when you were a kid you’d put that plastic soda bottle in your rear bike tire and as you would slow down it made that kind of noise. I know that’s probably not a good scenario but it’s the best I could do haha. Maybe it is the start of a CV axle?
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 5:12 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. So if it is rotational, meaning it only makes a noise when moving then what I would do is put the vehicle on jack stands (or just the drive wheels) and then put it in gear and let them spin in the air. This will allow you to get under the vehicle and locate the area. Once we get a better idea of where it is coming from we can limit it down.

CV axles are the most common cause of clicking or rotational creaking like this but there are other possible causes, like a hub bearing or rotor clicking.
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 6:32 PM
Tiny
BRENTULRICH88
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Yea it definitely sounds rotational. I was planning on jacking it up and see if I can locate the issue.
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Monday, January 20th, 2020 AT 7:05 PM
Tiny
BRENTULRICH88
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  • 37 POSTS
So totally feel like an idiot. It was the hubcap this whole time. Maybe the mechanic at my shop didn’t line it up with the valve stem.
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Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 AT 9:47 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
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Haha. Don't say that because that would make me an idiot as well. That exact thing got me as well. Jacking up is how I found it because the noise actually went away because it took the pressure off the wheel.

Thanks for the update. Please come back if you have questions in the future.
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Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 AT 6:56 PM

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