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MG MGA - Tick, Tick, Tick

Over the weekend I finally got all the knock off's off (made a big wrench out of a 2x6 worked like a dream)

While off I lubed the front king pins and rotated the wheels around.

After I'd done the work I took it out for a spin and heard an interesting tick,tick,tick,tick sound coming from the left front wheel area.

Sound only happens on a left hand turn, sound speeds up and slows down at the same pace that the wheel is turning.

I think you all are going to tell me that I have a bad bearing, but I'm curious about why it showed up only after I switched the tires around?

Tysen
Tysen

While a wheel bearing is the logical answer, it might also be a loose or broken spoke in the wheel that didn't announce itself until the weight of the engine was on it. Or it may be an issue with the brake system that is just coincidental to the tire rotation. Also check to see that no one has sneaked into your garage and attached a playing card with a clothes pin. Seriously, find the source. It's not something you want to let go on.
Frank Nocera

Unfortunatly to diagnose a noise you have to hear it. Also is the car a 1500 or 1600 (disc or drum). Wheel brg noise isn't usually described by a customer as a tick tick. I would suspect something in brakes esp if disc. Wheel bearing noise is usually described as a growl or humm that gets louder and more rythmic as you speed up. The tone or volume of a wheel brg noise can be changed by weaving down the road. As you load the left side by turning right a bad left brg will get louder. As you turn left you would unload a bad left brg and it would get quieter. Whenever a new noise is created when work is done always recheck work first.
Good luck tracing the noise, Randy
R J Brown

oops good point Randy.

Its a disk brake.

the noise only occures when I load the wheel on a left turn. It quiet going straight or in a right turn.

The sound is consistent with a noise that would be created by something stuck in the tread (which I did check)


Thanks
T McCarthy

Still doesnt sound like bearing. the noise gets faster but not louder? Noise on left side turning left? Turning left shifts weight to right side. As you turn left the looseness in the brg (normal) moves the tire wheel hub assy away from the spindle. something it hitting as the wheel and hub and rotor are turning.
R J Brown

I agree with Frank, this is typical of loose spokes in a wire wheel. I would assume you have changed the wheels from front to back. Whilst on the back you would possible not hear the noise plus it maybe didn't do it when fitted to the rear.
Bob (robert)

Hi Tysen, have yuor wheels ben balanced with stick on weights on the towards the centre of the inner rim? could be clipping the caliper, is the wheel seating OK? I had a slightly loose wheel that ticked, I hammered the knock-ons really tight and it stopped

Terry
Terry Drinkwater

Nice call on the weight and the caliper. I'll check it all out tonight.
Tysen

This thread was discussed on 06/09/2005

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