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Clacking noise from left front wheel

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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 12:59 AM
  #1  
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Default Clacking noise from left front wheel

Just yesterday, as I was driving slowly down my street with the windows down, I noticed some sort of clacking noise from my left front wheel. Definitely left front. Only noticeable when I'm driving slow.

I jacked up the front today and spun the wheel by hand and it didn't make any noise. Is it most likely a wheel bearing going out, and not making noise unless there is weight on that spindle?

I have a service manual dvd on the way, but it won't be here till next week. Any ideas or things to check out to help diagnose it would be appreciated.
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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 07:25 AM
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I had the same thing on my 97. I had just finished painted my brakes caliphers red and srcaped the paint off the Corvette lettering so I went for a drive and noticed a clacking from the drivers front wheel on turning corners at slow speeds.

So I did the same as you checked the lug nuts where tight jacked up the car spun the wheel wheel bearings no free play nothing! I'm think I've noticed it on other cars. I only took the wheels off when I painted my caliphers So I think the noise must have always been there I had just not noticed it before!

I don't think it's anything to worry about as I just did a 250 mile trip and everything is fine.
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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 08:56 PM
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sometimes with stick on wheel weights they begin to peel off occasionally and flop around at low speeds until they finally come all the way off. Check for that. I epoxied mine on and put aluminum tape over them to make sure they stay on when I'm at the track and everything gets good and hot.
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Old Jul 22, 2007 | 10:01 PM
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I had a weird clunking type of noise in my left front end for a while, and I finally got it up on a rack yesterday to figure out the problem. I yanked on the sway bar on the drivers side, and I heard a clunking/clicking noise. I look at the nut on the endlink and it was loose. I tightened it up and now I have no noise in the left front wheel area.
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Old Jul 23, 2007 | 01:20 AM
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Thanks for the ideas. It doesn't seem to be consistent. Took a short drive this afternoon and it didn't happen at first, but then started on my way home. If I can't find the source, I'll have to take it to my local vette mechanic and have him look at it.
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Old Jul 23, 2007 | 04:18 AM
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Originally Posted by NOS500
I had a weird clunking type of noise in my left front end for a while, and I finally got it up on a rack yesterday to figure out the problem. I yanked on the sway bar on the drivers side, and I heard a clunking/clicking noise. I look at the nut on the endlink and it was loose. I tightened it up and now I have no noise in the left front wheel area.
That was going to be my suggestion too. Also, depending on the type of wheels on the car, there may be a loose/damaged/broken center cap on the wheel itself.
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Old Aug 12, 2007 | 01:58 AM
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From: PHOENIX, AZ Yes, it's true. You are a good woman. Then again, you may be the Antichrist.
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I think I may have found the source of this one.

Took a drive today and the clanking was sounding bad. After I got home I jacked up the vette and jerked the wheel around some more. Didn't seem to be anything out of order. Took off the wheel and then the brake caliper. There's a metal clip that fits on the inside of the caliper and it fell out. One of the prongs that holds it in needed to be adjusted to keep it in place. Couldn't find anything else to check so I put it back together and went for a drive. NO MORE CLANKING!
I guess that little clip was falling against the top edge of the rotor and making a racket. It didn't look banged up though. I really hope that's what it was. The only other thing I can think of is a bad bearing.

I guess if the noise doesn't come back, I lucked out.
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