What could be the cause of this noise?

1995 BMW 325I
160,000 MILES
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DJGILES07
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My car has a clicking / ticking noise with a frequency that varies with vehicle speed (not with engine speed). Applying the brakes does not change the noise. What could it be?
May 3, 2012 at 6:37 PM
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DJGILES07
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It doesn't mattter whether the car is in gear or not, and also does not matter whether the car is turning or not. It sounds like it is coming from front right corner.
May 3, 2012 at 6:40 PM
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PROMECHANIC
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I would be looking at everything around the tire in the front. I would even take the tire off and inspect everything very carefully. Look to see if any parts of the brakes are rubbing on anything else. Also see if the axles have anything caught on them that might be causing this.
Your problem is probably coming from one of those areas.
May 3, 2012 at 7:00 PM
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DJGILES07
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I took the wheel off and spun the rotor by itself. The rotor seems like it's catching on the pad, but I'm not 100% sure. Is the most likely issue that the rotor is warped?
May 7, 2012 at 12:37 AM
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PROMECHANIC
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It could be that the rotor is warped and the noise you hear could be the pad going back and fourth inside the caliper.
May 7, 2012 at 12:49 AM