Knocking/Clicking sound from front driver's side wheel/tire

2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
82,000 MILES • 2.2L • 4WD • MANUAL
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MASTERC34
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I have a clicking or slight knocking noise from front driver's side wheel area. I mentioned this to my mechanic (Arnold Clark, Aberdeen, Scotland) during service and MOT, but they could not find anything. The sound is mainly when I am turning into a bumpy road. You can feel that the tire is knocking in a 'sine wave' fashion when turning.

I have read through a lot of literature and found two plausible reasons for this namely:

1 - The suspension strut top mount bearing being knackered.
2 - The nylon drive washers located on the drive shafts are bad. Folks said these were being replaced by Hyundai dealers with a steel Teflon coated ones.

I am not highly technical so do not have a clue if these are the key things to look out for should I maybe to try another mechanic.

Any comments or suggestions are highly welcomed.

Best regards.
Sep 21, 2016 at 8:44 AM
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HMAC300
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try finding someplace to drive in a circle if you turn and drive left and noise is louder than it may be your wheel bearing on right hand side and vice versa. there is a TSB on driveshaft here in US, but being in UK it may not apply. check with a dealer near you as we do not have that size engine in cars over here anyhow.
Sep 21, 2016 at 10:23 AM
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MASTERC34
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Hi HMAC300, many thanks for your swift response, I will do just that and get back on this thread to tell how I got on. Cheers pal.
Sep 22, 2016 at 1:14 PM
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STRAILER
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Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken
Sep 25, 2016 at 8:04 PM
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MASTERC34
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@Ken, I definitely will. I have been busy with work and babysitting my 10 months old daughter, so haven't had the time to do what HMAC300 suggested.

Cheers pal.
Sep 26, 2016 at 11:41 PM
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MASTERC34
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Hi All,

Just to provide a belated update on the issue of clicking/knocking sound coming from the front driver's side wheel.

Hmac300, I did your suggested test, and the sound didn't get any louder, but was more regular.

Since the arrogant blokes at Arnold Clark didn't see anything, I have now had an independent (Bridge of Don Garage) here in Aberdeen check it for me.

I am not experienced in all these, but they seem to think that it is being caused by a slight play in the ball joints on the lower suspensions of both front wheels. They said that the sound is annoying, but isn't causing any issues with the drive, so would advise me not to worry too much about it unless I have around £600 stashed somewhere for parts and labour to replace them since it is not something you can adjust.


What do you guys think?


Best regards.
Nov 24, 2016 at 2:57 AM
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STRAILER
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If there is any play in the ball joints they are bad and need replacement. Try to get a new control arm instead the price is a little more but you get new bushings as well.

Best, Ken
Nov 26, 2016 at 7:08 PM
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MASTERC34
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@Ken, thanks for your reply. I would like to do this, but I am not very sure what to ask for should I want to procure a new control arm. Do you have like a diagram for it? Can you also please elaborate on why you said the play on the ball joint is bad? The mechanic painted a different picture.
Nov 26, 2016 at 10:55 PM
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HMAC300
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for us something like this is very hard to diagnose due to not being able to drive it. Normally ball joints are ok til about 1/4" play then they need replacement. If they are grease able try that if not the other mechanic seems to be right from what I can see. meaning the last mechanic
Nov 27, 2016 at 7:58 AM