Gravel and noises

[V12woollie]

Rather than properly repair roads it seems the current trend is to skim with tar and then press a load of gravel into the surface. So I drove down one such repaired road yesterday and had all sorts of grinding noises from the car as the gravel flies up under the wheel arches.

Managed to dislodge some gravel by reversing but now I have a clicking sound. Seems to be from the rear. Put the car in reverse and I hear a few clicks as I start reversing but then they stop. Then put it in first and I hear some clicks as I start off and they too then stop.

Had the car up at the garage and they cannot find anything in or around the brakes or discs. They took the under tray off and there was a load of gravel and tarry lumps on it which have been removed. They heard the clicks but don't know what it is. We went out in another V12V and there was no clicking and I'm sure I didn't hear it before the gravel attack.

Anyone have any experience of this after driving on gravel?

[V12woollie]

Omaruk said:

Have you checked for stones lodged in the tyre tread?

Yes, all clear when up on the lift at the garage.

[V12woollie]

mikey k said:

Try wedged between the discs and the dust guards, I had that on a Volvo a while back

I was hoping that they would have checked there when the car was on the lift today but I'll ask tomorrow. Damn annoying sound!

[V12woollie]

The noise happens as I pull away and then goes away. I can't understand it but it only started after having driven over all the loose gravel.

[V12woollie]

AMDBSNick said:

Are you having an affair with someone at Grange? BTW the technical term is "surface dressing"

The technical term is 'ste dressing'!

[V12woollie]

Little Donkey said:

Omaruk said:

My guess is its going to be something around the centre of the wheel. As the wheels speed up centrifugal forces push the offending items to a stationary position..just guesswork

I thought something similar, but I can't think of anything that would create that effect. I'll pop out and have a look.

I wondered if gravel can get inside the disc through the holes in the side but then if it is loose centrifugal force would fling it out.

[V12woollie]

Little Donkey said:

Nope, nothing obvious. You'll just have to drive everywhere like your pants are on fire.

Well that's a given :-)

[V12woollie]

Just to clarify. The clicking happens with a change in direction. So if I have been driving forward and select reverse I hear the clicking. If I have been in reverse and then drive forward I hear the clicking. If I have been driving forwards, stop and then drive forwards again it doesn't happen. On all occasions it stops after a second or two.

It definitely didn't happen before I drove over the loose gravel.

[V12woollie]

Just to clarify. The clicking happens with a change in direction. So if I have been driving forward and select reverse I hear the clicking. If I have been in reverse and then drive forward I hear the clicking. If I have been driving forwards, stop and then drive forwards again it doesn't happen. On all occasions it stops after a second or two.

It definitely didn't happen before I drove over the loose gravel.

[V12woollie]

Little Donkey said:

dredders said:

It's not just stones laying in the rims, so as you move off they rattle as they fall back to the bottom - but faster & they become 'centrifuged' to the rim??

Just a thought.

I've noticed that small stones do lay on the V12 rims, but I doubt not so much that it would be audible from inside the car. But I like your thinking.

Just checked and rims are clear. Starting to annoy me now. Not so much the noise but not knowing what it is