noise - front left. any clues?

[tuscan_thunder]

Car hasn't been run since Monday and it was put away wet.

This morning, had a clicking, tapping noise from the front left in time with the road speed. Turning right it disappeared, braking had no effect. After a couple of miles, it disappeared.

Sounded like the back plate on the brake disc but can't think how it would make that noise?

Wheel bearing?

Any suggestions?

[TonyHetherington]

Would rust and crap not have formed on the disc around where the pad was left (wet). Then, when running, the 'clicking' would have been every time the slightly raised 'crap' (that, if you look at it, is the shape of the pad) went over the pad? Hence why after a few miles it went (because it wore it away?)

This is what I had when I near as dammit welded my pads to my discs; it went away after the discs were wet again as it rubbed off all the build up.

Tony

[tuscan_thunder]

TonyHetherington said:

Would rust and crap not have formed on the disc around where the pad was left (wet). Then, when running, the 'clicking' would have been every time the slightly raised 'crap' (that, if you look at it, is the shape of the pad) went over the pad? Hence why after a few miles it went (because it wore it away?) This is what I had when I near as dammit welded my pads to my discs; it went away after the discs were wet again as it rubbed off all the build up. Tony

Tony, I hope you're right! That makes a lot of sense and it also sounds a lot cheaper than replacing bearings! I'll give it a good roasting on the way home (if the snow isn't on by then) and hopefully that'll sort it right out.

[TonyHetherington]

if you can, make the discs wet before you do it. I found that I spent a week nailing my brakes for it not to change, and then one night on the way home it rained and the problem was solved instantly.

Especially as it was literally "car goes in wet, comes out and has clicking noise" it really does look likely.

(you were just looking for an excuse to hoon your car, weren't you ?!?!)

[tuscan_thunder]

TonyHetherington said:

(you were just looking for an excuse to hoon your car, weren't you ?!?!)

No excuses needed! (I've had the Ka all this week so a sunny day with the Elise is the perfect opportunity to slope off early and take the back road home!)

I'll give it a roasting on the way home then tmrw I'll wash it and give the pads a roasting when they're wet. It did stop this morning after a few miles so I think you're right about it just being a build up for gunk, Tony.

Cheers

[iccees]

Reckon it was a stone in the tyre tread

[tuscan_thunder]

iccees said:

Reckon it was a stone in the tyre tread

nope, it wasn't that - didn't sound like that, plus I had a good feel round to see if there was one just in case. It was a more metallic sound