Any loud or not noise coming from your car while driving can be worrying. Sometimes you might hear a clicking noise when driving, which might trouble you for the whole day.
A clicking noise while driving can occur due to various reasons. Taking the time to investigate the noise source and considering possible solutions can eliminate a lot of worries. In this article, we’ll see the possible causes and how to resolve them.
Also read: Grinding Noise When Driving
Why does my car make a clicking noise when driving straight?
There is a wide variety of possible causes for the clicking sound when driving your car. However, the most common of them all are faulty CV joints, loose wheel nuts, bad struts, loose drive belts, low engine oil, faulty battery, inadequately inflated tires, etc.
Faulty CV Joint
Constant Velocity axles, or CV axles, allow the transmission to power the wheels and provide greater bearing flexibility. A damaged CV joint could be the important reason for a clicking noise when driving your car straight.
Ball joints are placed inside a rubber shaft boot, providing the essential flexibility to move the wheel bearing and chassis forward. A torn shaft boot that leaks grease makes the components dry and devoid of grease, which produces a clicking sound when driving.
Ignoring this can lead to severe axle issues, which would require you to replace the whole axle. Thus, it is better to diagnose it in the early stages.
See this article to know more about axles.
Loose wheel nuts
If the lug nuts on your wheels are loose, your brake pads will have more room to move around and wiggle, creating a clicking sound when driving. So, grab your tools and tighten them right away.
Bad Struts
In the rear suspension, the struts are responsible for reducing the amount of force transmitted from the road to the car’s cabin and chassis. In addition, Gear oil or transmission fluid-filled cylinders are other useful tools for this purpose. They provide stiff resistance to the pistons, absorbing much of the shock from hitting the road beside the spring coil.
Therefore, damage in the struts leads to a situation where the suspension can’t absorb the shock of the road. Unfortunately, this also causes an annoying clicking noise when driving.
Loose Drive Belts and Drive Belt Tensioners
The drive belt adjustment aids in securing the Drive Belts tightly for optimal efficiency. However, loosening these tensioners can cause the drive belts to rattle against the car, making a clicking noise when driving.
Low Engine Oil/ Bad Engine Oil
Lack of adequate engine oil means a lack of essential lubrication between the different parts of the car. This can also cause a clicking noise while driving. Thus, always ensure that your car’s oil levels are up to the mark. In addition, do make sure to check for oil leaks on your car and get it repaired to avoid this situation.
Alongside low engine oil levels, the bad condition of the engine oil can also render it ineffective. The engine’s moving parts require at least somewhat clean oil for optimal lubrication. Letting dirty engine oil circulate for too long will ruin the engine’s valve filter.
Faulty Battery
When the car makes rapid clicking noises while trying to start, it usually means the battery has just enough charge to get the starter going but not enough to get the engine cranking. It’s possible that the alternator has stopped charging the battery. In addition, the noise could also mean that the car battery itself is malfunctioning. Replace your battery right away if you spot any problems.
Inadequately inflated tires
Tires that aren’t properly inflated can also cause a clicking noise when driving. In addition, tires differing from manufacturer specifications can also lead to the same. Thus, always make sure that you have manufacturer-spec tires.
Also, check the tire pressure regularly, and if you see any unusual tear, bulge, or wear, get new tires right away.
Loose Brake Pads
You may have a loose brake pad if you hear a clicking noise while driving slowly, especially when you’re braking. The pad will produce a clicking noise and will slide about at low speeds if it is not correctly attached to the caliper. Brake pad replacement is the recommended solution for this.
Final Word
After reading this, you should have a better idea of what could be causing the loud clicking noise when driving and what you could do to fix it, provided you have some technical knowledge and consult your car’s user handbook. If you’re still unsure that you can perform a repair yourself, consider calling in the experts. In addition, subscribe to a Way+ membership to avail of hassle-free roadside assistance in situations like this.
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