.... well, I call it a tapping sound, not really sure how to describe it, except that it's not the classic "clunk" that others have talked about when describing bushings gone bad.

It's in the driver's side rear wheel area, a constant tap-tap-tap that increases in proportion to speed. What's strange is that I only hear this sound when starting to drive in the morning. After a couple of stops at lights, etc and 5 mins or so of driving, the sound has gone. I've jacked up the car and pulled and pushed suspension bits and everything looks tight so I'm pretty sure it's not any of the bushings...

Any ideas?
Cheers,

 

I'm having the same thing described to a t. I thought the trailing arms needed adjustment but everything is tight. ?????

 

Could be something as simple as an unevenly worn rotor grazing the brake, although this is more of a squeak/chrip than a tap.

 

This may be really dumb,... but check around the tire for any rocks that may have lodged themselves into the tread, or worse a nail/screw.
Though I have no idea why it would stop making that sound after a while if this was the case, but might as well check and rule it out for sure.

 

I had an alloy wheel that made a clicking or creaking sound due to flexing against the axle plate. It increased with speed. A little grease thinly applied to the mating surfaces (NOT the lug bolts) of the wheel and plate fixed it.

 

Could something, a small rock maybe, be caught in the dust shield and rubbing against the rotor? That would explain the sound being dependent on speed, and maybe you just can't hear it after a certain speed is reached or the rotor warms up?
Just throwing stuff out.

 

Low tire pressure causing an especially noticeable tire flat spot from sitting over night? This would go away after a bit of driving as the tire warmed up.

 

happened a few times to the Infiniti QX4. it just goes tap..tap...tapp...and it goes faster as the car goes faster. it went away after a few miles. probably just a rock stuck in the threads.

 

Guys, if it were rocks stuck in the tire the sound wouldn't go away and come back every morning from the same tire.

 

If you are sure that the noise is from the area of that wheel, you need to do some more investigation - - jack it up again and remove the wheel. Carefully inspect the tire and wheel for damage or defects. Then inspect the brake components and suspension for damage, defects or loose parts. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the ideas so far. Since this has been around for the last 5000 miles or so I'm sure it's not a rock in the tire but it wouldn't do any harm to double check. I'll also look for rocks that might have lodged next to the rotor...

What about the rear axle or wheel bearings? I know in FWD cars the CV joints, if bad, can rattle when going round corners. I know we don't have exactly the same thing in our cars, but if the bearings or ball joints have gone in the rear drive shaft then wouldn't they make some sort of similar sound? Doesn't explain why it goes away after 5 mins or so... that's the really weird thing.

 

The exact same thing happend to me on the passenger side. It was a pretty lound taping noise but when i hit about 30mph it went away, when i turned it did it. so one day i was going to take off the wheel and see if i could find the problem, i unscrewed the key bolt and then i changed my mind and put it back on and the problem went away. Just an experience that happed to me. That might help might not. just what i did. Havent herd it in about a month or so