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TR2/3/3A Mystery knocking sounds at front wheel

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J

JAJohn

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Help! My revived 62 TR3 went on its longest drive yet, about 10 miles, but after about 6 miles a mystery sound happened while running. A non-metallic thumping/banging, getting louder, sounded like at the driver's side front wheel. Increased in speed and volume as the car speed increased, but stopped with applicaton of brakes. Absolutely no effect on engine, transmission/ clutch. After a while, it stopped mostly, except when turning right or left.
Recently had brakes/clutch rebuilt at great cost. The car sat for 40 years. Maybe wheel bearing failing? Brake caliper not tightened up?
 
A couple of years ago I had a “mystery knock” in the front wheel of my TR6.
It turned out to be a bolt that held the brake rotor had worked itself loose because a locking tab was not bent up preventing the bolt from loosening. Just something to check.
 
My guess is also that something is loose in the wheel/brake assembly. Best thing is to jack it up and take a good look. Lots of things can cause this type of phenomena, so it's hard for any of us to do more than guess.

Don't discount trivialities. A little while ago, right after getting new tires, my modern car developed a thump in one wheel. I started to panic, assuming that one of my new tires was bad. I took a good look and found a palm-tree seed stuck in the tread. Picked it out, and all was well afterward.
 
Are you running wires or discs?

A wheel bearing would make a rumbling noise, so you can count it out at least.
 
That it stops with application of the brakes implies something in the brake system. Rotor not snug to hub, loose pads, loose caliper, loose caliper mounting plate. If you can't find it by simple inspection, you will probably need to disasssemble the whole corner until you do find it. Could be very unsafe
Bob
 
this car has solid wheels. My first tr years ago had wires, and i heard a similsr sound then when about half the wires on one whrel broke.
 
Sounds too noisy for the pressure valve not to be applying some pressure on the brake pads, but that could be it because you say it goes away when you apply the brake. Maybe the brake pads are knocking around on the roto. But again probably something lose.

Steve
 
Mystery solved! The knocking sound was in fact the entire wheel, loose on the lug nuts. Apparently the large expense of rebuilding the hydraulics brakes and clutch didn't include tightening the lug nuts on the wheels. All of them around the car were about finger-tight.
 
JAJohn said:
Mystery solved! The knocking sound was in fact the entire wheel, loose on the lug nuts. Apparently the large expense of rebuilding the hydraulics brakes and clutch didn't include tightening the lug nuts on the wheels. All of them around the car were about finger-tight.
Click to expand...
Man you dodged a bullet. Glad you found the cause.
 
The garage should be responsible for the costs of studs and a replacement wheel.They owe you this, at least, for
the damages they incurred from their negligence.
Mad dog
 
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