1999 Malibu, clicking noises from tires when pulling in or out.

[Dezyre]

I have a 1999 Chevy Malibu, with 76,000 miles. Two months ago I replaced my two front tires, with 205's, it had 215's on it when I bought it used from a dealer. For the past month or so, I have been experiencing a clicking noise coming from what I think is my two front tires, when either pulling into or out of a parking space or making a sharp turn. I *think* it only does it when I am going under 5-10 mph, thats the only time I have noticed it. If I give the steering some leeway, it lets up and doesn't click if I am not holding the wheel to the limit. Any ideas? I had a 1991 Camaro once and was told my tie rods were going out, and had no noise, and I know the dangers of this and I don't want to be driving a car where this may be the case. I am a single mother, any help as to what this may be would be appreciated.

[snoop2603]

I have the same problem with my '01. Can anyone give us any ideas to what this could be?

[Old Lar]

Sounds like it could be the CV joint$ going bad. Look underneath to see if the rubber boots that cover them are split. Loss of grease damaging the CV joint. At least that was the sound the Mercury Capri was making with a bad CV joint.

[davidty]

Check this out? when you replaced the front tires this is when the problem occured. Here might lie the answer. the front brake pads run in slots in the brake calliper and as they wear they self adjust to the rotor surface. Now the brake pads float on a thin steel polished plates that are preformed to the caliper slots. these steel polished plates come with every set of new pads. Now hear is what happening. these plates can shift in the slots and causing them to come into contact with the outside diameter of the rotor. really causing a scraping sound. Now the reason they scrape or click lies in the rotor it self. The rotor plate is made of cast iron. It is a fluted brake plate allowing the outside air to flow through the rotor cooling it when your driving down the road. Water and contaminates can also flow through the flutes causing the outside diameter of the rotor to rust. this rust builds up changing the outside diameter of the rotor in a non uniform shape. Now if the steel polished plates shift enough and the close tolerence of the rotor to caliper now come into play allowing contact between the rotor and the caliper. Corrective action- remove the rust from the outside diamter of the rotor plate and noise should go away. This is done by removing the tire and gently knocking off the rust with a hammer. make sure you don't hit the rotor brake surfaces. Also remember the flutes down the center of the rotor plates should be clear and free of rust and contminates. cleas as required.

[stlknowswhy]

I had this same exact problem with my 1999 malibu ls, it's the wheel barrings, it gets worse, my car was so lous I couldn;t hear my radio

[Dawnna]

"I had this same exact problem with my 1999 malibu ls, it's the wheel barrings, it gets worse, my car was so lous I couldn;t hear my radio"


I just replaced the two front tires on our 99 Malibu and am experiencing a low hum or grinding noiise from the driver's side wheel. I have been told it is the bearing/hub assembly as well, specifically an abs speed sensor located within the hub. I am curious, did your abs light go on and did you go through excessive brake pads and rotors? We experienced complete brake failure, along with excessive wear, with this part of the vehicle and am wondering just how many 99 Malibu owners are experiencing the same. If anyone is experiencing the same problem, would you please go to the National Highway and Safety Traffic Association

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

and voice your complaint? The more complaints this organization gets, the better chance an investigation will be conducted with respect to the issue of excessive brake pads and rotors. Thank you!

[Sgec]

heres a really dumb reply. it happend to me once. i looked like a fool. i oculdnt figure out wha tthe clickign was, and it continued for a couple of days. turns out there was just a pebble stuck in my tire tread. you never know