Need help to identify what may be causing a tapping sound from the front of my 2006 Maxima. It occurs at low speed.
- Hearing it when going straight.
- Hearing it when turning right.
- Don't hear it when turning left.
- Brought the car to a local mechanic, but couldn't pin point the sound.
- Drove the car on the lift, but did't hear it.
- Lifted one side at a time and drove the car, but didn't hear it. Thought it was
a bearing.
- Spun each wheel by hand on the lift, but didn't hear it.
- Boots look fine. No leaks.
- Also had all brakes cleaned to make sure nothing is rubbing.
- The sound is consistent with the speed of the wheels spinning. So I'm not suspecting strut mounts which was replaced less than a year ago.

thanks

 

What kind of tapping sound? Can you take a video and post it?

 

tapping or clunking?

Any chance it's just something stuck in your tire tread? (hey, may be a stupid question but you'd be amazed how simple some problems are...)

 

Definitely not stupid. Just got done diagnosing a similar tapping noise on a 91 MR2. The sound would increase in frequency based on the speed of the car and the car was originally diagnosed with a bad bearing. Too expensive, had me look at it, turned out to be the tire. New tire installed and wheel balanced... Noise is gone.

If it can't be replicated on a lift then I would be looking for imperfections in the tires. Simply being warped a little bit or having a slight bald spot can cause such noises. It's the easiest thing to check, so I'd look there first.