Tapping/Squeaking from N/S/F Wheel

[Chantuz]

Morning all!

I just wondered whether someone had something similar and could perhaps advise me on what could be the problem.

There is a tapping noise, like a cable tapping against something, whislt I'm driving which gets faster the faster I go... after having a look underneath the van there doesn't seem to be anything suspect. The tapping stops when I press the brake and continues once I've lifted off.

Also the squeaking happens if I hit a pot hole or rough piece of road ??? Again after looking unnderneath nothing seems to be out of place!

I'm confused.com

Thank you, El x

[Aidan]

sounds brake related though could be bearing related
sticking brake piston or pad ?
worn/badly adjusted bearings
flexi hose rubbing on tyre ?
speedo drive cable ?

I'd advise jacking up the offending corner and put on axle stands and check for play in bearing first by holding in 12 and 6 position and trying to jiggle - it shouldn't - if it does suggests bearings, these can be adjusted in first instance but may be past it, see the wiki.
If ok then remove wheel for a closer examination of brakes and the like.

[Mocki]

and check the wheel nuts, specially if you have allys

[Pepperami]

Wheel bearing snackered.

[VWCamperfan]

The squeaking going over bumps and rough ground is probably the bush bearings on the upper wishbone. Rubber things that tend to squeak they are!
Easy way to tell, bounce front of van up and down on offending side and it will probably squeak (takes a bit of bouncing mind!).
Easy fix... Spray silicone lubricant onto the rubber bushes, drive around for a couple of days and it should go, hopefully!

[Mr Bean]

Sounds to me like you might have a cat trapped in your front suspension!

Seriously though if you don't have silicon lubricant Squeezy washing up liquid on the rubbers will work for a while. and a strange noises can sometimes be caused by stuck, busted or missing anti squeal gismo's on your disk brake calipers.
Cheers
Wolfie
OoH! I just remebered: On mine the speedo cable drives off a square hole in the grease cap. If your cable gets stiff with rust it can tap at one tap per wheel revolution. Easy to diagnose on the jack. Mine made no noise but the speedo was jerky.

[Mocki]

squeeking front suspension can sometimes turn out to be squeeking sparewheel in the carrier too.........

[windysurfer]

My front suspension squeak turn out to be the fuel tank!

[keytouch]

I have exactly the same tapping noise, just can't tell which side it is coming from.
Wasn't sure how bad it is so have been afraid to drive the van. Have tried jacking up and testing for play in the bearings but nothing obvious.

[pockets]

Weirdly I was about to post the very same problem but did a search first.

My van also has a speed-related tapping noise coming from the N/S/F wheel area that comes and goes but always goes as soon as the brakes are used, nothing odd looking behind the wheel didn't have chance to remove wheel) I'm wondering if its the speedo cable??? Recently had new brakes and bearings but have done a couple of hundred trouble free miles since.

[andisnewsyncro]

Recently had new brakes and bearings but have done a couple of hundred trouble free miles since.

We had a similar noise and as Mocki said previously check the wheel nuts.
I thought it sounded silly too but had just had new front discs & pads a couple of hundred miles before and yes, the wheel nuts needed re torquing.

Andi

[Syncro G]

My squeeking that when away when very lightly pressing the pedal turned out to be very dry pivots for the floating calapers (late brakes). Big of lubricant (but not on the friction stuff!) shut it up. Emagine the disc isn't quite spot on causing it but a loose bearing could do it too so worth a check.