Causes of Knocking Sound from Front Wheel while Driving -How to Fix

If you hear a strange sound coming from anywhere in the car, it means that Something is going wrong id going with your car. Noises like banging, squeaking, squealing, clicking, clunking, knocking, and grinding are all signs that a system component isn’t working right.

In this article, we’ll look at what makes the front wheels knock when you’re driving. We’ll also explain how to find the source of the sound and fix it.

The reason for a knocking sound from the front wheel is because of Bad Tires – A knocking sound may be heard if the tires are worn, unbalanced, or misaligned or if one of the tires has a broken belt. Wheel Bearings – If a wheel bearing is severely worn, it will prevent the wheel from turning freely. This could result in a knocking sound.

Why does the front wheel make noise when driving?

A few things could cause the front wheels to knock loudly when you ramp up. These problems are close to the steering racks, brakes, and other front suspension parts.

Broken strut or strut mounts

The strut mount connects parts of the suspension system to the frame of the car. It reduces the tire vibration caused by the road and keeps the steering system stable. A strut mount connects a strut or shock absorber to the frame of the vehicle.

If the strut mount fails or breaks, the car will make a loud banging or knocking sound when driving on bad roads. It will sometimes make knocking noises when driving slowly on a straight road.

Broken sway bars

Sway bars are essential parts of a car’s suspension because they keep the car from rolling when it turns. They even out the weight of the vehicle. I bet you know what it’s like to drive with sway bars that don’t work.

If your vehicle’s sway bar is broken, you could flip it over if you go fast around a bend. Sway bars are stressed because they balance the vehicle’s weight from one side to the other. For this reason, they can break.

When they break, the car will make a knocking sound when it’s moving, especially on a rough road.

Loosen lug nuts

Lug nuts, also called wheel nuts, hold the tire to the hub of the wheel. When the technician needs to take the tires off to work on the suspension system, he will take off the lug nuts. Tires can be changed because they are flat or need to be rotated.

If you just changed your tires or worked on your car’s suspension and now hear knocking noises when driving fast, check the lug nuts. If the lug nuts aren’t tightened enough, they’ll cause the wheels to shake or wobble when you’re driving fast.

The worst part is that it gets worse the longer or faster you drive. If it isn’t tightened at the right time, it can make the tires come off. You don’t want this to happen because it could put the driver, the people in the car, and other people on the road in danger.

Most of the time, it will lead to uneven tire wear and damage to the suspension. So, if you notice that a lug nut is loose, you shouldn’t drive any further. Park the car somewhere safe and tighten the lug nuts again.

Bad bushings

A car has a number of bushings. They are created to help align the wheels. In addition to aligning the suspension parts, they also hold them in place and keep them in check.

Rubber is used to make bushings by manufacturers. Because they are made of rubber, they wear out over time, especially if they have been stressed too much. When they wear out or break, the car will make a knocking sound even when it’s not going fast or slowing down.

The knocking sound is coming from two or more metal parts rubbing against each other without a bushing between them to stop the rubbing.

Poor tires

Tires are a very important part of how a car moves. 
 A bumpy ride is caused by tires that aren’t aligned right, aren’t balanced, or are worn out. also,  It can also make the wheels occasionally knock when it rubs against suspension parts.

Bad wheel bearings

Wheel hub units contain wheel bearings. They make it possible for the wheels to turn. When a wheel hub starts to break down, the car will make a humming sound as it rolls down the road. As the RPM goes up, the noise will get louder. The bearing will keep getting worse as long as you keep driving it.

If the wheel bearing is damaged, the wheel won’t be able to spin freely. If the bearing moves around inside, it could make a knocking sound when driving straight.

Broken steering arms

A control arm is a part of a vehicle’s suspension that is necessary for it to work. As you drive, they go up and down, which keeps the car steady. They make driving smooth and easy by absorbing vibrations when the tires go over bumps or uneven parts of the road.

You’ll have a unpleasant driving experience if the control arms fail or the bushings wear out. If the road is bumpy or bad, the tires may bounce off.

If the control arms on the front wheels are broken, it will be hard to drive, and the front wheels will make a knocking sound when you drive slowly.

Worn-out ball joints

All of the parts of a suspension system are linked to each other. These parts work together to decrease vibrations from the road and make driving smooth significantly. The ball joints connect the suspension systems to the wheels.

They make it possible for the wheels to turn left or right. If these ball joints start to wear out, when you turn the steering wheel, you will hear banging, grinding, or knocking sounds. As you turn the steering wheel to the right or left, the noise will get louder.

Axle problems

All of a vehicle’s weight rests on its axles, and a car’s front weight rests on the front axle. A car’s axle is made to be strong and last as long as the car does. You shouldn’t have to worry about keeping it in good shape or fixing it.

In any case, the axle can get broken, and the car won’t last as long as it should. This can happen if you are in an accident or hit a big porthole by accident.

An axle can, of course, be a problem with the way the car was made. Manufacturers have had to call back some cars for this reason alone. When this happens, the axle can’t usually hold the whole vehicle’s weight for a long time.

A bent axle can’t be fixed, unfortunately. When an axle is bent, the tires can’t grip the road in the same way. This can make the outside tires wear unevenly, make it hard to turn, and make knocking noises when you drive over bumps.

How to Fix a Knocking Sound from the Front Wheel

Now that we know what would cause the front wheels to make a knocking sound, let’s look at how to fix them.
Now that we know what would cause the front wheels to make a knocking sound let’s look at how to fix them. Fixing a front wheel that knocks while driving can be tricky and time-consuming. It takes a few diagnostic steps to find the source of the annoying knocking sound and fix it. Let’s take a look at the steps.

Bounce the car’s front end.

When a car’s front end is making noises, the first thing I tell people to do is to shake the car. To do this, you’ll need some help. Open the hood and have the helper press and release the hood over and over. Do this over and over again until the suspension starts to work.

Check the strut and strut mounts as you bounce the car. If a strut mount is broken or failed, it should move around a lot. If you can’t figure out if the strut mounts are moving too much, you can do it the old way. It will also help you figure out what’s wrong with the strut and other parts of the suspension, such as the control arms.

Get a big screwdriver and put the edge of the handle on your ear. Then put the other end of the screwdriver on the parts you think are broken. Ask your helper to shake the car again. You should hear more noise coming from the broken part.

This method is almost as good as a stethoscope used by a mechanic. Did you notice any broken parts? If nothing stands out, we can move on to the next step. Grab a floor mat and lie down under the car.

Wiggle the steering wheel

This method can be used to find broken steering parts like tie rods and steering knuckles. You might ask, “Why this method?” Do the parts of the steering make knocking sounds?

When parts of the steering system break, they make clunking noises. So, let’s also look at these parts.

Put the key in the ignition so that it says “ON.” Have your helper sit in the driver’s seat and firmly turn the wheel. Check to see if the suspension parts move too much. Alternatively, you can accomplish this by fully twisting the steering wheel to the left and right.

Shake or wiggle the car.

This method will help you find the source of knocking, clunking, and banging sounds coming from under the car. Get two helpers to shake the front of the car’s roof. One person should stand on the driver’s side, and the other should stand on the passenger’s side.

While they are shaking the car hard, lie down under it with your underhood work light on. Check all the parts we talked about above that could make the knocking sound. Some of these are the ball joints and the control arms.

Knocking sounds may not always be coming from where we think they are. You need to check the exhaust systems, which include the catalyst converter, muffler, tailpipe, and head pipes. Check the connections and the hanger that keeps them in place.

If you have a loose hanger, it could be hitting the frame or other parts. Let the car cool down enough that you can hold the exhaust pipes without getting burned. Move the pipes around to see if you can make the knocking sounds again.

FAQs

What is a clunking sound coming from the front of the car?

When the front of the car makes a clunking sound, it means that a part is hitting something hard. One of the most common reasons is that the ball joints, tie rods, or control arms are broken or worn out. Most of the time, a clunking sound gets louder or happens more often as time goes on.

Does a clunking sound come from a bad wheel bearing?

A huge deal is a worn wheel bearing. If you don’t pay attention to it for a longer time, the noise will get louder. In the worst case, it could make the wheels come off. You know what that means, right? It will cause a terrible accident that will put your life and other people’s lives on the road in danger.

When a wheel bearing breaks, it starts making strange noises that are hard to place. There are humming sounds, grinding sounds, crackling sounds, rumbling or growling sounds, and clunking or knocking sounds.

When driving, why do I hear a knocking sound?

Do you hear banging sounds coming from under your car? Does it happen when you slow down, speed up, stop, or just let the engine run? No matter why, you can make it better. Some problems can be fixed more efficiently and for less money than others.

If you hear a knocking sound from under your car, you may have

• Arms that no longer work
• Misaligned tires
• Axle problems
• Loose lug nuts
• Problems with strut and strut mounts
• Bad joint balls
• Wheel bearings that are worn out
• Loosen all the hooks and connections under a car.

Can a strut make a noise like it’s clunking?

When you drive over bumps and hear clunking or knocking, parts of your suspension are broken or worn out. When you hear a metallic clank, something is hitting on the hardware.

A loose mount will let the parts attached to the bolt move around too much. If the strut mount is worn out, the shock can move up and down, making a clunking sound.

Is it risky to drive with the front wheel making knocking noises?

If the front of your car is making clunking noises, don’t drive with them. Clunking sounds can be caused by minor and major damage to a car’s suspension. If you drive with it, you risk your life, the lives of your passengers, and the lives of other people on the road. There could be more than one reason why your car is clunking. No matter what the reason, you should fix it before you hit the road.

Do ball joints create a clunking noise?

Bad ball joints will always make a clunking sound. Clunks are one of the most common and easy-to-spot signs that a ball joint has broken. As a ball joint wears out, it will make a rattling sound inside. If you keep driving with it, it will get louder until it makes a clunking sound.

Conclusion

When a car part wears out, one of the most obvious and common things you’ll notice is that it makes strange sounds. You need to know how your car usually sounds when you drive it to tell when something is wrong.

When driving, if the front wheels make a knocking sound, it means there is a problem with the suspension. This article explained why these sounds are happening and how to fix them. Follow the steps in this article to fix your car if it is making knocking sounds.