2003 Mazda B3000
280,000 miles
2 WD

I have a slight to moderate ticking feeling coming from my front driver-side wheel. It becomes noticeable around 35 mph.

If I'm driving between 50-60 mph, if I make a slight left turn (like changing to the left lane, putting pressure to the inside of that wheel) then I feel it get stronger. If I make a slight right turn (putting pressure to the outside of that wheel) then if lightens up dramatically and almost goes away.

I've checked all inside that wheel. The tire looks good. No irregular wear anywhere. I don't see any unusual wear on any hardware (like inside of the rim, etc). All arms look and feel solid.

I'm guessing the next step is to take the wheel off and check the brake assembly, or any other hardware behind the wheel.

Any other ideas of what I should be checking for? Thanks for any input.

 

Year of the Ranger?

2WD or 4x4?

Jack up each front wheel and spin it as fast as you can

 

Sorry for the lack of details. I have edited to include.

2003, 2WD

Last night I pulled the wheel off and spun the rotor. I could still hear a slight ticking in there. I removed the rotor and found that the rear seal over the rear wheel bearing had come off. By that point, my external troubleshooting had me suspecting something within the wheel bearing so I had purchased new bearings. I replaced both front and rear wheel bearings, replaced the seal, and put it all back together. The rotor and wheel (when put back on) both spun well and quiet.

When I took the truck for a test drive, it sounded and felt great at first, but it wasn't long at all before the ticking came back. I think the rear seal came off again.

I just put that rotor on a couple of months ago. My next step is to remove it again, confirm the rear seal has come off, then attempt to exchange it under warranty and try it again.

 

SOLVED: It turned out being in the front left rotor. The race for the front/outer wheel bearing had come loose, so that bearing could move around. I replaced the rotor and both wheel bearings and all has been well since then.

 

Good work

Thanks for the update and FIX