Clicking noise from rear

[Jez]

All,

thought I would check the collective wisdom to help target my search.

Went for a drive in the Dart last Sunday and heard a distinct clicking from the rear. It only appears when under power, disappears when decelerating and seems road speed related, with a internal of a couple of seconds up to perhaps two or three clicks a second. Only recent fettling has been to tighten up the handbrake adjustment / free play at the caliper.

Seems unlikely it would be engine, brakes, debris in tyres or discs etc as that wouldn't disappear when not under load. No whining from wheel bearings or diff.
Prop shaft maybe?

Your thoughts welcome, before we embark on a 3000 mile round trip!

Cheers - Jez

[John-B]

Sticking rear brake pad or caliper?

Read Wilf Stephens' servicing article viewtopic.php?f=38&t=3519 "Brakes service and upgrades" (Word document item 8). He refers to tinkling.
I also have occasional ticking noise which varies with road speed. I can't hear it until I have gone about ten miles and everything has warmed up. If I just touch the brake pedal the ticking goes away, so my noise must be from the main brakes, not the handbrake.

In your case, try pulling up the handbrake a little while travelling along. Don't push the button to lock it, obviously. As it's a quick release handbrake you can use it while travelling. Does the noise stop?

[Jez]

Hi John,

thanks for your response. The noise is definitely more of a ticking than I think Wilf's tinkling would suggest - certainly more than I'd expect from the handbrake mechanism. I'll do some checks on the brakes when I get back home tomorrow.

Cheers - Jez

[Martyn Ross]

Jez
I suffered a clicking from the rear a couple of years ago. It was impossible to find exactly where it came from. Over some 500 miles it became progressively louder and eventually 'came out' as the diff. Ouch.
Hope this isn't the case with yours.

Ross