OMG What's that noise?

[TheMilkman]

I'm driving home last night and all of a sudden it sounds like the fender just fell into the front passenger wheel. Really loud, rubbing scraping sort of sound that changes with speed.

Luckily I was only going 30 and pulled over as soon as I could about 3 blocks. I get out and go and look expecting to see something like the fender wall laying on the tire. There was nothing??

I didn't see anything laying on the tire or anything loose or that looked liked it had rubbed on the tire.

I gingerly continue home and there was no more noise at first. I was guessing maybe I had run over a bush or tumbleweed or something and it got caught up above the tire, but fell out when I pulled off. I was just about to smile and say it was nothing when I hit a small bump in the road and the sound came back.

I've limped the Viper back home, but am worried there is something very wrong with it. I'm not a mechanic, but it seems odd something in the suspension would make a noise like the tire is rubbing on the fender or wheel well.

Any clues?

 

[vpower01]

Jack it up and check out your A-arm bushings, shocks and under the car for loose bolts caster, camber...Did you get it aligned recently?
Maybe something simple?

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads...OLVED!!!!-(front-end)?highlight=popping+sound

 

[Copperhead133]

That happen to me too, looked under vehicle didnt see anything heard it again. Found a piece of the front inner wheel came loose and was falling down while driving so check all the plastic buttons that hold lower part of the inner wheel well.
Your club Viper tech.

 

[JonB]

One of those fog-lite-closeout panels again. There is a thread here on it somewhere, a common loss item but can be noisy. They come out fast and quietly on track!

 

[FrgMstr]

One of those fog-lite-closeout panels again. There is a thread here on it somewhere, a common loss item but can be noisy. They come out fast and quietly on track!

Black silicone is your friend.

 

[TheMilkman]

Thank for all of the suggestions.

I was able to jack up the front end to turn the wheel to see I could figure this out.

After I got the car in the air, is when I found a big ball of wire hiding behind the tire. I don't ever remember seeing or running over the wire, but it was a pretty thick gauge, almost like a coat hanger. It was stuck behind the tire and I am assuming that when I hit a bump or turned the tire would grab the wire and throw it against the fender and give the rubbing grinding sound.

I was so relieved it was something so simple to fix. I did see anything else scratched or bent back there. Just the bundle of wire jammed into the suspension.

 

[Nitro187]

Nice! Glad you got that resolved. It's crazy seeing the amount of stuff that I avoid on the road... latest thing, was a mattress blowing over a highway... glad I dodged that!