Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

[kspain]

Hello,

Yesterday I took the boat out for about the 7th time this year. When I got back home and was backing it in the garage, I noticed that the passenger side trailer wheel was making a clicking/popping sound. It kind of sounds like a stick stuck in the rim. I looked all around the wheel and rim (front and back), and I couldn't find anything lodged in there. About 3 trips ago, I did get 2 new tires for the trailer. I got ST radial trailer tires. The driver side isn't making that sound. Does anyone know what could be causing this sound? It's a single axle trailer.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

Did you check the tire for a stone in the tread?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

If its not a rock in the tire then I'd say bearing going bad or loose spindle nut or the cotter pin is rubbing against a dent in the dust cap. Or if you have brakes - something flopping around inside the drum

Best bet is going to be jacking it up and checking everything.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

Jack it up....pull wheel.... look around in the wheel bearing and or brake assy....

man that oldjeep is quick

 

[kspain]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

I thing I forgot to mention was that I did lose all the tire tread on that side. This is reason I got new tires. I noticed that it did bend the fender some, but it's not rubbing or touching the tire. Also, the previous 2 times (after the new tires) it wasn't making that sound. It just started yesterday.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

It could be several things, wheel bearing, something hung up, who knows but if it only happens when backing up and you have drum brakes it could be simply your brakes adjusting themselves. either way probably a good idea to take the wheels off and have a look.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

Loose lug nuts will click, just before the tire goes it's own way. Check that first.

If you find a loose one, take it all the way off and check for worn hole in the rim, and worn studs. Properly repair anything that isn't right, or you'll just repeat the disaster.

 

[kspain]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

I just took the wheel off and the lug nuts were loose. A quarter of a turn with the tire iron and I could take them off by hand. With the tire off, I didn't see anything that could be causing the clicking. Put the tire back on and spun it forward and backwards, and I didn't hear the clicking the sound. So I'm assuming it was the loose lug nuts. Is this a correct assumption?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

I just took the wheel off and the lug nuts were loose. A quarter of a turn with the tire iron and I could take them off by hand. With the tire off, I didn't see anything that could be causing the clicking. Put the tire back on and spun it forward and backwards, and I didn't hear the clicking the sound. So I'm assuming it was the loose lug nuts. Is this a correct assumption?

Thanks for all the help!

Sounds correct, and awful lucky that you noticed it.

 

[scoutboater]

Re: Trailer Tire Clicks/Pops

Hey Kspain, I'm glad you found your problem, and thats all it was. I've seen a lot of over- and under-tightened bolts come out of tire shops, which is why I always check mine myself. And even if they are tight out of the shop, its a good idea to check them again a few miles down the road to make sure nothing settled and got loose.