Intermittent clinking coming from wheel?

[Mapkos]

First time on the forum so hopefully someone can help me!
I've got a really annoying noise coming from the NSF front wheel area which can only be described as a cow bell type clinking noise! I've taken it to VW twice but they aren't able to diagnose it as the noise isn't always there!

There isn't any pattern to the noise and have no idea what it could be. Literally the only thing I can think of is maybe its something to do with my gravel driveway??

Please view video below and listen carefully! (apologies filmed sideways!)

[youtube][/youtube]

Any help is appreciated...

[carlpea]

It sounds like a brake disk is catching the shield or, since you mentioned gravel, stones might be getting trapped between the disk and the shield and eventually fall out.

[Mapkos]

Yeah it doesn't happen all the time so that's a possibility thanks. Seems like a bit of a design fault if that is the case as gravel driveways are quite common!

[skyblues11]

I had something similar last summer. It was from the driver side rear and it sounded like a stone rolling inside / scratching a soft drink can.

At speed it was ok but most pronounced when you are going slow, like 30mph.

i remember taking off the wheel and had a thorough look, but could not find anything. Looking back, it could be something inside those heat shield near the exhaust. Anyway, nothing was found.

Since then, the noise seems to have disappeared by itself.

Best take the wheel off and have a good look around. At least you can remove the offending object, if it was causing the noise.

[sugar_W]

Had exactly the same, went away shortly after appearing, same wheel, thought exhaust was dropping off at first :O Can only assume it was a stone caught in the wheel somewhere, I had just driven on a road which had been covered with stone which constituted 're-surfacing'... of course all the rocks end up at the side of the road or stuck in your brake shield.

[Ryy]

I have it sometimes with stones / gravel, getting trapped in the tyres, so it's a "dum-dum" noise and is repetitive so it happens when the wheel goes round, but stops when it falls out.

The only bad thing I ever had was a puncture with a huge screw inside the tyre which made the same noise, which is why I panicked when I heard it again, but thank fully it was bricks.

[Mapkos]

Thanks all you've been great help!