Annoying tapping/clicking/thunking sound

[Sarra]

When going around 40 mph, I get an intermittent sound from the front end of the car. Once it starts, it'll continue down to 25 or so, or up to 60. It sounds like two pieces of metal tapping... Or, more specifically, like a rod going back and forth, tapping another piece of metal on either side. It varies in volume, sometimes really quiet, sometimes really loud. It changes around, sometimes sounding like a hollow aluminum tube getting tapped by another aluminum tube, sometimes sounding like a baseball card in bike spokes.

The sound is directly connected to vehicle speed, the faster I go, the faster the ticking, the same for going slower. It isn't connected to the engine or gear, if I put it in 5th, then 2nd, it doesn't change at all. I notice that it usually doesn't start until I run my AC, though it often will start on it's own. Tapping the brakes sometimes makes it stfu, other times makes no difference.

It's driving me crazy, along with the rattle on the passenger side of my car, and I am ready to pull the entire front end of the car off and disassemble it all to figure out what it is! There isn't any feel in the steering, nor acceleration differences when it's happening. gently riding the brakes doesn't help. I've jacked up the front of the car and inspected everything visible to no avail, nothing is externally visibly wrong...

I'm at 119,000 miles, maybe time to swap it, or sell it.

[Huffer]

When you jacked up the car - did you pull on anything to see if it was loose?
Could be a loose swaybar mount?

[shazapple]

Perhaps a CV joint is going bad.

[redlegacygt]

its not in or around the motor is it? mine sounded kind of like you described. However, mine would kind of disappear when you hit a certain rpm..

[Sarra]

I did, I checked the sway bar, the mounts on it, tie rods, most of the accessible suspension parts, etc. And no, it's not engine, because it doesn't change frequency with engine RPM, but with speed.

I'm more inclined to think CV joint. Originally it would start when going around a left hand turn, but now it seems more random, and oddly enough, happens more with the AC on, and on hot days.

I also get a thumping feeling through the entire car when accelerating, feels like it's in the gearbox. not sure if they're related.

[Sarra]

I determined today that it's coming from the right front, most probably from the brakes. I'm gonna buy a can of brake clean and check it out. Might be time to bite the bullet and get some WRX brackets/calipers. :(