4.3 V8 "Tappet Shim" tick... but from behind front wheel

[Krhuangbin]

Seen a few historical threads on this, and there are also a few doom and gloom BR videos on YT on the subject... however in those Mike explains quite logically in those that such ticking would be heard above the engine where the cams are, rather than down below the front wheel where the bottom end is.... certainly no bottom end issue.

Can happen to the bucket shims on either the inlet cam or exhaust cam as I understand it.

My car has exhibited a slight metallic rhythmic tick that rises and falls with revs between idle and 1.5-2k.. and is then drowned out completely, ever since I bought it. Hasn't gotten any worse in 5k hard miles, and I know there is a degree of "they all do that sir" with this issue (to some extent....)

Have heard quite a few others in person and in videos doing the same.

What I don't quite understand is, why is it I can only hear it really low down behind the drivers side front wheel (particularly when warm and parked against a wall with the window open, or against another car at the lights) if it's a top end issue? Of course on the right side as it's on that bank, but why only very down below?

Standing at the front and bonnet open, I can't hear it at all, not even slightly, only a very smooth idling engine and the gentle feather like flickering of the injectors.

Am I being thick?

Edited by Krhuangbin on Thursday 9th March 17:42

[Krhuangbin]

Sorry to read about your issues Pete

Indeed it should be taken seriously. My only reasoning was that it sounds EXACTLY like the tappet shim tick, gentle and metallic rather than knocking, and surely anything bottom end knocking would have gotten worse over 5k very spirited miles? Mine is also one of 1st thousand cars and less prone to bearing failure I understand, but reading that all back now sounds very blasé and should get it checked….!!

Could be Nigel…. Certainly can hear it from where they are

[Krhuangbin]

Will get one over the weekend of mine, however sounds just like this, but mine is far less severe. Can't be heard from the top while idling but from behind drivers front wheel when warm, and I suppose a little down the exhaust

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF9ANXUY_6o

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3oonLURpXzo

Edited by Krhuangbin on Friday 10th March 13:53

[Krhuangbin]

olv said:

BR corrected an out of tolerance exhaust valve shim on my 2007 4.3 last month, that I'd know about when I bought it last year.

Mind sounded like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNZoIGLNxVA

The way you describe that it sounds louder lower down or in and around the wheel arch height echoes my experience. I took mine to Mike for an honest opinion on it after another garage (a respected Aston specialist) failed to measure the clearances accurately and suggested removing the engine to diagnose... turns out it was just one exhaust valve well over tolerance and BR had it sorted along with a few other tweaks in a couple days. My engine runs very sweetly now.

Interestingly there are receipts for my car from 2015 where the valve shims on a couple of exhaust valves were re-done back then.

Sounds even more representative of what mine sounds like - thanks Olv.

Hopefully it’s on an exhaust cam rather than an engine out inlet cam... but I suspect it is as it’s echoing down the exhaust, low and like yours

I have enquired with BR today about checking it and quoting to sort it, plus the cat mod and remap just as you had on yours...