I recently bought a city 2006 myself and hearing the same sound. Though I got the whole assembly opened for it, but could not find the issue. Just check if the plastic cover that hides the steering rod behind the clutch and brake is in tact. Mine was removed by previous owner perhaps to put a lock to over-secure his car. If your plastic cover is in tact, then the noise is definitely coming from the axle, otherwise perhaps this sound is always there but supressed by the plastic cover.
Let me know if you get it fixed, so I can get mine same way too.