There is a popping kinda noise coming from suspension when I turn. I'm thinking it could be bushings or ball joint maybe. It only does it when I turn the wheel, but not all the time. Any suggestions?

 

check to see if your CV boots are ripped or anything...if there is grease splattered all over your wheel well this is an indication of a ripped cv boot...there could be dirt in the cv joint....

 

Probably the axle.

 

that has to be ur axle or axles.

 

It is neither my cv joints or my axles I just changed both sides of my axles a few months ago.

 

Check if its your control arm bushings ..
just lift your car up and put your hand on each side of the tire and move it left and right if there is alot of movement then check out whats moving ..
it should be pretty solid .

just wiggle it around until you find your problem ..

 

I actually have the same/similar problem. When i reverse and turn, I notice it most often I feel it could be some bearing play. I replaced the ball joint, no change. I know it isn't the CV. but when I bought the car, I had to do a wheel bearing replacement and also a strut replacement. The reson I had to replace the strut was because the nut on top had come loose and the threads were banging around and had carved out a bigger hole in the strut mount. It couldn't be tightened and the threads were history. but it made a very slight poping over bumps but it is something to check.

 

check your upper strut mounts(pita), ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings...
with the wheel on and your car jacked up. wiggle the wheel from left to right also up and down. if there's a lot of play, wiggle it whil watching the ball joint, tie rod end, control arm bushings. if any of these parts is in desperate need of replacement you'll be able to see while doing this.

 

It sounds like it could be your front strut bearing. I replaced mine when I put new struts, springs, ball joints and bushings on my car last year. My strut mount bearings weren't making any noise. But I figured I was doing a complete suspension overhaul so I might as well do it while I had it apart.

I also replaced my strut mount, assuming the new one would come with the bearing. But Nissan sells the parts seperatly, so you could just buy the bearing if that's all you want to replace.

You may be able to jack up your front end and unlock your steering column inside the car. Then grab your tire and turn it and feel if it is binding or if the spring is making noise.

Here is a link with detailed instructions on changing the bearing:
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/703

The link is for a 4th Gen Maxima but the procedure is very close if not the same as a 3rd Gen.

 

just because this is the only thing I can add to this thread:
I sell al of the above mentioned parts, including the COMPLETE control arm

 

LOL always the salesman.

 

I had a similar type of noise coming from my car when I hit a bump on a turn or hit a really sharp bump going straight. Wasnt sure if it was the strut mounts or ***** joints. When I jacked up the car the wheel didnt move which I thought it meant that it was the srtut mount making noise and not the ball joint. But before taking the whole strut off and apart I thought I would try one more thing. So I opend the three bolts on the bottom of the ball joint and left the top bolt in. What do you know, now I was able to feel movement in the ball joint that I could feel before.

Bottom line, trouble shoot with the easier solutions first before you move to harder (and more expensive)parts.

 

Gotta make a living

 

indeed