mukundan

Hi,
My '91 Nissan Maxima with 87K makes a grinding noise when I turn either direction in an incline (normally when I make slow sharp turns in the parking lot).

Nissan dealer said they could not reproduce the noise but then I took him to a ride and demonstrated. He said it may be coming from the steering pump and not to worry for now

Any clue ... anybody?

Thanks

xnyc

iTrader: (9)

i think it miight be the cv boot/halfshaft

medic

can you tell if the noise is comeing from the engine bay or under the car?

if the CV boots aren't split then I don't think it's likely to be those. if you've drive around with exposed cv joints for a while they could have taken some damage.

it could also be your wheel bearing, but I think you'd hear that more than just when you're turning.

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

I'm gonna second a CV joint problem.

bonzelite

iTrader: (2)

i've gone through wheel bearings and cv joints. the sound seems like cv joints. i don't know where the dealer guy is getting the steering pump idea from. that makes more of a humming noise when it's going bad, as mine is gradually doing.

your cv boots may be ripped open. check them. the cv joint failure will exaggerate over time and graduate to a clicking noise when turning. don't let it get to that stage.

v6maxima

Usually a if a CV joint is bad it will make a ticking noise that gets progressively worse with time, and it happens around corners. Actually maybe not, because it would tick on the flat too, incline you say? Do you have wider than factory standard tyres on? I have mags on mine and the tyres are quite wide, one side rubs on the inside when I turn the wheel right round, and the grinding noise is especially bad when on an incline eg on a hill.

mukundan

The noise is coming from under the car. So far it comes only when I turn sharply in a slope (you can imagine a very congested parking lot).

If it is the CV joint problem how much can I expect the repair cost be?

Thanks!

mukundan

I have factory tires. Here is one more theory to consider:
http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/...es/208707.html

Thanks

xulong

I had the same problem. CV boots were cracked and it was apparent it was driven for a while with cracked CV boots so I had the half-shafts rebuilt.

mukundan

I checked the CV boots and could not find any visible signs of a crack.
But I observed my front left tire is worn more than the right tire! Does that ring any alarms?

By the way, I had a flat tire (front left!) around 2 years ago and installed a new tire on rear left and rotated tires.

-Thanks

mukundan

Well, I bought new tires and now the troubling noise is gone!
Thanks for all your suggestions people -- it is a wonderful place out here