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Front end noise, Ball Joint or CV?

Old Sep 6, 2005 | 01:59 PM
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Front end noise, Ball Joint or CV?

Well I left school during lunch, made a sharp fast left turn, and after that I heard a noise when making left turns. I also hear the noise when I hit the breaks, or slightly veer to the left while going straight. Upon taking the wheel off, I pryed on the lower control arm, and it didnt seem to move much. Also pushing on the wheel didnt seem to move it up or down. The CV boot did not have any rips or tears either. The one other thing I was considering was possibly wheel bearings. Its a sometimes fast, sometimes slow clicking or clunking noise. Any thoughts on what it could by? I am hoping its just the ball joint.

Thanks in advance!
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 05:17 PM
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proboly the axles cv joint
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 05:57 PM
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could be strut bearing sticking then cutting loose...just a guess..good luck
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 06:03 PM
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From: Tunasea
Originally Posted by geoff.doctor
Its a sometimes fast, sometimes slow clicking or clunking noise.
Is the clicking/clucking you are hearing get faster with your corresponding speed...And is the noise only when turning or when going strait????
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 06:06 PM
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Well I just got done replacing the Ball Joint, it didn't fix the problem. The noise occurs when veering to the left, turning left, and you hear one or two clunks if you hit the break. I have not noticed if it has something to do with speed. So do I need to replace the entire axle then?
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 06:23 PM
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Well, it's probably just the CV joints, but you are better off replacing the axle. Rebuilding CV joints is more hassle than it's worth when a rebuilt axle including both CV joints is 70$ + core.
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 06:30 PM
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From: Tunasea
Originally Posted by geoff.doctor
Well I just got done replacing the Ball Joint, it didn't fix the problem. The noise occurs when veering to the left, turning left, and you hear one or two clunks if you hit the break. I have not noticed if it has something to do with speed. So do I need to replace the entire axle then?

Witch side Did you replace?????
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 06:34 PM
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Drivers side, which is the side the noise is coming from.
Old Sep 6, 2005 | 06:42 PM
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I'm am leaning toward a wheel bearing....Never heard a cv click when the brakes are applied...The halfshafts are not under any load when braking...The wheel bearing is....
Old Sep 8, 2005 | 01:04 PM
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Anyone else have any incite? I need to do either wheel bearing or axle soon. Also, is our bearing pressed in or an assembly, also, do we have limited slip differential?

THanks in Advance
Old Sep 8, 2005 | 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by geoff.doctor
Anyone else have any incite? I need to do either wheel bearing or axle soon. Also, is our bearing pressed in or an assembly, also, do we have limited slip differential?

THanks in Advance
like i said the first time its the axle trust me ive had the same symtums they would click around turns or when vering at certain times and would clunk when braking

ive also replaced the wheel bearings because they made a grinding noise ALL the time definitly not your problem
Old Sep 9, 2005 | 05:34 AM
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Great, now I really need a response before noon, because I need to place my order. How can I tell if my car has L.S.D?
Old Sep 9, 2005 | 05:42 AM
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Originally Posted by geoff.doctor
Great, now I really need a response before noon, because I need to place my order. How can I tell if my car has L.S.D?
I think all 92-94 se maximas had vlsd......
Old Sep 9, 2005 | 11:05 AM
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Can anyone verify this? I really need to get this axle ordered ASAP, and this is very important information I assume. Personally I always thought that lsd was only on rear-wheel drive cars. So please let me know. For the record the car is

93 Maxima SE - VE
5 Speed Manual

And I need the left axle.
Old Sep 9, 2005 | 11:32 AM
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From: Tunasea
Originally Posted by geoff.doctor
Can anyone verify this? I really need to get this axle ordered ASAP, and this is very important information I assume. Personally I always thought that lsd was only on rear-wheel drive cars. So please let me know. For the record the car is

93 Maxima SE - VE
5 Speed Manual

And I need the left axle.
Read the WHOLE Thread....There will be your answers to all your Q's
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ssion+vin+code
Old Sep 9, 2005 | 11:38 AM
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yes it is VLSD if you look on your firewall and there will be a plaque. it should tell you a model number for your trans. if there is a V at the end of the model number then its VLSD.
Old Sep 9, 2005 | 03:13 PM
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vlsd trans code is RS5F50V

non vlsd trans code is RS5F50A
Old May 17, 2006 | 09:44 AM
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i have the same problem except mthe noise gets louder the faster i go
Old May 17, 2006 | 09:45 AM
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need some help on this one
Old May 17, 2006 | 10:10 AM
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Bearing test

Jack up the car (don't pull it off the jack doing these tests). Grab the offending wheel top and bottom and pull it top then bottom. Without the brakes applied, you should not be able to make the wheel move. If it clunks back and forth, loose, then it's a bearing. Do the same thing side to side, remembering that the steering members will have some play in them. You're looking for movement of the wheel with respect to the spindle (axle). If you can't induce play in the wheel, then it's probably the cv. Also while you're down there, rotate the wheel and listen for squeeks in the bearing.
Old May 17, 2006 | 03:05 PM
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if the wheel bearing is bad could the hub be bad as well. because if it i could just get both. If yes where is the best spot to get the bearing and or hub
Old May 18, 2006 | 07:03 AM
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Actually what fixed my problem was just tightening up the axle nut, apparently when I replaced the clutch, I didn't snug her down right.
Old May 19, 2006 | 05:52 AM
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I am having the same problem and I just replaced the whole steering knuckle, bearings, ball joint and CV axel. The only thing i can think of is the bushing for the control arm, because it is the only thing i haven't replaced aside from the tie rods. I am going to have the bushings pressed in this weekend and ill let you know.
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