Hi guys, this is my first post. I just learned of this site. I am hoping you guys can help me. I have a 99 Maxima SE. I got this wierd front end noise I can figure out. I comes from both front wheels. It sounds like something is rubbing against the tire on both sides. I jacked the front end and took both tires off. I know there is nothing hitting the tires. I put the car in drive without the wheels on it. It still made the noise. I just did the brakes over to include new rotors and pads. Any idea what it could be? Car has almost 69,000 miles if that helps.

 

How soon ago did you do the brakes? Also, did you happen to notice if that noise was a metal to metal(metallic sounding) rubbing noise or not? If the brakes were just done and the sound is metallic in nature then I would think it is just the brakes. Nothing the worry about because that happens even to the new cars on my lot(work at a Nissan Dealer). I never really payed attention to whether that sound dissipates over time but I would believe so. Anyway, welcome to the Org and I hope this helps in some way.

 

If the brakes were JUST changed, as was mentioned, they generally rub and make a shhhhiiiinnngggg kinda noise for a little while.

However, if it's not that...
When does the noise occur: turning, going straight, or both?

 

Yup - It's probably your brakes. Check them over to be sure everything is installed correctly. Did you reuse the old shims or buy new ones? Also, are the shims in correctly? There shims are different for the inner and outer pads. If you've got them reversed, that could be causing your noise.

If you didn't resurface your rotors, which is fine as long as they weren't warped, you could have a slight overlap of the new pad to where the old pad ended. The rotor may have a slight lip where the old pad was. If your new pad sits just slightly on that lip, your gonna hear it rub till the pad wares in a bit.

 

my 97 se has the same problem too, I have now pads and rotors put in last november so it aint the brakes, I'm thinking it's the bearings. The left side sounds louder than the right and it's louder turing left than right. I will get mine bearings replaced pretty soon cuz the sound is getting louder each day. Just do a search on bearings on this site and you'll see how many people have this same problem and I think it's a material quality issue and Nissan should be held responsible for it because bearings aren't designed to go bad before 100k miles especially I never abused my Maxima.

 

You can't tell when the bearings will go. If it falls under the standard warrantee time, then it is covered. Kia's wheel bearings separate after 1000 miles, so it's not exactly like you can go suing nissan because OMG their bearings don't last 100k miles. Man, what is it with scapegoats lately.

 

Don't get me wrong, besides this problem my car runs fine. had an Altima went through 150k miles before I started noticing sounds from the wheels. But after learning the number of Maxs that have bearing problems at low mileages(40k and more), I think it's a real problem that need to be addressed and improved upon, has nothing to do with scapegoism. If you read these posts regarding bearing problems, a lot of them include comments from mechanics saying to check everything else 1st because bearings simply shouldn't fail this soon.

 

my guess is that it depends on so many things...climate/road conditions, car care, accidents/damage, driving style. If there is damage to the wheel/front end of the car, or the driver hits a lot of potholes....

 

we're back to Nissan's material quality issues again, like all parts, how long it lasts depends on many things, but I'm just talking about a bearing, that shouldn't fail this soon unless it was abused and I don't ever abuse my car.

 

I have the same problem with my 99 Max SE 5 speed i hasve only had the car a month and the dealer did the brakes(pads resurface rotors)and also replaced both front hub bearings and the car still makes noise the noise is greater at low speeds around 20 mph a rubbing sound as the car speeds up it turns into more of a humming sound iam bringing it back 1 more time to these knuckleheads at nissan if they don't figure the problem this time i will ask for may cash back.

 

Rich 1223 sounds like he has the same problem. The brakes are new about 7,000 miles ago. They are new pads and rotors so the rotors aren't the problem. It is a rubberery sounding noise, not metal. Plus, it didn't make it right when I did the brakes. I started about 3,000 miles later. I am not a big suspension guy myself so I may not be accurate here but there is a rubber boot under there. I am assuming it is covering the CV joint? It sounds like it is coming from that boot. I can't find a place to lubricate it though.

Rich, can you let me know what happens when you take it back to the shop.

 

Both of you, go outside pump up both front tires 5psi over the rated sidewall PSI cold. (i.e. as high as you can go +5)

Go to a huge empty parking lot. Roll down both windows. Turn the wheel full lock in each direction and do a couple of slowish circles. Listen for clicking/binding/rubbing.

Now straighten it out and accelerate slowly to 30 or so. What is the noise doing now? Turn hard to the right. Listen. Turn hard to the left. Listen.

Report back after your homework is done.

Don't forget to bleed the tires back to normal.

-RMB

 

RMB,

I have actually already done that when I had it jacked up and the wheels off. I don't know if having the wheels on will make a difference or not. But when I did that, I heard no clicking. It was just the same rubber rubbing noise. When the wheel is straight and you speed up it just gets faster and more high pitched. It also makes the same noise regardless of whether the brakes are applied or not which makes me believe it isn't the brakes.

 

KidsMax: sounds like my problem as well, I tried what this person suggested, turing left is louder than turning right. The noise is non-metallic as u would hear from brakes and my pads are thick, rotors are smooth as a mirror. The frequency of the rubbing noise comes out faster than it takes the tire to go one revolution therefore it's definately coming from something that's spinning and of a smaller diameter than the tires. I can hear and feel the noise on the highway but much less noticeable since it's overshadowed by the engine sound. I'm waiting for the problem to get worse so I can show my dealership since they couldn't hear it the 1st time. But any suggestions or experiences are welcome.

 

Iam bringing the car in on monday so if they figure out the problem(which i doubt)i'll let you know.

 

 

For what it's worth, my rear wheel bearings went in my max, First off my car was in a flood (that may have added to bearing failure), but it sounded like it was coming from the front end. The noise was bad at lower speeds. The left rear went first, a quick test I found to work well is turn the car hard at 25-30 to one direction
if turned to the left then there is little weight on the rt tire and the noise would go away or vs. versa. I replaced the left and the right went about a month later. the rears are very easy to change, however I could not buy just the bearings i had to buy the entire hub, but the noise is gone.

 

any word yet rich?

 

Rich,

Any word on the car yet?