Okay; I've got a 1995 Maxima SE; and something with the front axle sounds / feels funny. Can often hear a knock when accelerating quickly switching from 1st -> 2nd gear (it's an automatic) and sometimes hear something knocking when doing fairly sharp turns slowly (in a parking lot, for example) and can usually hear stuff that doesn't sound "right" when going over speed bumps.

I took it to a shop for an inspection and they tell me: looks like you need new front struts, we recommend wheel alignment too.

I say 'show me' and what I can see is clearly worn strut *jackets/boots* but can't really see anything of the strut / strut assembly. I take a look at the back struts, and the piston is clearly visible, and looks very smooth and shiny, but again the jacket/boots of both rear struts are torn up real bad. The also say "looks like original struts". They're wrong; they were replaced by the previous owner (my brother) 40,000 miles and ~3 years ago at Meineke - the receipt says "Front Gas Ryder w/VST {Warranty=LIFETIME-S}".

Now, do I need new struts? Or are they just guessing what I need based on what I told them I heard / felt? I don't know how much I trust this inspection, and I'm not familiar with this particular shop (hard to find a good mechanic). I plan on calling Meineke in the morning, regardless.

Also, how much will the worn strut boots affect how fast these things degrade? I expect the part wouldn't cost much of anything (few bucks) but labor would be a lot replacing them. . .

Ideas / other diagnoses?

 

Make sure all the bolts that mount the strut are tight. You may be hearing noises from a bad upper strut mount as well. The knocking noise at the shift may be a torn engine mount.

 

Just from what you said at the beginning makes me think bad struts.
I had to drove around with a bad rear strut for a week or two a few months back while waiting for the shop to get a new one in. Sounded exactly like what you described.

Was there any oil on the sides of the struts? How many miles since the struts were changed?

Hmm..Gas Ryder? Those Monroe struts? I wouldn't be surprised if they need replacing, especially if they reused the original boots. If they're shredded as you say, dust and dirt probably got in there and screwed up the struts.

If you still have the work receipt from Meineke, you should try bringing it back to them and have them look at it. Maybe the "Lifetime" warranty might apply..

Good luck.

 

Okay, well I stopped by Meineke -- I thought I might run into problems as that lifetime warranty is indeed non-transferrable, but I kind of skirted the issue a bit and got him to look at it while I watched, after telling him the problems I was having, but not telling him I already had it inspected.

I think the first shop I took it to had NFI what they were talking about. Meineke guy said struts, strut mounts, engine mount looked fine from what he could tell. As he was looking at stuff with the car on the lift, I saw him turn the left wheel back and forth a bit, then go do the same to the right one. There the problem was found. . .the right wheel was able to turn at least a good ± 15-20 degrees I'd say without the left wheel moving at all. There was a very loose bolt on the linkage there. . .I can't see how any mechanic worth his salt could have possibly missed that. Instead the first place tells me I need new struts and that I should flush my brake system

Nothing was stripped, and he tightened it up for me; I'm fairly sure that was my primary problem. The occasional knock when rapidly accelerating through 1st to 2nd is not a motor mount problem; so may be transmission related, at which point I plug my ears and go "la la LA not LISTENING!" until a more serious problem manifests.

Anyway, here's to saving $400 - $700 and hoping for the best.

 

If all of your suspension rubber components are shot, you should replace them. It's a mini suspension tune up. You should replace the dust covers if you'd like the struts and rear shocks to last longer. As someone else mentined, the pistons will get dirty, causing seal failure thus killing your dampers.

Dust covers all the way around, toss in a few spring isolation sleves and 2 strut bearings for the front, you've got yourself a nice suspension tune up. Just make sure all the dampers are good at this point as well. Then your good for anothers ~50K till the next suspension inspection.

 

Hi,

Am facing a similar problem on my 63K miles 97 Maxima.
Dealership and Midas both want $500 to change bearing plates and struts.

Please help as I do not have that kind of money....what should I tell them so that I sound....um...knowledgeable?

Thanks
bunkpunk

 

Im getting a similar front end noise, except mine is more like a creeking, when i turn the wheel. I thought it was the CV joints or axles but both are in great shape. Everyone i talk to can't figure out what is causing it. I just changed my breaks and with the breaks all dismantled i still cant see where its coming from. Car handles fine, but when i go over speed bumps its makes the same noise, so i figure its gotta be the struts, or springs. I will say it only seems to do it in the cold weather, and at low speeds, so that makes me think its suspension related. Im actually going to get my car lowered and 4 new struts put in in a few weeks, so then ill see if that fixes the problem or not. im just hoping it isn't a bearing problem, but ive heard what bad bearing sounds like and doesn't seem to sound like that, plus if it was a bad bearing I would figure it would make a rubbing sound all the time, and any speed; not when turning at slow speeds or speed bumps.

Its odd my fathers 97 gxe has never had its suspension replaced or anything and that car has close to 120k on it, guess its all about luck of the draw. Hell he just had the belts replaced 2 months ago, and the tires last summer. Yes he doesn't care for his car the way he should