my gf's 96 maxima has a moderately quiet ticking noise coming from the strut/suspension area in the front when the wheel is turned when the car is either standing or moving very slow. It never happens when the car is moving above say 15mph...

Occasionally also there is a semi loud bang sound coming from the same area after the wheel is moved the first time after the car has been standing for a few hours. This only happens once in a blue moon though, not often at all.

The dust boots on her struts are torn off, so could the struts have been damaged by that and make noise now? Or could it be the strut mounts?

Also, is it safe to drive around with the dust boots ripped like that?

thanks

 

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/400

 

yea thats a bad thing, get them replaced as soon as possible

 

ouch.. thanks, how much do they cost and is it hard to replace yourself?

 

no i think your struts are fine, its your CV joints that are gonna need replacing, by what your describing, the ticking and popping noises you hear when you turn the steering wheel means your CV joints are going and you need new axles. how soon you need them depends on their condition but i would do it right away for saftey, get a good mechanic to inspect them to see if they need replacing for sure, as for how hard they are to replace yourself, thats up to you and how good you are with cars.
Me personally, i would have a very mechanically inclined friend do it for me cause it doesnt sound easy to do. just my opinion
Check out www.raxles.com ive many good things about them here on the .org

 

checsh yak chimash polish punk, lol

 

the instructions for doing it yourself are right on that link...only you would be able to determine whether you think you will be able to do it by yourself or not.

 

My Max makes that sound too. It turned out to be my springs. I wrapped the top coils (bottom were already done) and it went away...

 

if I'm not correct, shouldn't have to worry about wrapping oem springs (I'm assuming she's OEM, maybe I'm wrong).

Check the CV boots and see if both of them are torn, or if it's just one joint you have to worry about.

 

yes she has OEM springs..

I called up raxles.com and talked to one of their guys, he said that it is highly unlikely that its the CV joints or axles.. next time I see her car I'm gonna listen and see where exactly the sound comes from and do some thorough testing.

 

Might be the strut bearings

 

I just listened to it with the hood open to try to see where the ticking comes from... it seems to be coming from near the top of the engine area, nowhere near the strut towers or wheels...

also, the ticking is a lot quieter under the hood, I actually had to really listen to it to hear anything, it sounds louder from inside the car... it also is loudest when initially starting to turn the wheel then it quiets down...

I had her drive in small circles and nothing, no sound.. its pretty much only when its standing...

could this be power steering related? or steering in general?

 

^^^ anyone know?

 

I just found out it was the strut mount on the passanger side.. the driver side is going too but doesn't make noise yet.. so they both need replacement..

are the KYB ones the best strut mounts? are they the only strut mounts?