For the last 9 months, I have been struggling with front driver's lower suspension noise that bugged the hell outta me. I am happy to report the culprit has been found: shot FSB endlink.
Noise was particularly noticeable at low speed going straight over small bumps. Popping, metallic creaking/grinding, knocking. When I bounce the front end hard, I can hear a pretty disconcerting metallic creaking.
Well, got some endlinks from JRNissan ($15 list, $11 discounted) and installed them. The Driver's side was totally shot. A hella lot of free play in the end link joint and the ball was actually easy to pop out when removed. Inside was rusted out badly. The rubber boot covering the joint was compromised which probably let to the joint's demise. Passenger side showed signs of early failure: rusty around the boot which had a little tear. On this side, it was very stiff/frozen and probably was on it's way to rusting out.
Install: 1 hour. Major hangup was having to cut the endlink attachment to the control arm--the nut would not come off. Once again, my trusty cut-off wheel saved my ****.
Result: bouncing the front end is now quiet. Driving the car is now quiet. Can't tell you all how happy I am that my baby does not sound like a POS... This is just one cause for lower front suspension noise--I am not saying this is everyone's cure.
Check: condition of endlink rubber boot. check for excessive freeplay (bad). check to make sure the endlink can move in all directions freely.
pic with rubber boot removed:
Noise was particularly noticeable at low speed going straight over small bumps. Popping, metallic creaking/grinding, knocking. When I bounce the front end hard, I can hear a pretty disconcerting metallic creaking.
Well, got some endlinks from JRNissan ($15 list, $11 discounted) and installed them. The Driver's side was totally shot. A hella lot of free play in the end link joint and the ball was actually easy to pop out when removed. Inside was rusted out badly. The rubber boot covering the joint was compromised which probably let to the joint's demise. Passenger side showed signs of early failure: rusty around the boot which had a little tear. On this side, it was very stiff/frozen and probably was on it's way to rusting out.
Install: 1 hour. Major hangup was having to cut the endlink attachment to the control arm--the nut would not come off. Once again, my trusty cut-off wheel saved my ****.
Result: bouncing the front end is now quiet. Driving the car is now quiet. Can't tell you all how happy I am that my baby does not sound like a POS... This is just one cause for lower front suspension noise--I am not saying this is everyone's cure.
Check: condition of endlink rubber boot. check for excessive freeplay (bad). check to make sure the endlink can move in all directions freely.
pic with rubber boot removed:
I had those replaced when I had my springs and struts installed. That was one of the items that was recommended in some of the posts that I read when doing the suspension upgrade. Mine were looking a little hurt.
I just finished installing my front suspension early this morning. I did notice one of the endlinks had a lot of play in it. The boot on it was wanting to come off and starting to ooze grease. If I had known beforehand, and especially since they're that cheap, I probably would have replaced them during this install. Oh well, hopefully they'll last a while.
