Let me start off by saying that I've been dealing with this problem for over a month and its really ****ing me off. So I decided to take some pics and tell you about it in seach of answers.

It all started on a snowy night when I was feeling adventurous. Anyway, while having fun in the snow I managed to hit the curb, hard. A week later I had the spindle and lower control arm replaced by a mechanic. I thought all would be fixed but on the invoice the guy wrote, "Vehicle has noise in right front suspect coming from sway bar." So, after driving the car for a day the noise became very noticable. It is a knocking noise that occurs over every little bump in the road. It is definitely coming from the front right. It is a thick metal bumping thick metal sound "clunk, clunk" not clank. Well, I thought at first it was the endlink. So I got one from Nissan but haven't put it in yet. Upon further inspection it seems that the endlink is fine although I'm not sure. Here is a pic of the endlink. Does it look damaged. If so, what are the tourqe specs for the bolts.


The other possible cause that I'm aware off is the sway bar bushings. So I ordered some Hyperflex Bushings. Does it look like the stock bushings are damaged. There is only about 2 to 3mm of rubber between the bar and frame. How does one go about putting them on?

 

C'mon, someone please help me out.

 

only things that come to mind is tierods, sway bar or even the far reach on a loose tire

 

replace the endlinks and see wat happens... i had the same problem.. and i just replaced the endlinks and it went away..... u mite as well get endlinks for both sides and replace it.. and also the bushings on the sway bar.... get the energy suspension bushings.... for the sway bar...

 

It's hard to say because I can't get a good look at the end links, but they look pretty flat, and the FSB bushings look smoked, so I'd start there. But what your describing sounds kind of like the uppper strut mounts.

 

Thanks guys. Do you know the torque specs on the endlink nuts. Do I need to get new bushings also? What do you mean by flat? The sway bar bushings were ordered a week ago but aren't here yet. Is there a slit in them so you can wrap them around? What is the upper strut mount? Is it the little orange piece or the rubber piece the diameter of the spring? Are there aftermarket ones available?

 

I can look in my FSM for the torque specs. The end-link bushings are what I was referring to as being flat. Yes, there is a slit in the FSB bushings. Let me look at my FSM and I'll get back to you 'bout it.

 

12 - 16 ft lbs. yea.. you should replace the bushings too...

 

When you figure this one out let me know. So far I have new nissan upper strut mounts, new oem strut bearings, illumina struts, progress springs, spring isolators, sway bar bushing energy suspension, new oem sway bar end links from nissan with energy suspension bushings, also lower control arm full energy suspension conversion. I still have a heavy clunking noise and everything is assembled perfectly and the alignment is dead on.

The only thing left is the lower ball joint that is lubed for life. I can't imagine this being my problem as I have jacked up the car numerous times and jerked the wheels all over the place with no slack whatsoever. I would hate to replace these as they are only available by replacing the entire lower control arm. I have also considered the c/v axles but after a 15min conversation with raxles this would not be my problem either especially if I am not getting any noise while turning and the boots aren't even torn one bit.

I am stumped and frustrated to say the least. The one thing is funny though is I can only feel it a low speeds as the travel in the suspension is slow, as speed increases the road noise and increased speed of the suspension travel make this seem to dissappear. One thing is certain I will find out what this is.

 

AllGo, I have found what you said to be true after thinking about it. The noise either disappears or isn't audible at anything more that 40-50MPH. One thing I forgot to mention was that my dustboot on my steering arm is ripped. It there a joint in there that could be damaged by interference of rocks and such. If it is the ball joint in the control arm I will be getting it fixed for free because the control arm I got came off a junked 96. It made me mad that the Control Arm was in such bad shape. Look at it. Its rusty as hell. Its the only bit of rust on the entire car. Right now I'm hopping its the FSB bushings. They look really bad.

 

change ur front sway bar bushing with energy suspension bushings over here >> http://www.courtesyparts.com/energys...on/maxima.html

change ur dustboots over here >> http://www.cattman.com/

 

Well, I have an update on the issue. I first replaced the right endlink and bushings. That didn't solve it. Today I replaced the sway bar bushings with OEM Nissan bushings because ES is on indefinite back order. That didn't solve it either. So, I've been dealing with a knocking suspension for two months and am tired of it. I schedualed a diagnostic appointment at Nissan. My only other guesses are the rack and pinion or the strut. If its the steering I will not attempt that myself. If its the strut, this will be a good excuse to go with KYB AGX's. I've never riden in a car with a blown strut. Is this what they do? Clunk...Clunk... over every bump? Any other possible suspects anyone can think of.

 

i got ran off the road and into a curb about a month ago. i had the spindle, tie rods, wheel bearing, strut (b/c there are 2 bushings that have to line up in order to work properly) replaced. the bearing has to be pressed in to place so unless you have a press its hard to do in your driveway, all in all it was around $1500+ b/c nissan sucked and couldnt do it right the first two times

 

All of the ES bushings should be in stock at www.suspension.com

I got mine 2 weeks ago.

 

My daughters 96 had a clunking noise that my shop couldn't locate, it would stop when you braked lightly, then start up again. She drove with it for almost a year then went to a local shop for a oil change and the mechanic noticed
what he called a metal donut around the front of the exaust system near the front pipe was loose, he cut it off and that was it. I still can't believe that was the problem after all that time

 

It could very well be the strut. You've basically eliminated everything else....

 

Ive got this same noise and I just installed brand new shocks, springs, mounts, and bearings, I also tightened to spec.

 

I've got a similar problem with my 99 SE. A nissan mechanic suggested I get the steering rack check. So he checked it while on a lift and the tie rod on the passenger side had an ecessive amount of play on it. He basically could feel the play in his hand. He also could hit the tire with the side of his fist and I could hear it rattle. I have'nt replaced it yet, because I just replaced the front suspension and bought new tires. Anyway check this out...

 

i had the same thing on my 97 gxe, i fixed it by changing the arm with the bushing, and also the strut (which was supposely bad)

 

Thanks for the help guys. Mrbizness1, that happened to me also. The donut your refering to is the little colar that holds the flex section on the y-pipe together. That was fixed when I got my budget. CPETTY, I'm guessing that I have the same issue as you. Someone please explain to how struts can be bent by a curb collision. Wouldn't the lower control arm take all the impact force. I'm going in on Friday to have Nissan look at it. I will let you guys know what they say. God I hope its not the steering rack.

 

I noticed that your replaced conrol arm was used...it sounds like a ball joint noise.

 

Yeah the control arm was used and wasn't replace by Nissan. If Nissan decides that the issue is in the used part I will be fighting the repair shop to get money from them or the junk yard the CA came from.

 

Have you put your car on jackstands? Checked for play in the tire? Remove tire, and check for play. Seperate tie rod and check for play between tie rod and hub. Un-bolt sway bar and check for play on those end links. Have a friend turn steering wheel, and check for play in the entire rack.

I know for instance, my entire rack has some play in it, because the entire rack moves because of my 2 rack insulators/bushings.

You gotta look closer, before you hand over money. Separate the easy things, and see if you can find some obvious play in any of the balljoints. If you can't find any play anywhere, then maybe your sway bar got bent with your accident. I noticed those sway bar bushings looked off.

i noticed your rack is leaking (your boot is torn and dripping fluid). The leak may not cause play, but if your rack gears are loose/damaged, and your rack is leaking anyway...I guess it's new/remanufactured rack time. Those boots that are "wet" are just dust boots.

 

I got a very similar issue, with some passenger side spring/strut noise. It is a very heavy metal on metal sound heard mainly under small suspension movement while in motion. I can lift the hood while stopped and shove my body weight ~200lbs and get the suspension to move up a down rather violently with no sound at all and it settles down immediately. Tom, please read my post above, Do you really think I could have a blown strut?? My Illuminas are less than 4 months old and ride and dampen beautifully. I am beginning to think these progressive springs no matter the isolation are just damn noisy.

 

I have had the car up many times since this issue has begun but to no avail. I have done the tire kicking/checking thing, the friend turning wheel thing, and even the jacking up the CA thing to no avail. If the sway bar got bent is it possible to replace it with the SE part and bushings. I know its thicker but maybe the mounting point are the same and the only difference other than the bar itself is the bushings? I'm not seeing the tie rod in the FSM so I'm not sure which part your refering to. Thanks for all the help but the diagnosis is only $50 and then this will be done.

 

what exactly do the energy suspention bushings do over the oem?

i also had this rattle for 4 months coming from my front and rear right side when going over bumps i checked the shocks and i checked the springs and it turned out to be the jack loose in the trunk. it's funny i tightened it and never heard a rattle since.

 

Energy Suspension bushings are made of poly-urethane. This material has a much higher durameter than the OEM rubber bushings. This means that the flex in the sway-bar becomes minimal if not totally removed. This reduction in flex provides better handling at the sacrifice of some comfort.

I have had my jack and spare out since the car officially became mine so, I don't think thats the problem. I remember little stuff like that. I was always jacking of the car because I thought it was an actual problem. I would often have rattles like you explained in the trunk and it always turned out to be the jack or a piece of collected junk rolling around in the wheel well.

 

Nissan did the diagnosis and boy do I feel stupid now. After going on a test drive they noticed that something was wrong but didn't know from just driving...so, on the lift she goes. I'm talking with the guys for like 20 minutes about various stuff. They're all into modding so they were asking what kinda y-pipe and everything but couldn't pinpoint the problem. Then, they're letting it down and one of the guys stops the lift and tells me the strut is toast. Sure enough, there was fluid leaking out of the damn thing. I was so mad at myself for not noticing this. Anyway...the result is that I'm ordering KYB AGX's tomorrow.

 

I could of told you that a while ago lol. I knew it but kept reading. Glad you fixed it. When you get the AGX's get some washers for the rear struts to sit the bump stops on or else it will slip down the cylinder and that same noise will come back. 3/8" I believe I got. Cant believe they didn't come with the rear struts.

 

Hmm don't know if you are acting like a newb...or if you're serious...

 

So i guess u didnt see the thread date?????

 

How else is he supposed to get 1,200 posts in 3 months?

 

wow. how in the hell did that show up on the new thread list? I didnt even bother checking the date

 

When I bought my Maxima I had the same problem, it turned out to be the lower control arm on my driver side and both my struts and strut mounts. Changed them and the problem went away.

 

You really don't need to unbolt anything, check all 4 axis of the wheel for play, get a large prybar and check your endlinks for wear, LCA , etc it's really easy....pry with one hand feel for play with the other hand....takes about 30 min to check the entire frontend and chassis for anything loose/worn!

 

had the same sound on my 98 from the rear. was the strut isolator bushing. think that's what it was called, the rubber piece that sits on top of the spring. bought a whole strut/spring assembly and no more noise.
jumping on an old thread just like everybody else lol.