Yesterday while driving my car felt like it was dragging a huge stick. I pulled over to check and there was nothing underneath my car. I have a 96 five speed maxima se with exhaust and ypipe mods. I put the car on a lift to check that the exhaust wasnt hitting a heat shield or anything. The exhaust is rather loose and does move some. But it was not close to any heat shield under the car. The noise happens hi or lo rpm, turning or not turning, when i floor it the noise worsens and sounds like tons of rocks hitting the bottom of my car. I can kind of feel the vibrations through the driver seat. The noise is like rain pouring on a tin roof or a bunch of bb's in a can. It is very loud and can be heard clearly over my ypipe even at 5500 rpms. ANY HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW I AM STUCK!!??

Check your exhaust system again

need a few more details. does the noise change with respect to speed or with respect to engine RPMs? does it chage when you shift gears? did you run the car while it was on the lift and take a look around? if you still have access to the lift you might wanna try that.

Broken engine mount allowing the motor vibes to be transmitted directly into the bodywork? Does the noise still occur while stationary? If not, put the car on a lift and rotate the wheels to check for bearings / fouling something. If that doesn't locate it, have your friend drive it while you hang on underneath on a mechanic's trolley (NO don't do that, I am joking!)

i hear a noise to but mainly when my car idles... i think it may be my a/c compressor bearings or sumthing..

could be that or ur alternator bearing

it must be the exhaust check the hangers

Check your idler tensioner pulley. BluBOBs car has been making this noise for a little while. We couldnt figure it out...thought it was the timing chain rattling around. Then yesterday while I was following him the pulley and the belt fell off. Yes it was tightened down but the bearing was chewed up. Check that. If it is it will be cheap and easy to fix.

can you feel any vibration in the shifter? does it do it when you are stopped?
whatever it is, i think you completly blew up a bearing of some sort

I had a loud tin can rattling noise coming from my car, sounded like someone hitting a 55 gallon drum with a metal spoon. Turns out the tensioner pulley was shot, 150 bucks later everything was golden

Jeez, you got raped. I changed BlueBOB's tensioner pulley today and the cost was only 65 bucks...that was brand new parts(pulley and belt) from Courtesy. And it only took 20 minutes to do. 3 tools needed: 14mm socket with 12" extension, 14mm wrench, and 12mm socket.

I have the similiar or same problem only between 45-52 mph and when accelerating not mainting speed or idiling. Could this be the same problem?

Take a look at your CV axles and the condition of the boots. Also...and this is what I really think it could be...Look at the steering rack. There are two brackets that hold the rack to the firewall with a rubber bushing that wraps around the rack. If you've had a power steering fluid leak, the fluid would have eaten the rubber bushing, so the rack is going to wobble a bit as you drive. If the bushing has deteriorated, you'll have to replace it (both would be a good idea.) Before you do, find the source of the leak and repair or you'll be doing it all again.