97 Max SE

My '96 Maxima (automatic, 125k) has started making a clunking noise whenever you go from moderate to heavy braking to gas. It only makes the noise once, until you brake again. It happens going straight or turning. I jacked up the car and looked at the cv boots and ball joints, and everything looked fine. If you brake gradually, there isn't any noise. The "clunk" has gotten louder over the past few weeks. Axles? CV joints?

Any ideas or suggestions?

97 Max SE

Anybody got anything?

HM_Motorsports

iTrader: (1)

Well, mine does this as well, although, not as bad as it sounds from your description, it may not be anything serious, just normal wear, I don't know how tight the tolerances are in our cars within the differential, but can't be more than most others. It may just be the gears switching from the coast side to the acceleration side of the teeth. They might have a little more clearance than a fresh dif, enough to make that clunk anyways. Just a thought. Most of my experiences though the noise just comes from loose CV's. If you jack up your car and put the tranny in park, rotate the wheel back and forth and watch the CV, make sure there's no play in either joint, I'm willing to bet there is. Just because a boot isn't torn doesn't mean they're just not worn out inside. If both CV's look tight, then it may be time to start looking at the Dif. Keep in mind though, while the car is in park, you'll get some play inside the tranny, so just make absolutely sure there's not any play in the CV's before you worry it's something more serious.