Guys-
You all heard about my find on the emergency brake. Well I was after what I thought was a clunk from the exhaust. Here is the scenario. If I turn right or left going up a slight hill...like into a driveway...I get this clunk sound. Sounds like if you had a wrench sitting loosely in the trunk and it smacks around as you turn. I got under the car and checked the tension on my struts to make sure that they were tight--they are. Then I got on the inside of the trunk and inspected the stereo equipment and its all secure for the most part--one amp is loose but doesn't move without significant force. I then checked the top of the struts to see if they were tight and they were too. Not I am puzzled to be honest. Another note is that if I am going over a bunch of potholes or rough surface all at once I get this "hollow" sound as I hit the bumps coming from the rear. It doesn't do it unless I go over a ton of bumps all at once.

Factors to consider: I just replaced all shocks and sturts with Tokicko and have H&R springs. The springs are in correctly as I already checked that too. The noise was there prior to any of this except for the "hollow" sound. I think that hollow sound could be the shocks just sounding different than the old worn out stock parts. Other than that, nothing has changed. I hate driving the car as it sounds like it is going to break as I turn into others driveways. You can't hear it from outside the car either.

One last thing...yes I checked the spare tire well and made sure all was secure...everything is.

Ok...suggestions?

SHUMAX

 

An idea? There aren't bearings in the rear like there are in the front, are there? I don't remember seeing them like I did on the front. If that's the case I bet I found the problem!

 

I have a stock 97 Max SE and from the day that I bought it, I hear a slight 'clunk' noise that comes from somewhere in the rear suspension linkage.

This noise occurs when I am turning from a flat surface to a slight inclined surface. A small parking garage with steep ramps is a perfect example. It sounds like mine is making a similar noise, but my rear suspension is stock. I took it to the dealer and they said that they didn't hear any noise like the one I was describing.

It might be a design fault with the linkage suspension in the rear.

 

1) Spare tire. Is it securely fastened? Remedy: tighten.

2) Jack and jack tools. Securely fastened? Remedy: tighten.

3) Exhaust system alignment. Annoying rattles can come from some part of the exhaust system hitting an adjacent part of the car. The exhaust system is mounted on rubber hangers, giving it some freedom to move about. When the engine is cold, grab the tailpipe and wiggle it vigorously up and down, side to side. See if this exercise can replicate the unwanted sound. Remedy: change the hangers and/or bend the metal fingers which fasten to the hangers in order to increase the clearance between exhaust pipes and car body.

4) Exhaust system heat shield. There are heat shields on some parts of the exhaust system. Sometimes one corner or one end of a heat shield breaks free. This condition gives rise to all sorts of weird intermittent rattles, buzzes, clunks. Remedy: repair or replace.

5) Muffler. It is unusual, but possible, for one of the baffles inside the muffler to break loose. This metal piece will then move about on it's own, rattling and banging as it goes. Remedy: replace muffler.

6) Broken rubber bushing in the suspension. Raise the vehicle and support it on sturdy jackstands. Slide under and inspect every part of the rear suspension. Look for cracked bushings. Remedy: replace.

 

Ok-
Except for number 6 on your list I have done all of the above. I don't doubt your suggestion to number 6, but I can't believe the bushings would be worn out after 70k. However, stranger things have happened, right? I will slide under there tomorrow and take a look around. I have to think it was a design issue with that suspension setup. However, I am just looking for someone else to point the finger at.

I would agree with the other individual who responded. It only happens on slight uphill turns....like the chasis is flexing ever so slightly.

Hopefully is doesn't break on me while I am on my 2500 miles trip down south this coming week!

See ya-
SHUMAX

 

When you are under the car thump on the muffler with a rubber mallet. You should hear nothing. If you hear something loose in there, there is a problem.

 

Excellent idea with the muffler. I wish I could say it was that, but the muffler is a STILLEN SS muffler that isn't that old. However, I will do that tomorrow and let you all know.

SHUMAX

 

I know you said you tried to replicate and exhaust banging...but I have the Stillen SS muffler, and had (what sounds like) the same noise as you, and it was because of the muffler.

Just to the right of the muffler (if you are facing the back of the car) there is a hook that I imagine is there for towing or something. One of the muffler's arms would hit that hook...but it only seemed to happen when the car was hot. I don't know why, but I couldn't replicate it by shaking the muffler. I took the hook off on a hunch, and sure enough the rattle/bang that I was looking for went away.

Just a thought.

 

Not an expert but I have to say it might have made the noie because it had expanded due to heat JUST enough to touch. I wil also admit that I THINK that mine only does it when it's hot too. I will yank mine off tomorrow too and see!

Thanks for the suggestion!

SHUMAx

 

What exhaust to you have? Do you have an aftermarket B-pipe. I've got the Courtesy B-pipe which is about .4" larger in diameter than the stock pipe. On a hot day and with the AC on, the pipe expands in size and hits the tunnel heat sheild on large raised bumps. When the system is cold and I shake it, it doesn't come close to hitting. All I can think is that the expansion of the pipe along with the lengthing of the hangers when hot, increases the chances of the pipe hitting the shield. It does this VERY rarely so I don't worry about it....for now.

I too have annoying little thumpty-thump (hardly noticable) that seems to come the passenger side rear of the compartment on small bumps in turns. I know it's a suspension problem because I've looked everything over numerous times. I'm almost certain this an unfortunate side effect of running lowering springs, rear sway bar, tighter struts, and a rear strut tower brace. Eventually I will replace the coil spring insulators on the springs. Maybe the insulator is bad causing the spring to vibrate on the perch.


Dave

 

I have already replaced that piece when I did the shocks/struts about 2 months ago. I am about to say it is the setup we have..i.e springs, struts, braces combined with the suspension on this car. I really don't think it sounds like an exhaust rattling, but at this point I am about to accept anything as a possability. I will be attacking it tomorrow night and will let you all know what I get out of it!

SHUMAX

 

Brake pads? Mine didn't start until I replaced mine w/ aftermarket. Try lighlty applying the brakes when making the turn/going up the hill. If it doesn't make the noise that's most likely what the problem is.

 

I don't think its the brake pads. I messed with it tonight on the way home. It ALMOST shounds like the rear window is moving around. I know its not, but I do notice its coming from both sides. When I make a left turn it come from the right side. When I make a right turn it is coming from the left side. I am not sure what, if anything, that means..but its the facts.

I did wiggle my exhaust and it is banging against the bumper if I really get it going. However, that would take about 3" of travel to the left side if facing from the rear before it hits the bumper---I doubt that is causing it. It also isn't coming close to the tow hook either. I will dig in further tomorrow night to see if something is loose on the suspension.

See ya-
SHUMAX

 

Just wanted to let you all know what I ended up doing tonight to try to fix this:

Tapped muffler with rubber malet= nothing!

Wiggled exhaust=if I moved it 3" either direction it hit a shield; this can't be it--doesn't sound the same.

Took off tow hook= nothing!

Took out all stereo equipment, jack, wrenches, fire extinguisher, golf clubs, torque wrench, spare..etc===no change!

Got to the top of the shock from inside trunk and tried to tighten bolts= all were VERY tight and witin torq spec.

Got under the car and tried to tighten the bolts on the bottom of the shock===no change!


PROBLEM!!!! When on the inside of the car and trying to tighten the top of the shock I tried to tighten the middle bolt on the strut. You know...there are three bolts--the two outer ones are used to mount it and the center one is the piston to the strut. So---by trying to tighten that bolt I heard something "move" what the hell it was, I don't know. I am curious if I messed the alignment up by playing with that thing? I don't know how they align the rear end so if someone could enlighten me what bolts are touched I would appreciate it!

Conclusion! Something is wrong. What that is, I have no clue! I am sick of the car. I worked on it for 3 hours, took 8 test runs and sweat clean through my shirt!

Any more ideas guys? Please...

SHUMAx

 

All you did was rotate the shaft on the strut. No harm was done. The alignment was unaffected.

Get help from a friend, anyone who can drive safely. Let your friend drive while you ride in the trunk. Keep the rear seat center armrest pass-through open to assure you of fresh air and easy communication with your driver. You will be closer to the source of the sound and perhaps identify it.

 

DBM and I must be thinking the same thing. Crazy I am...so I had my finace take me for a ride in the trunk. Oh did she love it---"right where you belong" she kept saying! Whatever Just remember honey, you have my supercharger on your left hand!


OK...so we took a few good turns into peoples driveways and it did it about three times. Best I can tell its coming from the shock area. It sounds like something is twisting. I took a piece of tubing and placed it on the shock tower. I had her take a turn. We took it VERy sloly and as we went through the turn into the driveway which is slightly uphill I heard through the pipe a scraping sound a pop and then the BANG! Again, the sound is exagerated..it doesn't sounds that bad, but is noticable. I did the same thing again but on the other side....same result.

If you remember I said this was going on when my car was stock except for the springs. I am begining to think this is something to do with lowering you car and having a different suspension. I must say..this beam axle setup is no gem!

Any more suggestions? I think I have tapped them all out!

SHUMAX

 

When you installed new lowering springs, did you happen to loosen the rear suspension parts and retorque them AFTER the springs were installed? This is necessary because the car is now riding at a lower height and the bushings in the rear suspension were originally tightened with the factory springs. Not doing so COULD have torn the busings because of the excess travel put on them. It is worth looking into. If you can raise the rear end and support the car on it,s tires (drive on ramps), you could have someone push up and down of the car and inspect the bushings for any abnormalties.

 

This may sound crazy but I had the exact same problem! I tried everything and nothing would fix it, I was convinced that the exhaust was rubbing/vibrating off of something. After everything I tried the simplest thing yet and it worked! There are 2 rods (not sure what their called) in the trunk that operate the opening and closing of the trunk. Normally they have some sort of plastic seperator that keeps them from rubbing together. Well, mine had fallen off and everytime I punched it, or took a sharp left turn, they would rub together and make an awful grinding sound. I have yet to get the stock seperators but in the mean time, i stuck a foam padding around one of the rods that keeps it from touching the other one and now I have no more grinding noise. Give it a try and see if you have the same problem.

 

Shumax, I don't think that noise has anything to do with aftermarket parts because my almost stock Max has the same exact noise in the rear passenger side when I'm backing up onto an incline or turning onto a slight incline. It only happens on occasion, but it's enough to drive you insane!

 

Nissan calls these parts Trunk Lid Torsion Bars. They don't operate the opening and closing of the trunk, all they do is support the weight of the lid when the trunk is open. They serve the same purpose as the gas-charged hood stays which support the hood when it is open.

 

I brief check this morning did reveal that those 'rods' are resting on eachother. I will try to isolate them with some foam tonight and see what happens.

SHUMAX