Hi All,
Did a lot of searching but came up empty.
I will try to explain my concern.
I have a 1998 Maxima SE 5 speed with 133,000 mile.
It handles like a dream (compared to my 1998 Saturn SL1) it really drives nice. Smooth on the hi-way. Tight steering and no vibrations.
Question, when I let out the clutch I get a clunk kind of noise from the front wheels I think, it’s hard to tell. I am pretty sure it's not the clutch because the clutch is fairly new and it did this before the new clutch. Also I get the exact noise if I make the car buck by taking my foot off the gas and back on again.
Just don't if it is something I should worry about.
If anyone has any Ideas pleas let me know what you think.
Thanks in advance.
-quadcells

 

Does it do it more often/louder while exiting a turn? If so, it may be bad Lower Control Arm (LCA) bushings. LCA's can be bought on eBay or from DAVEB for fairly cheap; and if the entire unit is bought, it comes with bushings (typically).

First off, find out if that is indeed the problem. A quick inspection of the front end suspension components couldn't hurt either.

 

Just had a 4 wheel alignment, would bad bushings/control arm make it so they couldn’t do the alignment?

 

How much did you pay? They took you for a ride on the 'rear wheel alignment' portion of that bill.

Nope, I had my car aligned many times even though my LCA bushings were shot.

 

$49
with the purchess of 4 tires.
Are you saying the rear do not get adjusted?

 

. . . .

 

Hi Again,
Over the weekend I jacked up my Maxima to inspect the LCA bushings and cv joints.
From what I see is that the CV joints look fairly new (I bought the car in April 07) and the control arm bushings is hard to tell if they are worn. Is their a way to tell if they are?
One thing that was easy to see is the sway bar links look pretty bad. Bushings are torn and looks like they are lose.
Could the worn links be the cause of my noise?
I think I will change them and see what that does.
-quadcells

 

yesss....do that, and change the swaybar bushings while you're at it. Have a mech inspect the LCAs.

 

^^ Definitely change those link bushings. Here is a link to Energy Suspension, http://www.courtesyparts.com/energys...on/maxima.html

If you still have noise also check the transmisson & engine mounts.

 

I meant change the swaybar links alltogether, and the swaybar (mount) bushings.

 

hi im new here.justb wanted to say whats up.but also about the noises i have a 1996 max with nos,the only noise i get is in the front end it's a sqeek.

 

most likely a swaybay link

 

Thanks all,
I will be doing the links this weekend. They are worn but now I feel it's not the source of my noise. When a person does replaces the clutch, they have to remove the axles, yes? Could the cv joints get damaged when they do this?
I looked at the motor mounts, but I don't know what I should be looking for.
So I guess I will replace the links and if the noise is still present then I will bring it into the shop.
-quadcells