sounds like something in the suspension....possibly ball joints maybe axle?...sounds like a faint knock...please lemmie know what this might be?...idc bout parts price cuz i can get them for free i just needa know what it might be

 

Oh there was a thread on this, I don't remember. But a member opened up their joints or something and there was a peice of metal broken off, and so whenever that part spins it would make a knocking sound.

Ack! I wish I saved that thread

 

Don't you think it's just some oil or lubricant problem?...

 

Could be that too haha. But that is only if you are lucky

 

strut mount

 

i just put brand new suspension...a friend told me that my wheels might b hitting parts of the upper suspension maybe spacers?


and thanks for the help

 

could be cv axle, or tie rods. strut mounts sound like a groaning where the cv axle and tie rods sound like a banging or clicking

 

wrong, strut mounts do a knocking noise when turning the wheel left or right. when i did my suspension my one side was stripped and the knocking went away when i replaced it.

 

Which components did you replace? Sounds like you might have spring noise.

If you did any spring/strut work you need to make sure you clocked the upper perch correctly. The word OUT, stamped on the upper perch should face outwards or be in line with the struts lower mounting flange.
A new or regreased strut bearing helps the assembly rotate freely which will reduce the chance of spring binding noises.

 

thinking the same thing.

 

On nissan 240sx's when a clunking noise is heard when turning its usually the tension rods, i dont know if maxima have these but thats something to think about...could also be the strut mounts like mentioned above.

 

no tension rods on the maximas.

 

Wheel Bearing most likely. Does it do it when you turn Right and left or only one side?

 

not the wheel bearing. wheel bearings have a pretty distinct sound, like a grinding noise or it will sound like a tire, its either the ball joint or the strut mount. lift the car up and check your ball joints for any wear. if you can, take the spindle off and check for a lot of play. also check for play in the tie rods while you have everything disassembled. make sure everything is tight.

 

It was the upper strut bearings in mine. In fact, they need replacing again now.

John

 

Hello, first post here hope to make some friends and learn about my new (used) car.
Does it make this knocking noise as you turn the wheel? If so, then look at your ball joints, tie rods, and strut mounts. Dry ball joints will make ALOT more noise than you would ever think possible.
If it makes noise while holding the steering at a constant position and driving around a corner under light throttle than its a safe bet your Outer CV joints are toast. check your CV joint boots. are they broken or gone? Puking grease? Dry even?
Hope this helps. I'm new to Maximas, But was recently an ASE certified mechanic and am quite knowledgeable about vehicles in general If any one needs help that way.

 

i had similar issue. it was the bearing issue. thing is bad bearings will lead to bad mounts. if you know what side it is buy the parts online for cheap ahead of time. this way you will have to disassemble it only one time.

basically the bearing is plastic disc that all your car weight is on. pretty amazing. anyways it rotates the strut assembly, but with bad bearings the rotation does not happen smoothly. it grinds along the plate and that knocking sound is basically the rotation happening in clicks.

my advice is new bearing and mount. make sure you grease the bearing nice. that will decrease any friction and help that rotating movement


hopefully this helps you.
if you replaced strut/spring on your max, i almost guarantee that this is the issue...

 

First Post!!

During the 9 years I was in the Marine Corps two of those years was spent as an OJT'ed mechanic. I have literally worked on 100's of our military Hummers. The point I am trying to make is this...

The military HWMMV along with the 4th Gen. Maxima has half-shafts (drive axel, CV shaft) in the front of them. These half shafts have a CV (constant velocity) joint that allows for the up and down movement of the suspension and more importantly, allows the car's wheels to turn right and left.

The first place to look in any front-wheel drive car that makes a noise when it turns is the half shaft. Especially if the noise is a repeated clunking noise that sounds like someone hitting a hammer on an anvil (hard hit if it is bad and a much softer, fainter hit if the problem is just in the infancy). I am not saying that something else can’t make that noise. I am just saying that this is the most logical choice.

Turn the wheels all the way to one side and check for a broken boot. You may want to rotate the front wheel so you can inspect the boot all the way around. If they are broken replace the whole shaft. Actually you don't have to change the whole thing but, they are so cheap it is great insurance. If you can source the parts you could just fix the problem end but, again the whole shaft is very cheap.

 

Sounds like a bearing to me. good luck

 

My noise was a rather subdued clunk just when you turned the steering wheel slightly at slow speeds. Just a "thump-thump, thump-thump". It was quite different sound than the CV joints make, much less distinct.

You could actually feel it in the springs if someone turned the steering wheel for you while you laid your hand on the spring.

Upper strut bearings fixed this.

John