So I have looked around to try to figure out the problem without making a new thread, but the problem is kind of tricky to describe in a short searchable phrase. So here it goes,
1997 Maxima SE
lowered on BC Racing coilovers (could have something to do with it)

So I get this steady clunking/rattling/knocking sound under certain circumstances. And no it is not my pistons due to low oil level. It comes from the front passenger side, and I can hear it under these conditions: its best heard when I am in gear, taking a left turn. If I put in the clutch the noise goes away. Also on cold mornings I can sometimes hear it when I just drive straight through 1st and 2nd, usually goes away by the time I shift to 3rd. Its not really loud, its pretty subtle, I have to turn radio down and listen for it. Its been going on for quite a while, definitely did not do it when I had stock suspension (don't know if that means anything). It doesn't really seem to have gotten worse, its just annoying knowing something is wrong with my car and I can't figure out what it is.

What stumps me is that I thought maybe something is rubbing on the left side, but then when I realized the noise goes away when I put the clutch in, I thought maybe it has something to do with the transmission.

That's all the details I can think of right now, if you need any information let me know. Also if you would like me to try things to test theories or something just let me know. Really appreciate the help.

 

It means quite a bit.

Coilovers are known to make noise, being your stock setup did not have any noises and it started when you installed the BC setup, I'd look very closely at those coilovers and their installation.

 

well I mean they have been balanced a couple times, once when I put them on, and then again when I got new tires, so I would think that the mechanic would notice if something wasn't right when they were adjusting them. And what would be making that noise

 

any ideas, I mean it cant just be something rubbing, cause the noise goes away when I push in the clutch. So I think it must of something to do with the transmission or something.

 

when you push the clutch in, lots of things happen to the suspension. it is likely that you are changing the weight distributioin by clutching, thus moving things back into place, and quieting them.
I would recommend a thorough exam of the suspension parts there. worn bushings, lose bolts, rounded out bolt holes, etc.

 

So I took my passenger side wheel off to take a look around. And from what I can tell, it looks the same on this side as the driver side. However I did find one thing, I'm not sure if it would be the cause or not, Ill see what you think. But the boot around the axel on the side closest to the brake is cracked, might have looked like grease was getting out of there. I'm not sure if this is related to the noises or not, what do you think?

 

yea thats the noise man, replace the axle. its easy and only 80 bucks from advanced auto/ auto zone.

 

to check for bad cv joints: go all the way to the left and then to the right in a parking lot. if you hear clicking, then it's your cv's.
does the sound you hear have a grind, thump, click, etc? describe it more thoroughly.

 

Well the axle is one part of your problem but may not fully resolve your issue. It will better narrow it down so replace the axle first.

 

Well the sound is hard to describe, but it rattles, knocks. when I think of clicking I think of something high pitched, and its not really high pitched, just a repeated, rythmic, rattling or knocking

 

If the noise only occurs when you are driving, I would suggest you check your front struts and dust boots. If those test fine and pass, I would next check your tie rods and ball joints. When was the last time you replaced those rods and suspension bushings?

 

I bought the car about 20k miles ago, so I don't know when those were replaced. But when I got coil overs for it, those were new, So I don't think there is anything wrong with the struts

 

Ok so what about the Lower Control Arm, Sway Bar bushings, Inner and Outer Tie rods, ball joints???

 

Well lets just say I'm not the most mechanical guy ever, but I am learning. What exactly am I looking for to tell me if those things are wrong, because nothing is obviously broken or cracked. However, I will try to replace the CV halfshaft here in the next couple days and tell you the results

 

Ok well the pic you took with the axle, zoom out from there and take a pic showing the suspension area on both sides so that we can help you diagnose.

 

Alright, so I replaced the halfshaft and most of the noise went away, there is still a feint noise. When I was replacing the stuff I think I noticed that the rack and pinion boot was cracked, Im not sure if maybe that might be the cause of this last noise

 

Does your steering feel good? Is it stiff? Also, is there a lot of grease coming out of the boot? If not, replace it ASAP to not lose anymore grease which could kill your rack and you don't want to do that job.

 

my steering feels fine, but on those left turns i can still feintly hear that weird noise. So I guess I will have to replace that

 

The boot will not make your noise go away. It will only help you in preventing a expensive part to go bad and save you a few hundreds. Now, you may need to get us some more pics to help you. Take a pic of the other axle along with the bushings that I asked you before.

 

pic's will help alot

 

Sorry its taken so long, here are pics



So here is the update, the noise is back and loud as ever. I'm pretty stumped as to why replacing the half shaft temporarily fixed the noise. But as described before, I can cause the noise to happen usually on left turns, more likely if i am accelerating rather than coasting. however the noise is starting to make its appearance when I am just driving strait sometimes. Also, if I push in the clutch, the noise goes away. Ill try to redescribe it as a rythmic rattling/knocking noise, although it hasnt affected the way the car has handled or anything, just an annoying noise. Any ideas let me know

 

Ok these pics are big which is causing scrolling horizontally. Just list them individually. Also, they are kind of blurry but from those pics, I don't see anything besides the sway bar bushing. You may need to record a short video clip of it or get better pics. Also, we need pics of the control arm bushings as well.

 

Yea I can try that, here is a link to the album on photobucket if thats easier for you

http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx153/wallace412/

Sorry the pictures arent that great, Ill try to get better ones, or maybe a video clip

 

Sounds like you clutch needs adjustment or replace.... you're hearing more of rythmic rattling than a knocking do to a possible bad clutch plate or needing adjustment.

 

Ive had a clutch go out on me before, and it doesn't feel like this one is going bad. Like I said, this noise hasn't caused any difference to the way the car drives. And why would replacing the cv halfshaft temporarily fix it, if it was a clutch that needed adjusting.

 

put stock setup back on and see if noise goes away

 

if I put stock suspension back, then I have to pay to get an alignment. not to mention the hassle of doing that

 

I had a somewhat similar problem. When making a left turn under acceleration, it made this noise as if somebody was repeatedly pounding/kicking/punching the floor of the car.

The problem was oil soaked passenger side LCA, which resulted in shredded bushing, which resulted in described noise on left turn.

The LCA still on the car shake test.


The obvious.