ok so i got a 99 se-l. recently when turning to the right i get this groaning creaking noise from the front passenger side of the car.. i know i have a bad ball joint but some people say my rack is crapping out... no leaks that i see. my car shakes on the highway on and off every 10-15 seconds. it seems as if the car only does it when its under 40 degrees..could be coinsidence im not sure however im replacing tie rods ball joints struts strut mounts before spring time and if my rack is bad i prefer to do it all one shot...are there any other telltale signs of a bad rack aside from leaks??

 

You need the fix the bad ball joint and any other lose steering and suspension components.
If the rack isn't leaking, power steering works, leave it alone.

 

the creeking sound like its near the rack tho..thats why i asked...the creek could travel through a tie rod though i guess right??

 

gotta get the car up on a lift and shake the tires and inspect steering components. Look for any play in the tie rods. If no play in the tie rods but the wheels still shimmy considerably then chances are the rack is done. It is supposed to not move at all.

Ball joints will cause looseness too. Jus did mine and it tightened thiings up.

 

wheels that arent balanced will cause a on off shake also

 

yea tread is low on tires... but im more concerned with having to replace a 400 dollar rack.... but apparently i need a lift.....

 

steering rack is on the drivers side well more towards the drivers side my guess would be strut mount

 

yea i got a bad mount also...however why would the noise come from the area where you pass tierod connects to rack??

 

I am going to guess here that this noise is coming from your strut mount (possibly bearing) making the noise. Have someone turn the wheel while you listen for the noise. The rack is very rare to get damaged.

 

The noise SOUNDS no where near the strut..more near inner tierod area

 

Why would the strut mount make a noise guys? Its permanent with a solid bolt. Just took it off today with my mechanic. I have the same problem and it is most likely your drive shaft which has a boot on the end of it, which is surely torn like mine which lets dirt in and you get creaking noises which will get worse. My mechanic is fixing the same problem on his maxima. It will get worse and if you don't fix it then it could pop and all the bearings will spill all over the place. In his exact words coming from a man who has more experience working on cars than any shop put together. At the end of the drive shaft is a boot that covers up the actual rod which moves in and out to turn your car. Take your wheel off and look. My boot is completely gone and my problem is starting to get worse. If you catch it early you can replace the boot. In my case, and prob yours,(due to the noise already) we are past replacing the boot and to fix it you will need to replace it. Sorry. Website with prices(you can see the boot that is most likely torn)http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAA#ps-sellers

 

Its obvious that you have not had a maxima for a while to say such comments. If your boot gets to the point you stated, its obvious that you are one of those who drive and drive without visual inspection(s) of parts quarterly or every summer. When the problem occurs, then you address it.

OP, let us know exactly what the problem was and your result, you said its coming from the inner tie rod so maybe the boot is torn and the grease dried out from the tie rod. Replace tie rod and boot.

 

What? so your saying visual inspections will keep your drive shaft in shape? and what does that have to do with maxima's as a specific car? Parts gets old and break down and no as soon as something wears I don't run to the parts store and replace it. The drive shaft was bad when I bought it but clearly you assume its me being ignorant thats the problem from not knowing me at all I guess? your whats wrong with forums buddy. I still keep a 1st gen running but I guess thats from those "visual inspections huh?

 

My '92se had the same groaning sound from beneath when turniing the wheel, and after I changed out the control arms, struts and mounts, ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar bushings, and every other front suspension part it turned out that the noise is coming from the actual compression of the strut spring when turning. I wasn't able to see/hear it until I got under the car while my father in law turned the wheel. I put PB lubricant on my rusty spring, and haven't had an issue since! If the rack ain't leaking, and you're not getting any play in the steering wheel, then leave it alone!
You really need to get underneath the car and examine before relacing parts; take it from a guy who replaced parts first trying to track down a noise...

 

Yea my noise is def coming from the driveshaft because you can feel the noises it makes when turning the wheel. One day it will completely go and then I will replace it.

 

well my inner tie rod boot is definately torn..my tie rod end outer side wiggles from side to side my ball joint is definately bad...BUT my springs have been on the car since 60k and im at 174k....they are progress springs...i got illuminas also...my axles are fine no ripped boots...and even if they were ripped id change the axle not the boot only because premature failure shortly down the road would make me change it anyhow....it only does it when its cold outside...today it was 50 and i had no creak at all...i drove 90 miles during the day...since sun down it is now 33 outside and its creaking....

 

yea lol my cars noisy until it warms up as well. The thing is, my rear main seal is leaking and making a mess and its actually lubing up the driveshaft as I drive lol. Its terrible I know but theres no point in fixing it until I can get to that rear main seal. Might as well through in a new driveshaft as well.

 

Yea idfk what mine is but im redoing my rntire front end come spring before i start driving it again anyhow...comin hard next spring

 

I apologize about you not replacing parts. I overlooked the fact that you just got the car. I am not ashamed to apologize about being wrong. Its just that some people come on here when things get to such a severe state, that is when they attempt to fix and then have problems changing the part.

 

No problem man. Yes that seems to be the case with most people, they only join to fix a problem and really dont even research before hand either. Those are also the people that dont know anything about cars too. Its annoying lol yes. Im far from rich so I'm hoping to get a few more months more out of that driveshaft before replacing it. The only problems with it now are a few creaks when turning and that doesn't bother me. My cars far from new anyways lol

 

Yeah I am not rich either but although there are crappy aftermarket parts out there, I make use of the lifetime warranty for those kind of parts.

 

Get some WD-40

 

that would make dirt stick to it and only last about 5sec. if the boots been torn for awhile then its game over

 

Wtf puts wd-40 on suspension parts?? Dont you know wd has a corrosive in it... i prefer silicone spray if anything but this isnt the redneck school on how to fix your maxima...i prefer to do it the right way...

 

Yea I hate wd40. PB blaster ftw

 

Yea basically wd is trashhhhhhh

 

Strut mount contains a bearing that allows the strut and wheel to turn left and right. They will go bad and make a groaning/popping noise.

Sounds like you are describiong the inner tie rod and bellows.

The drive shaft will only make a popping noise while driving through a turn. If the noise is made while turning the wheel with the car stationary, then its not the drive shaft.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAA#ps-sellers[/quote]

 

Yea it makes the noise regardles whether car is moving or not..however its not constant it does it probably one out of five turns.....

 

NOT the axle. Hold the coil spring on the strut with your hand while someone turns the wheel. If you feel jerky/gritty motion its the strut mount. Inspect the ball joint, inner, and outer tierod for broken dust boots. I'm guessing inner tie rod by your location description.

 

its official. youre living in your own little world.

 

F**king up cars for 25 years does not = a good mechanic.