Hi

I previously had a clunking vibration through the steering wheel would appear, more noticeably when crossing railroad tracks or bumps in the road.

My previous mechanic would verify first that all is solid in the direction area, and if so, proceed to as best as I can explain it, "grease between the drive shaft and the cover" and the noise would go away.

Has anyone been through this and if so can you kindly clarify what I said above because my current mechanic can't make sense of what I'm saying!

Many thanks

 

I can't figure out what your talking about either unless you mean the slipshaft on a steering column that has the telescoping feature...I don't know that any 4th gen's had such an option.

More than likely you have a part that is worn on your suspension somewhere that is causing the shaking over bumps. It could be any number of things such as ball joints, bushing in lower control arm, strut mounts, tie rod ends or even end link bushings.

Have fun.

 

Hey... I recently had the r&p replaced and a few other parts in the direction and the alignment specialist assured all was tip top tight.

I don't have the telescoping feature and I did have the joint in the drive shaft replaced last autumn.

I wish I could explain it better... my previous mechanic said it was a cover in the drive shaft area that needed to be greased or else it would create "metal on metal" sound which is the clunking vibration I get in the steering wheel.

 

The only covers on the drive shafts are the boots that cover the cv joints. They don't lose grease or require maintenance unless they split open. And in that case, replacement of the boot and grease (if you catch it early enough) is the fix. If its not caught early, drive shaft replacement is necessary. But they don't clunk over bumps, the click when the steering is turned, ie making a right or left turn.

 

Thank you very much for clarifying that... I'll just keep driving until it becomes obvious enough even a dead person could feel it and then see what the mechanic says.

Hey I had the exact same car, color and all... but your mags are nicer.

 

from the steering wheel to the rack and pinion, there is a little U-joint under the dash area. if it binds up, you can get tight steering or odd noises. thats what he is referring to i believe, nothing to do with CV axles

i know some people have greased the U-joint and it fixed the problems, but i would maybe replace it. up to you

 

I will have it greased and post back the results.
Thanks!

 

There is a weight in the steering wheel right behind the air bag that can make a clunking noise.

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ing-wheel.html

 

guy in the 5th gen section i think was having the same problem and i told him to replace the U-joint on the steering shaft, he ended up greasing it first before buying a new one and he said that greasing it fixed the problem.