just noticed, turned my sound of so its quiet, when i go over bumps I hear rattling noise i think from the right side of the car. Anyone knows? Struts? Stabilizer link?

 

heh me too. i think mine is suspension but dunno where!

 

Hey Guys,

Long time lurker, first time poster. Hope my question will contibute and not detract to the original poster's.

My 2K SE (75K miles) has this same issue - a "clunking" sound from the passenger side front area of the car when going over uneven, bumpy pavement. It does not make the noise when going over something like a speed bump too fast. After reading previous threads, it sounds like it could possibly be a bad motor mount or something in the springs/struts. Last time I had the car at the dealer they "could not duplicate" the problem and did not see anything from a visual inspection. Could anyone suggest next steps to diagnose this or something to tell the dealer to check next time in?

Many thanks!

 

I've had this same issue for some time with my aftermarket susp.

I'm still not certain what it truly is, but I THINK it's the strut bearing assembly that sits atop the strut mount. Just so happens that my rattle comes from the right side, but I think the left is starting to do it as well.

If anyone else is experiencing this, and has actually diagnosed it, please let me know.
It drives me NUTS!!!!

gr

 

Its the stabilizer bar links, (sway bar links) i'm pretty sure you guys are talking about. i only noticed it over like, changes in the road surface, or little bumps/dips in the road but not anything big like speed bumps or potholes, its like a hollow rattling sound right? I had mine done under warranty so im not sure how much they are, but they did both front and rear sway bar links and it fixed the problem.

 

have the same sound, sounds very distorted as if something is hitting against wood.( thats the only way i can describe it).
You say rear sway bar, but our cars dont have rear sway bar.

 

I know you'll find this hard to believe....but the max DOES come stock with both front and rear stab. bars. Trust me.

Besides, the rattle I'm referring to is up front, and I think that's what was being referred to in the last post.

Carsarecool: thanks for the tip. I think I remember hearing this suggested b4, but forgot.
I'd be curious to hear what it costs to replace these, because I KNOW that no dealer in Atlanta is going to touch mine with a ten-foot pole with the aftermarket suspension and 39k miles on the ticker.
Guess it can't hurt to ask!
gr

 

well i went to my mechanic today he said its not the stabilizer links,he said shocks can be bad. I work for infiniti so maybe I35 shocks will fit<---anyone confirm?

 

I too have this problem, had assumed this was a problem with maybe a loose muffler, should I look further into this?

 

I know this isn't the problem, but once I had a rattling noise from the right rear of the car. After driving on a long road trip for awhile every time a hit a bump, there was that d@mn rattle. Didn't think about it till I got home and as I walked away I looked back at the max. My rear clear corner was hanging out by it's wires so everytime I hit a bump it was banging against the car.
First thing I did was check for scratches, but luckily it didn't see any.

 

maybe its your dust boot torn off the top of the bumpstop and rattling on the strut?

 

I had the same rattle from the passenger side front.....dealer replaced the right front strut and still had the same problem. I replaced the front sway bar end links and sway bar bushings....greased up the sway bar bushings real GOOD and no more rattling.

 

Is there a write-up for this procedure with some pics anywhere in the how-to list?
I've looked and can't find it.
I'd like to look into doing this fix to mine....cuz I think it's my gremlin that's been bugging me for so long.

thanks,
gr

 

Hey guys, the same with my maxima SE 2000. It makes this squeaky noise in uneven surfaces, both sides in front, and noise disappears in smooth rd/interstates. Please let me know if I can fix these sway bar bushings myself!! and the procedure of course.. Thanks a bunch
docmaxima.

 

I didnt use a write up so I dont know if there is one. Its really not that hard, jack up the car put it on jack stands. Take off the wheels and get to work. The outer sway bar end links are easy, just make sure you have a universal joint and spray the bolts down good with some liquid wrench or something. The inner bushings are also straightforward, althought it is a little tight. It takes a while to finally back out the bolts but its still not hard. Just make sure that when you install the new inner bushings grease them up really good. I just used some white lithium grease I had laying around. Keep in mind the end links are specific for left and right and the inner bushings fit a certain way. So when you take out the old ones make sure you compare it to your new parts. Hope that helps, I checked the Haynes manual and it doesnt really show pics, it does show a pic of the inner bushings thats about all.

 

Are these OEM replacement parts?
Seems the originals didn't last too long -- so I'd prefer to get some upgraded aftermarkets if possible.
Thanks for the "write-up"!
gr

 

Had this problem and just got sway bar bushings changed today. No more nosies!!!! WOOT!

 

I just used Nissan replacement parts. The problem I think is the inner bushings. I dont think they come lubed from the factory so the rubber wears out from the movement of the sway bar. When I took my old ones out they were BONE DRY! So I made sure to lube the new ones up nice and good.

 

is there a visual tell-tale sign of bad bushings? i have the same sound, and it's driving me nutz too.

 

Yo this is crazy, I have been hearing a rattling noise coming from the rear of my car on the passenger side. However, it all might be related but I think I need a new muffler. A buddy of mine who is a mechanic is going to stop by this afternoon after work.

 

I also narrowed down the sound definately to the rear passenger side. I thought it was improper shock spring install, but i checked today and it is all tight.

It really sounds like something is hitting the rear beam axle. I had a new muffler installed, could it be somehow the pipe to the muffler is hitting the beam axle?
Sometimes its sounds that whatever is causing the rattle , bounces up and down several times after it hits something back down there.

 

My rattles just seem to be coming from the interior on the passenger side when I hit bumps...Maybe this is the problem.

 

how come i cant start a thred? I have a 2000 maxima i need to ask a question about.

 

yup same thing, i think its a strut.

 

I had a rattle I was sure was coming from the engine/suspension. Turned out it was two harness clips inside the armrest next to the shifter. I wrapped them in foam and taped them up...no more rattle.

 

u need 15 post atleast

 

ok now i have two

 

Sounds like swaybar links to me. My mother's Altima had the same symptoms and changing the sway links got rid of the rattling.

 

all right peoples. i got an update on my rattling. it's the swaybar links. the sound is kinda like creacking of metal against metal. almost like popping your knucles, but with steel. i went to our family friend's meineke, and he hooked up "suspension ears" to my car. its 6 clamps with microphones built in, and you put on headphones and pin-point where the noise is coming from. on my car, it was loudest from teh sway bar links, and also from steering knuckle. we think the sound may be transfering through the metal into the mics pointed at the steering knukle. on monday i am getting 2 swaybar links to replace mine. they are $38 at the local dealer, and my guy thinks its a dealer-only item.
the sound is most apparet when the car "shifts", when you depress the clutch and the car body kinda "settles back". or if you are in 2nd gear, and give it gas, and let off the gas, and it jerks back and forth. that's when the noise is most apparent.
this sound has been driving me up the freaknig wall for the last 3 months or so, and it's gotten really bad in the past 2 weeks, and i "think" i can feel the handling performance worsten. anyway, i will replace them next week, and give a further update.

 

keep us posted. i have the same noise coming from the passenger side front and it's starting to annoy me...grrrrrr.....

 

got the swaybar links for $38 a pop from the dealer, the ES poly swaybar bushigns are coming next week.

 

So it's just the bushings that need to be changed? Poly OEM's?

 

Hey everyone,

Just wanna make sure I'm getting the right part. I found this site, http://www.1staaanissanparts.com/, and wanted to confirm it's the right side swaybar link. Right side as in passenger side. Does anyone know if they've upgraded the OEM to poly's or, if not, if they're available somewhere?

Thanks!

 

That sounds like two different parts???
I thought it was just the rubber bushings that needed to be replaced, and my dealer quoted me like $10 ea. for the rubber oem's.
Can you clarify that please?

Also, can somebody take some pics and post when they get the parts...??

Thanks,
gr

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=452284

 

i have the same problem in my 2000 maxima se

 

Hey guys, I just got the sway bar link from Rock Auto. First, does this look like the right part? Second, if it is, anything I need to know about installing it? Torque settings would be a first concern. What about greasing anything up?

 

FWIW - I've been chasing this rattle for months and turns out it was the strut bearing assembly.

 

i replaced my swaybar end links and bushings a week ago. the problem is still there. when i start rolling from stop, it's making a "creaking" noise.
Naxray: what did you do to fix the strut bearing assembly?

 

My problem was a "clunking" noise coming from the passengers front side going over rough roads . Since I had an after market warranty, I took it to the dealer. It took 3 trips to find the cause and they replaced the strut bearing and front and rear seats. Of course, now I'm starting to hear it from the drivers side