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Knocking Noise

Old Sep 7, 2010 | 02:43 PM
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Knocking Noise

Last year I had to have my muffler replaced and ever since then I have been hearing a knocking/rattling noise that seems to be coming from the front of my car (seems right under my feet) when I go over bumps. To make a long story short Midas ended up giving me another muffler, replacing my exhaust pipe and they even removed the muffler shield. However, I still have that noise.

I've had my mechanic test drive my car twice and put it up on the lift to see if he could determine what the issue was. He seems thinks its the stabilizer bar. So he's having me order a new stabilizer bar. But before I do I wanted to check here to see if that's is in fact my issue.

Anyone else think it's the stabilizer bar or have any other suggestions on what it could be?
Old Sep 7, 2010 | 02:52 PM
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More likely to be the stabalizer end links or bushings rather than the bar itself. If the stabalizer bar is causing the noise.
Old Sep 7, 2010 | 03:46 PM
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Check the passenger side motor mount too. Could have sworn it was my D-bushings on the front anti-roll bar going bad but it was 100% the motor mount.
Old Sep 8, 2010 | 07:58 AM
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Thanks guys. Anyone has a good website where I can order the stabilizer bar and bushings?
Old Sep 8, 2010 | 08:14 AM
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I dont think it would be the actual sway bar but just the bushings, anyway for a lot of my parts I use amazon and order kyb parts.
Old Sep 8, 2010 | 10:12 AM
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Dave Burnette at SouthPoint Nissan should be your best bet. Awesome guy to deal with! Usually has the cheapest prices around...
Old Sep 8, 2010 | 12:57 PM
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Is the sway bar the same as stabilizer bar? How good is OES and Moog parts?
Old Sep 8, 2010 | 02:12 PM
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One and the same. Make sure you know what size bar is on your car. They came with 22mm and 23mm. Usually depending on model type, (SE,GLE, etc.).
Old Sep 8, 2010 | 02:22 PM
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@luvlexus101 you are right, I just need the bushings and linkage.

@spock how do I know what size I need?

Last edited by BlackFlux; Sep 8, 2010 at 03:19 PM.
Old Sep 8, 2010 | 10:41 PM
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GLE/GXE = 22 mm
SE = 23 mm
Old Sep 9, 2010 | 06:12 AM
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I ened up going with the Moog brushings and front sway bar link. Interesting thing though, the Moog's bushings don't say anything about size. Should I be worried?

http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com...=MOOG%2DK90587
Old Oct 25, 2010 | 06:53 AM
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Ok guys I ended up having my front lower control arms, my outer tie rod ends, my left inner tie rod end, front sway bar link and bushing replaced. They only thing is I still hear a noise, it's not nowhere close to being loud as it was before, but I definitely hear something every once in a while whenever I go over a bump, not every bump though.

I had my mechanic check my motor mount and he said they were fine. I don’t remember his exact words, but he did say one was a little weak or something like that. I’m course what else it could be. Could it be my shocks? is there a such thing as lower motor mounts?
Old Oct 25, 2010 | 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted by BlackFlux
Ok guys I ended up having my front lower control arms, my outer tie rod ends, my left inner tie rod end, front sway bar link and bushing replaced. They only thing is I still hear a noise, it's not nowhere close to being loud as it was before, but I definitely hear something every once in a while whenever I go over a bump, not every bump though.

I had my mechanic check my motor mount and he said they were fine. I don’t remember his exact words, but he did say one was a little weak or something like that. I’m course what else it could be. Could it be my shocks? is there a such thing as lower motor mounts?
Oddly - I'm in the same boat.

Been replacing alot of susp. parts, and still not correcting all of the squeaks, rattles, and bumps.

I'm surprised you're not replacing these parts in TWOs -- that's pretty standard practice.

The only thing I have left to replace is the Struts (which only have 30k miles) the Axles, Driver's Side wheel bearing/hub. I have two new motor mounts (torque mounts / front rear) to go in the car still, but the trans. and pass. mounts did NOTHING to improve the ride!

I just replaced the sway bar end links, which helped a bit (OEM's with only 20k miles failed! ) and I'll prob. get some new sway bar BUSHINGs (es) soon too.

What I can DEFINITELY tell you -- is DO NOT buy OEM sway-bar links or bushings!!
Both of these I replaced myself only 20k miles ago....FAIL.
Buy moog or es.

Double-check that your spring isolators are seated correctly, so that your spring ends aren't rubbing on the metal perch. That can be a source of irritating noise as well.

I just HATE the suspension and brakes on these cars -- such a p.o.s. design. Nothing but issues since the day I drove it off the lot.



good luck.

gr

Last edited by ghostrider17; Oct 25, 2010 at 07:35 AM.
Old Oct 25, 2010 | 07:51 AM
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Thanks for the info ghostrider, let me know how the motor mounts go because I may end up having them replaced as well. Oh and that was a type, I actually did replace both the right and left sides for everything. Sorry about that.
Old Oct 25, 2010 | 07:58 AM
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No worries man -- and good that you've replaced in pairs!
Can't imagine ANY mechanic doing otherwise.

If your struts have more than 50k miles, then it's worth a thought to replace them. But really - under normal use, and OEM springs -- you could see from 75k to 100k with no major issues.
It's all the OTHER parts that really get worn-out....and you've covered alot of those already.

Alot of guys are having great success with motor mount replacement -- it just didn't work for me. Well - 50% of it, anyway.
i don't suspect the tq. mounts will be any better -- but I've got 'em, so I'm gonna replace 'em! Oh , I'm @ 82,000miles, btw.

good luck.
report back when you get it "solved".

gr
Old Oct 27, 2010 | 05:31 AM
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I'm at 97K miles, so maybe I do need to replace my struts. About how much do it cost to replace motor mounts?
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