Hello everyone,

I'm not sure if there is a specific "repair" page, but I figured I'd post it here since my Maxima is a gen 5.

I've had my Maxima for little over a month now, and it's been making a loud "clunk" sound when going over certain bumps and when I make left hand turns. If I make the turn at low speeds (under 15mph) it doesn't clunk. I've searched online for possible causes and have seen responses such as ball joints, sway bar bushings, tie rods and strut/shock bushings.

I wanted to know if anyone else has had this problem and what the culpret was. Any information will be HUGELY appreciated.


Thanks!

 

you might check all possibilities start with the cv axle, check make sure no torn boot, the moving on to the ball joints and tie rods, jack up the wheel with the steering straight and locked, and take top and bottom of the tire and jiggle it, if there a lot of free play then it's the ball joint, if you take the right and left side of the tires and jiggle and free play that's your tie rods. if none of it has free play, possibly your strut mount might be worn out. Since strut mounts are made the same material as your motor mount, very hard rubber, so it possibly dried and cracked or worned

 

I have a similar problem and it is one of the strut mounts.

CVicVogel

 

Is it something that is in need of immediate replacement?

 

Another problem that is real common could be the motor mounts.
Mine would thump going up a driveway or turns; it was sorta random on some
bumps.

 

it is either your strut or mount. Im looking to replace my Illuminas that just went and need to replace them fast.

 

Mine's the same way. It'll do it on quick left hand turns, and over some bumps.

 

Any noises when going straight over bumps? Does the clunk come from the driver or passenger side of the car?

 

Sway bar end links, ball joints, tie rods, control arm bushing, strut mount, engine mount, even struts can all cause clunks over bumps. What you needs is diagnostics not guesses. Start with the basic jack the car up and wiggle the tires, if there is play, its PROBABLY ball joint or tie rods. If not and it clunks over slow speed bumps only its PROBABLY sway bar end links. If its clunking all the time over everything is struts or mounts or both PROBABLY. If its a highway speed stuff then PROBABLY its control arm bushings.


My advice - Don't replace until you diagnose unless you have unlimited money... Or unless you plan is to replace everything anyways... If you are a just replace and see type of person, then start with the cheapest, and move to the more expensive and hope that somewhere along the way you change out the right part.


good luck