I've got a video here and this noise has frustrated me for over 2 years and I can't figure out what it is. Every time I put my car into gear, the front end has a metallic knock noise come from it.

It doesn't do it while driving, although there is now a metallic "clinking" noise when I go over bumps like I'm driving with a 12 pack of bottled beer behind my seat. I thought it might be my brake pads loose but it still does it while braking as well. The shocks are KYB about 1 year old with Moog mounts.

I have already replaced the sway bar links with Moog about 6 months ago.

ALSO, I have replaced all 4 motor mounts with factory OEM Nissan.

The CV Axles have been replaced with some rebuilt units from Raxles and I have never been happy with them. They didn't clamp the end of the boot down enough and a bunch of grease whipped out of them and onto everything under my car. But there isn't any clicking noise when turning in parking lots so I figure they're still good?

I just did the upper oil pan gasket which leaked oil all onto my Moog lower control arms and destroyed the bushings. Then I replaced the lower control arms with brand new OEM Nissan parts, put the full weight of the car onto the wheels and torqued them down according to the FSM.

Since replacing the control arms, the car seems to "rumble" when lightly accelerating in a high gear. I thought it was where I reused the old exhaust gaskets from the upper oil pan job so I bought new gaskets and redid the exhaust. No change. My theory on that is the fresh new control arm bushings are stiffer and communicating a previous problem that I couldn't feel with the blown out Moogs I had on there.

This is absolutely driving me nuts and I really don't want to throw more parts at it until I'm pretty sure of what it is.

Here is the video:

 

Time for engine mounts.

 

And don't forget to put a nut on that sway bar link.

 

I know you said you replaced the motor mounts, but that engine looks like it moves way too much. Mine does not move that much, and I have all new OEM Nissan mounts as well.

 

Others here are correct. Your lower and or trans mounts are not doing there job. Way too much movement when you put in gear. If you bought aftermarket cheap mounts, pay extra for oem. Also make sure the mounts are properly seated and torqued.

 

He stated he replaced all 4 with OEM. But I would like to see that confirmed, as an antire set of OEM motor mounts is upward of $700. Ask me how I know.

 

The sway bar link has both nuts attached.

I'm not sure it's the mounts...i changed them maybe 18 months ago because of this noise and it didnt change a thing.

 

Nope, you missed one

 

Make sure you have all your nuts and bolts, and come back.

Not trying to be a D*ick, but nuts and bolts are important.

We've all ****ed up bro, it ain't no thang! We'll git you figured out

 

Check crossmember bolts too... Lots of room for play there

 

This is the top and bottom of the sway bar link. Took these just for you.

 

That's different than my pic, but good. Didn't have anything to do with your issue anyway, was just making a point.

What did you spend on 4 OEM mounts?

 

It's different from your picture because i did indeed, go out and take those photos just for you. And you have a screenshot of my video from a poor angle.

I don't know why you're tripping about the motor mounts being OEM. Why would I lie? I paid a boat load of money for them on Nissanpartsdeal.com. I don't remember the total as it was some time ago but just the two electric mounts that attach to the center brace were several hundred dollars for the OEM Bridgestone ferro fluid mounts. I actually tried to go cheap on those mounts and the cheap ones from RockAuto shook the whole car at idle, so I bought the real ones. And yes, the other two are OEM as well.

You're not the only one who cares enough about their car to buy OEM parts. My car drives like new, but this noise is annoying me after spending so much money and labor on it.

 

That's all been done, 100%. The engine may be rocking forward and rearward, but that would be because no throttle is being applied and we're letting the transmission creep spin the wheels and then slamming on the brakes.

With no throttle being applied and the engine at idle, the mounts are in full soft setting.

 

Post video of the top of the motor going in and out of gear with the front wheels on the ground.

 

I will try to get someone to put the car in and out of gear while I film, but I live alone so it might be tomorrow.

The noise was happening before the mounts were installed and after as well. Nothing changed, and the mounts work beautifully as near as I can tell. I can feel them change as I come to a stop, so the two electronic mounts are functioning anyway.

 

Is that front lower control arm nut tightened all the way? The one at the end of the silver bracket. Looks like theres play there in the video, idk, maybe thats normal, im not sure how thats supposed to look when loading the motor. Are all 4 crossmember bolt bushings intact? Did you double check the torque on all the motor mount bolts?

Just spitballing, maybe silly questions but stuff like this its worthwhile to make a check list of possible causes and cross them off one by one and gradually move from likely culprits to more improbable ones. Another spitball, maybe try to dampen various spots with some sort of clay or foam or something until you find a drastic reduction in noise, that might help narrow down the area its coming from? Or use a stethoscope to probe different areas and see where the noise transmits the loudest.

Edit - see the 29 second mark of your vid, that nut front and center of your video coming off the LCA. It looks like thats it, but idk, maybe its supposed to have play like that.

 

the wheel seemed to wobble a bit towards the end. how old are your upper strut mounts?