So im on my way to the bar tonight and im crusing along on the highway. My exit comes up and I get off... At the end of the exit is a light so I stop... at about 5mph Im still pressing the brakes in when I feel a horrible Knocking feeling... Its hard to describe but I can feel it in my brake pedal. Its a hard shutter type feeling while braking. It only happens while braking when the car is going less then 10mph. If I come to a stop while driving normal speeds it doesnt do it.. Its a really bad shutter tho, almost feels like metal on metal. Its not a CV joint or a drum. Its definitly coming from the front of the car and its pretty loud inside the car. Just wondering if anyone had a clue as to what it could be. I looked at the calipers and the pads/clips look to be in place... Its dark and I cant really check it out untill morning but I hate when my car is having issues.

Any feedback would be apperciated.

Thanks
Pete

 

Definately get that beast into someone to look at it. Dont mess around with brake issues.

 

Yeah....most likely some rust or dirt is caught up in between the brakes and the rotors. I had an issue like that on my old MX6 and they only way I could describe it to my mechanic is that it sounded like there was some dude in my wheel well hitting the car with a hammer when I hit the brakes. Like you said, thump, thump, thump. They just needed to be cleaned out....no big thang.

Good luck.

 

I would agree bring it in to get cleaned. Sounds nasty though

 

had it towed to the stealership today. Theyre closed till monday so ill post an update when I hear more.. also I took the entire front brake assembly apart today everything looks fine.

 

possibly a bad wheel bearing too. let's hope not, but I've seen lots of bad bearings on 6th gens for some reason.

 

matt93se called it. Bad rear wheel bearing. Warranty is covering the bearing ($150 deduct) stealership also said my drivetrain belt is cracked and needs to be replaced asap. Total for everything is $330.00. Does $180.00 seem high for a new drivetrain belt? how hard are they to install?

 

Never heard the term drivetrain belt. You have accessory belts or a timing chain. As I'm sure you know the VQ doesn't use a belt but a timing belt is the only thing I could think of that a mechanic, a poorly informed one at that, would use to refer to as a drivetrain belt. I wouldn't pay any more than $50 for new accessory belt installation. Plus parts etc.

 

Big Pete,

Check out this websitehttp://www.courtesyparts.com/betasite/maxima-a34-2004/genuine-nissan-parts/-c-2668_2669.html . It is awesome. You can go in for your model and it breaks down all the parts and the corresponding part numbers for the car. There you will be able to see if the part actually exist and what it may roughly cost.

T

 

thanks guys

 

just looked on that site, it is the accessory belt, runs alternator, powersteering, ac, etc.

so does $180 seem high to you guys for parts+labor? seems really high to me considering the belt is probably like $15-$20

 

Not sure, dude. Is it a two hour job or a 1/2 hour job. If it is a two hour job, then most likely. I would call around to see who may be able to put it on cheaper. It might be simple or complex. My Mazda Millenia S cost about $1800 to throw belts in cause they had to pull the engine. As to the Maximas, I have no clue. I guess you might want to call some other dealerships to see if the cost is about the same.

Good luck.

 

haha I had a 98 millenia S, traded it in like 2 years ago because my supercharger gaskets were going bad and mazda wanted like $2k to fix it lol

I loved that car when it ran.. Tranny was otw out when I traded it in 2... quoted me $5,000.00 for a new tranny. I laughed and got rid of it. That millercycle engine was something special. It had nice power output tho. Just inpossible to work on it. Took like 5 hours to do any sort of engine work because you had to take everything apart.

 

Yeah man...wow.... I had a 2001. So you know exaclty what I was saying. Cool. Not too many dudes can say they had an S. I, as well, loved that car. Mine was good to go when I traded it in for the Maxima and I was counting my chickens until I did so. I just heard way to many horror stores of dudes S/C shuttin' down on them and boys spending mad $$$ to fix it and I didn't want to be one of those dudes. Yeah, that car rocked. It was a sweet ride and than engine was so cool. It just need better gaskets and a better S/C.

 

thats her ^

only did a few mods, K&N intake, DNX 2 1/2" exhaust, rims, tint, stereo etc.

car was great untill it started to fall apart.

 

update**

So after replacing my wheelbearing the knocking sound was still happening.... I *****ed and moand about paying $150.00 (deductible) so they covered it under my 60k power train warranty. So basically after 2 days at the stealership they didnt fix it. Now I get a call about 20mins ago and they said they figured it out... Apparently my left front strut is bad and my right front seems to be on its way out... So they call my warranty company and they approve to replace the left side only... ****ERS. This time next week im sure ill be back up their having the right side fixed. So now im out around $370.00 (deductible, new belts, oil change, detail) and I still dont have my car back...

Im wondering if the Racingline FSTB has anything to do with the damage to the struts? Is it possible? Did I possibly install the FSTB wrong? All I did was bolt the ****er on... Is that wrong?!?

eek!! help?

 

hello? anyone out there?

 

Doubt the FSTB did anything. Its about time for 2004 shocks and struts starting to go out...I'm sort of planning on replacing mine in the next year.

 

ty sir

 

How many miles you got on her, BigPete?

 

37k

oh btw... still driving a rental, it wasnt the front strut causing the noise... yay for more money spent and still not having my car back

I hate the stealership.

 

Okay, that is not cool..37k and struts going on out a Max. Not on, not too mention all the other crap.

You are gonna have to think about what is gonna make you more or less happy with this situation. Be fair and get it straight in your head ant hen go talk with the service manager. be methodical and explain to him how you feel and how you are going to walking away being happy with all this crap. Tell him what is going to make you happy while being realistic. I am sure he will be able to work with you....wholesale for parts..reduction in labour and so forth. Remember, he has the ability to do this stuff. What will partially determine the outcome is how you approach this conversation with him and his willingness to keep a customer satisfied.

Good luck.

 

well see what happens tomorrow, hopefully I get my car back.

 

Big Pete,

Please let me shed some insight here.

Struts on the 04's have been known to have issues. Nissan can deny it, do a little research here, (Only because I don't have the time) and you'll find threads about people's blown struts. Your dealership isn't 'surprised' by this in the least.

Regarding your hub; that too is an issue I have found to be most common with SE's. Most of my local friends that have SE's have had hub issues and it has mainly been their right side ones. This isn't to say that the SL's can't have it, I'm just telling it that it seems to be more prevalent in the 04-05 se's. Being lowered versus stock has NOTHING to do with it, from my personal experiences. I'm throwing that out there because some have made the arguement that that is relevant. For all of my friends that have had nasty hubs, there were a few that were lowered. The rest, stock.

Swee

 

My wifes car is doing the exact same thing. It is in the shop today and the mechanic thinks it is the ABS Control Module. My wifes car noise is coming from the front left and it seems like the brakes grab and release, grab and release as you brake (makes a clunking noise).

 

I have an 07 and my front right strut and it went out before 12k miles.

 

ya thats almost exactly what mines doing. I just had the ABS actuator (sp?) replaced when I bought the car (abs light was on). Im not pulling any codes and no lights. Unless its a defective unit they installed its not that. The entire brake assembly looks fine, I took it all apart my self before I brought it in. Im starting to think it could be a motor mount? Im running out of ideas as to what it could be. They keep fixing **** and its not the problem. Bastards! lol

 

My wifes brakes are good (calipers, pads, rotors), they checked all connections and power bled the brakes.

Her car is not throwing codes either. The ABS Module is $1250 from the dealer, the mechanic has a source to get it from a junkyard for $450 (33%). I found one on Ebay for $179 so I bought it and it will be in on Monday.

FWIW, the mechanic said he had another 2004 Maxima in the shop with the same problem. They took it to the dealer because it is still under warranty. My wifes 04 has ~130k miles, it is long past warranty.

 

hmm I just had mine replaced tho. Literally 6-7weeks ago. But now im begining to wonder. Just got off the phone with nissan and told them to check it out so well see what happens

 

Thanks for typing that. Mine is dead stock and there has been a squeal since the day I got it from the right side and sounds like its coming from the back. I have the extended warranty, bought it at 18k miles. As soon as I get some time I will take it in to get looked at but that is good info to use as an argument so they don't tell me its the brake pads, lol.

 

You bet. Nice to go in informed than to send good money after bad.

 

ok so now theyve fixed a wheel bearing, belts, and my front left strut. Now they think its the front axle. So thats getting fixed for FREE tomorrow. Im pretty sure im gonna come out of this ok, service manager is being really cool because they cant fix it and its been a week.

Ill post an update tomorrow with good or bad news.

fingers crossed

 

Was this under like hard braking? or like pushing it all the way down quickly? because mine does that only under hard braking, it doesnt feel or sound too pleasant, but normal driving its fine.

 

Mines does that as well. Only in high speed and then braking a little hard. Ima have to go with what the above posters are saying that it could be the abs working. Completely Stock as well.

 

normal braking or even just slighty pushing them. I know what ABS feels like when it kicks in lol.

Its kinda like the knocking sound abs does, only 10x worse.

 

BigPete

I called my mechanic today and asked them to unplug the ABS controller and take the car for a drive. They did this and the problem disappeared......this tells me the problem lies in the ABS system and not elsewhere. My ABS Module will be here on Monday so I should know if this fixed the problem.

 

good to hear, I just left my dealership a cple hours ago. Car still isnt fixed. Wasnt the axle. They overnighted a new ABS controller thing so itll be fixed either tomorrow or monday. Im praying this is whats wrong.

 

Mine has been doing the same thing on and off, but I am certain it is something with abs but not sure what and I have no warentee. I thought it mite be air in the pump/line. For the guys having the abs pump/module replaced please post if and exactly what fixed the problem. Mine happens once in a while but same thing, only slow speeds with light to medium preasure on brake pedal and car seem as if abs kicking in for no reason with noises and what not from front drivers side.

 

that would be the same problem im having. Its not air in the lines as Ive had them bleed 3 times already to check. Def a bad ABS module or a short of some kind. Weird thing is there are no codes/lights coming up. I smell a defect... Recall time? maybe.

 

all I can say is wow.. After a week of testing and replacing parts on my car its finally fixed. The total came out to $1851.00 so naturally I laughed at the cashier and talked with the service manager. So my total out the door was only $181.00 New belts, rear wheel hub, front axle, abs actuator, and an oil change. Pretty good deal. However... the magical noise is gone now and guess what it was... A ****ING AIR POCKET IN THE BRAKES. Yes a goddamn air pocket. The dumbass techs at Crown Nissan (st petersburg, fl) Bled my brakes 4 times before and did it wrong every time. They had to call a nissan engineer and have him tell them via phone while they did it. And suddenly it was fixed. Amazing how something so stupid was over looked by "professionals"

/laugh

I think I made out pretty good though considering the price I paid and what I got.