holbeink

I have been listening to a clunk noise coming from the rear of my 2010 Maxima for about a year now, to me it sounds like a bad shock. It appears to be coming from both sides or it's something in the middle making it appear that way. It's progressively become worse but it can only be heard at low speeds (1-30 mph driving over bumps or dips in the road). I took it to a Nissan dealer and replaced everything they told me in the past few months. Replaced both rear shocks, invoice says kit was installed on both sides (550 $ repair). They also told me the rear stabilizer link needed replaced, (290 $ repair). The clunk is still there, driving me bonkers. I'll call the dealer and take it in for the third time, even-though I think I am the most annoying customer of the month right now. I trust this dealer they have done a fantastic job with all the other issues I have had with this car, doesn't appear they can get to the bottom of this one. Also, I triple checked it was not the jack or wheel in the trunk clunking around, I even took it all out of the car just to be entirely sure it wan't the problem. Nothing appears to be loose by the exhaust as well. Thoughts on this, car has 70k miles on it, completely stock.

LtLeary

Perhaps NTB11-007 ?
Sounds a little bit like what you described.

wildcat08

I was getting a clunk when coming out of my driveway and over bumps at low speeds as well. I put the Racingline rear sway bar and V2 stabilizer links on right after I got the car. Over the weekend I replaced the Racingline stabilizer links with OEM style Beck Arnley parts and replaced the factory sway bar bushings with MOOG bushings. So far so good. Since you already had the stabilizer links replaced, I don't know if replacing the bushings would help you out any.

LSExplorer22

I have been having the same issue for as long as I can remember exactly how you described it. All the mechanic shops I have taken my car to have not noticed anything wrong with my suspension so I am taking it as a simple Nissan flaw. It is quite annoying though, but I don't think any harm is being done to the car. Let us know if you ever find a culprit for that? Good luck.

SaMuRaI SoUnD

what model max u have sv,s ,sports?

Chris Gregg

iTrader: (59)

I had this noise with my '03 for years. Seemed to have originated after installing new struts and lowering springs.
It continued to happen despite installing solid lateral bushings and centering my cross-member. Since the Stillen RSB is static, I ruled that out.
I've always believed that the noise originated from the struts. Either the result of bad gasket between strut and body or bad/worn spring isolators allowing the springs to clank against the perches. Maybe both?
I would start with

holbeink

Car is a 2010 base model Max. I returned the car to the dealer and did a ride along with a mechanic. He told me he could barely hear the noise then tried to tell me it was from low profile tires....I don't have low profile tires soo that was awkward. They found a wiggle in the exhaust so I took it to my favorite muffler shop and I did in fact have a leak right after the flange. He welded everything up, showed me everything else was solid and I went on my way. Car still made the freaking noise so I took the car to a local mechanic who owns his own shop. He believes the upper shock mounts were bad and apparently the dealer did not replace these when they did the shock repair as I called to confirm what was included in their "Shock kit". Rather ridiculous because you have to unbolt that and physically take it off the old shock to reuse it. I am going to take the car to another dealer because it developed new issues with the transmission or something related. Randomly it will act like it has no power when I got to accelerate after stopping at a light. Half the time I don't know if the car is going to go when I pull out in front of traffic. Seriously considering getting rid of the max at this point.

kcollins812

Old thread, I know. But I just got a 2010 Maxima S, and noticing this noise also. BUT I have not replaced sway bar bushings. If anyone else has updates, let us know. I'll do the same, because I plan on keeping this car for a while.

holbeink

The bushings on the rear sway links were the issue. It took an Audi mechanic to figure it out.... Apparently Nissan mechanics in my area are not certified to work on Nissans.

kcollins812

Thanks! I'll check it out on mine.

Les7311

I also have the same problem. Changed out shocks and still the same, actually noticed after replacing shocks.

Will replace sway links as suggested.

Nissanfinatic

I took mine to the dealership it was bushings Nissan bushing suck their bearings also.

Les7311

Short of the clunky sound, any damage caused if not changed out?

Les7311

Success story

Ebay links and bushings only $35 and arrived today.

Surgery was simple.

Car drives ten times better.

Nmax5150

Old thread.. But if you have checked all bushings and lilnks… Here is what I found to be the culprit.. Evap canister filter the bracket the bolts to the subframe came loose and was hitting the sub frame brace on right side under low speeds... I have no idea how that bolt came loose

mahanddeem

I think I have the same noise since getting my 09 more than a year ago, replacing shocks didn't help too.
interesting thread!

MaximusN8

Same here, My 2010 has been doing it for a while now. Shocks and stabilizer links look good but I still can't figure the source, I may change the shocks and mounts to see if that'll help. Funny thing is my wife's 2012 started doing the exact same thing recently.

mahanddeem

Can anyone please share the Nissan part no of the rear stabilizer bar bushings? Interested to tackle this job soon.

MaximusN8

I'm gonna do the same as you and just change them out.

mahanddeem

These?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NISSAN-OEM-...-/264557186154

LtLeary

Yes, that is the correct one.

mahanddeem

Bushings ordered from my local Nissan, 14 a piece. Will update how it goes, I'll be very happy to get rid of that annoying faint clunk on low speeds and bumps.

MaximusN8

Yes please update us on this. I'm curious if this will solve the problem.

mahanddeem

Bushings came, time to put the things on!
Though I was tempted to also order the (rubber hanger thing) for the mufflers too. Will check them too when under the car.

MaximusN8

Nice, Good luck man Keep us posted on your results! If this gets rid of the noise you've been experiencing I'll be doing this too.

mahanddeem

These bushings worked like a treat in my case, completely eliminated the dreadful clunk/rattling noise on small road imperfections, mechanic was skeptical but after lifting the car and playing around the sway bar he smiled and said yes these are the bushings, finally a quiet rear suspension, though not gonna last forever on these crappy roads.
Per the TSB, don't use lubrication or grease. They should be installed dry. Old ones were not very bad but definitely hard and shrunken. And the new design seems beefier.

MaximusN8

That's good news man glad it worked out for you, I will be doing the same on mine soon!

bananaX

I see you had a shop do it? Would you try this on your own or does it look a bit complex?

mahanddeem

If a place to work and a lift weren't issues it's a simple job, for the rear ones. I was tempted to change the fronts too but seems a big job.

Martinez1031

How many do I need to order. Gonna assume 2. I have that seen rear low clunk and it’s driving me crazy. Need to fix it ASAP

bananaX

I have a possibly related question. When I get out of the car, I hear a squeaking noise from the rear driver side, is this the same thing?

Martinez1031

I don’t think so. This sound is almost like something thumping around in your trunk. Like if you were to leave a jug of wiper fluid in the trunk and that ho just rolling around. Except you hear it when you go over any bump that is larger then .0000001 centimeters in the road. So annoying

mahanddeem

2 bushing, 1 per side, unless you want the cluck staying on one side
The cluck I had disappeared completely with the new bushings (now I have another type of clunk)

Ali202020

I have a 2014 maxima and i have the same issue! I changed the sway links and bushings. The clunk disappeared for two days ( those days were hot ) then it came back. The noise gets louder in cold days.
help im disparate

mahanddeem

Seems you have another problem. The clunking from bushings was specifically for the 09 and 10 models per a Nissan TSB