My 2010 Maxima with 97500 miles on it is making a moderate clunking noise when going over bumps at slower speeds. I hear it when turning into my driveway and sometimes when going over speed bumps and pot holes. At speed, the car drives just fine. I have recently replaced the struts (leaking), CV axles (torn boot), and top passenger side motor mount (rubber bushing was really torn) at about 92K miles. This clunking noise was present before I did this work.

When looking at the rubber bushing in the LCA, it is really dry rotted. Does this seem like a possibility of the source of my clunking noise? I watched some videos on YouTube and it seems like a simple remove and replace operation with some persuasion, with pry bars and a rubber mallet, and an alignment afterward. Is there anything else to replace while I'm in there? I am planning on doing the rest of the motor mounts at the 120K service.

Terry

 

Check your stabilizer links, they make a clunking noise when they become worn. Also another way to know if your control arms are bad is to drive in a parking lot make sure no one is behind you and quickly jam and release the brake, if the control arms are bad you'll hear a thud coming from either side or both. If you saw that the bushings are dry rotted on the control arms then you may as well change them. Took me about 20 mins to remove but a little longer to put back in, due to the fact that you have to play with the control arm a little to line up the holes and get the bolts in. Pry bar, a rubber mallet and impact gun ( if one is accessible) will be your best tools for the job!