Ever since I purchased my 2001 Maxima its' had a noise under the left fender well. It sounds like a bad strut but after many trips to the dealerships that including (they said): replaced both L/R struts and greased all points. One dealer said it was a defect from Nissan where the fender well rubbed against the metal fender: he put foam tape between the two. It didn't help. Every time the left front dips down, rolls over a speed bump, and even pulling across the concrete entrance of my driveway I hear this "squashing" noise. I know others can hear to when I drive over speed bumps at malls and fast food locations. Help me to get rid of the "Squashing"! Please!

 

If it is only while it is cold outside and only happens until the car is warm it is your subframe bolts.

If it happens all the time try spraying some WD-40 all over the spring on the side that is making noise. If it goes away for a little while you need to wrap your springs with better isolators (you can buy some rubber tubing at loews that you can use.

Do you have an aftermarket strut tower bar?? You might check the torque on the bolts that hold your struts in place, although I would think Nissan would have done that after replacing them??

 

Struts do make some noise. The hydraulic fluid being forced through a controlled venturi makes a swush or tissss sound. Is that what your hearing? Some struts are louder then others, our BMW makes that tiss noise very loud over speed bumps. My Max with Tokico Illuminas is pretty much dead quiet. KYB-AGX's are on the loud side as well, I think because of their stiff valving.

So what is exactly that your really hearing?

WD-40 can help you pinpoint bushing problems, don't be afraid to spray down your bushings one at a time to see if indeed you have a loud one incidating that it's a bit dry. Start with the sway bar bushings and then try the lower control arm bushings. There's not much to the suspension in our cars. Lower control arm, tie roads to steer, a sway bar to reduce body rolland the strut is basically all there is moving.

 

Sir:

Yes, it's a loud swush sound only on the left side. Sounds like a noisy strut as you said but the dealers in Maryville, Tennessee could ID the problem. A dealer in Jonesbore, Arkansas saidy they replaced both struts while it was barely under warranty. I've now got 100,119 miles on her and love my car but hate the noise. For such a "bad" ride (any Maxima that is) the noise drives me nuts! I will try the WD on the bushing areas and let you know. Thanks for your help!