As mentioned in my other post, the knocking I heard while going over bumps has been fixed. But I get this soft popping noise when turning the steering wheel (like parking lot maneuvering). It seems to be coming from the passenger side...

Anyone else experience this that could give me some advice? I'll probably jack the car up and see if I can't source the noise while someone else turns the wheels...

While I'm asking for advice, there is another noise that is only typically heard while at idle. If feels like it's vibrating through the A/C lines. Maybe the A/C clutch is messed up (A/C works good)? Maybe something just a bit loose? But it goes away above 1000 rpms or so...

Thanks for helping a newbie out. I'm good with working on cars but as mentioned before, I just got this max and it's my first so my experience is limited with it. I can usually troubleshoot and fix these types of problems with my lude but that's because I know if inside and out now (engine swaps, tranny and clutch swaps, countless other stuff replaced...this is my play car so it gets beat on at the track quite often! )

 

That noise is your strut bearings for sure. They are about $18 each (you need two, one for each side) from Nissan. I didn't replace mine, but I repacked them with regular axle grease. You can pry the bearings apart into 3 pieces. I filled that puppy up with grease, snapped it back together and haven't heard a peep from them in almost 100,000 more miles.

 

to check your strut bearings you can jack up the car. then turn the wheel in the same manner. If the noise goes away its your strut bearings because you will get noise when they are under load.

Also while the car is up check your axle boots. A worn CV joint can make that noise too.

Good luck

 

Yeah, I would check for a CV joint personally.
I mean, I am sure it would be a good idea to check what mzmtg says.....he knows his crap.....also.
I am going to have to do this coming up.
I just looked at my driver's side wheel well the other day and there is grease everywhere in there. I finally found the source.......I have a torn CV Boot. That just means it is a matter of time before the joint goes bad.

Anyway, try those two things and see what is up.

 

If he is talking about what I think he's talking about, it's not CV joints.

CV joints that are bad only make noises while the car is rolling. Bad strut bearings will pop while the car is stopped and you turn the wheels side to side.

 

I had a strange popping noise going over bumps and when I turned the steering wheel, and it turned out to be the small metal plate underneath the steering column was loose.

 

Hey interlude dood. I think we're one of the few people with ludes in our screen names. And there others are most likely right,.... its the strut bearing. Mine are starting to go out too.

 

Just for the record I didnt say it was NOT the strut bearings.

Likelyhood is that it is most likely the strut bearings. But that's not the only moving part when you turn your wheel. keep that in mind.

It just might be a bad rack. Or something as cheesy as a noisy ball joint or tie rod end.

We make guesses here based on our experience. lets be fair to everyone

 

Strut bearings I say.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. My CV's are good (no broken boots though the outer pass side boot, while in good condition, looks to be a bit malformed or something. Instead of it having look like an accordian or whatever, it looks like it's pulled/stretched). But the popping is not while I'm moving so it's not the joint itself. Maybe the boot just stretching to a different side.

But for the strut bearings, where are they? Are they in the upper strut mount? I didn't replace the pass side.

Also, I've never heard of strut bearings. Sounds almost like it should be up there with cross drilled brake lines or muffler bearings! lol

 

The strut bearing is that little plastic donut that goes on top of the spring hat, so it can rotate realtive to the upper mount.

 

Yeah, hey there fellow luder (or atleast former luder...you still have a lude at all?). Just trying to get this new Max in dependable condition for daily driving.

I have to admit to everyone though, this is the most enjoyable daily driver I've owned to date. I haven't owned anything to spectacular (97 Accord, 97 Civic, 99 Suburban, 88 Prelude <- unmodded, 85 Grand Am, 90 Isuzu Pickup <- modded...about even) but still. Not bad for a mere $1500!

 

See, There is something I learn from you everyday. ha ha
Good call.

 

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/703

 

Perfect...Thanks!

 

Sounds like its the struts...Check for grease up in the wheel well..If there is, you torn your CV boot

 

Huh? The 2 are unrelated. I've already mentioned that my boots are fine though. It's got to be the strut bearing.

 

nah, ludes been gone for a while now. My maxima is my cruiser car.

 

Replacing the strut bearing is a popular suggestion, but I had the same problem and solved it by replacing the right-side swaybar endlink bushing. The strut bearing was NOT defective. What made diagnosing the problem harder was that I couldn't reproduce the sound with the car jacked up. I needed there to be a load on the control arm et al, THEN the noise made itself known.

I suggest using the rubber hose trick to find the sound. When parked with the engine running, have someone cut the steering wheel back and forth. While they are doing that, hold one end of the hose to your ear and point the other end at the various suspension components that could be making the noise (ie, strut bearing, endlink bushing, tie rod ends, etc.) You should be able to tell pretty quick which part is making the noise.

Good luck!
TOM

 

Your wrong dude...they both pop when going bad

 

Don't rule out the ball joint! I had a popping and some creaking cuz my ball joint boot is ripped so that happened when the dries out....a little grease or WD40 solved that (temporarily)