Car: 2003 Maxima SE, AT, w/88k miles on it. STOCK suspension (stock springs and shocks) with long time ago installed FSB, RSTB, RSB. I have also installed, 6-7k miles ago, new energy suspension front sway bar bushings. I have 17" wheels with good tires.

1. When i have the steering wheel turned to the left or right and i drive over uneven surface, SLOWLY, i can hear some squicky noises from the front end. Not grinding....it just sounds like something needs lubrication. I am questioning the ES bushings???! What else could it be??

2. This second problem is more disturbing to me. When i drive slowly (10-20mph) over uneven paved roads (small city streets) i hear "knocking" sounds from the front suspension. No vibration - just something is knocking at times. If the roads get a little better, the car is quiet again. When i drive it on normal roads, on the highway or anywhere else where the roads are good/perfect, car behaves perfectly fine. I do not hear any knocking. (could be because at higher speeds the road noise is louder).

What is the reason for all this? I know that something is going bad.....what could it be? I still have 12k miles left under Nissan warranty but i am afraid that if i take the car to the dealer now, they'll say that everything is just fine.

What should i suspect at this mileage and hearing these knocking noises?
Could it be just tires getting loud over bumps?

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

I had the exact same issue and it was the Front Sway Bar end links...

 

ya, better check it now, i didn't and ended up changing the axles on both sides and a hub on one side.....

 

I have the exact same problems! I just had the dealership replace droplinks a couple months ago, and now the rattling/knocking over bumps is back. It feels like my car's shocks are not doing anything, and that the car simply drives over it. Also, I get that slow speed turning "boooop booop" sound

 

Wow! How did that happen?? Did the end links brake and cause other damage?? What happened?
Is everything quiet now?

I better order them NOW. It will still take a week+ to get them.


Thanks!

 

Noise/knock....Links when going over bumps, axel when turning rt or lt, wheel bearing can knock or hum, lower control arm ball joit will knock, inner or outer ball tie rods will knock and you will have taping on wheel while driving. Also loose bushings on sway bar or lower contriol arm or maybe bad bearings on schocks

 

noise when turning sounds like tie rod ends, could also the little plastic ends on the steering stops, just look to see if they are still there or broke off ($3 fix).

if the noise over bumbs is a bang or clank sounds like the sturt mounts, but hard to diagnose without driving in it and hearing it.

BTW where did u find a RSTB for 5th gen? or do u have the stillen one?

 

i have the same problem, just got my 03 se, thought it was normal..lol

 

Thanks for the reply.

I noticed that the plastic caps on my steering stops are missing. I wonder if this could really be making some of the noise.


I got my RSTB from Ebay....it was almost 3 years ago. It's pretty solid and thick. Not sure if there is a clear benefit from it but it didn't cost much. The RSB on the other hand was a real improvement.

 

if they are missing and the noise is only there when wheel is turned all the way, thats defenatly the broblem.

 

Only if you hear noises when the wheel is cranked all the way to the side. If not, ask the dealership to check your axles and bearings.

Just like others said, your second problems is most likely caused by worn sway bar endlinks.

 

Thank you for all the ideas. I will be replacing the sway bar end links tomorrow. I just got them. Hopefully this fixes the problem.


Could the fact that i am using Energy Suspension's sway bar bushings be the reason for the "noisy" suspension? I know that these bushings are stiffer and i wonder if they could be making the noises??

Thanks!

 

thats unlikely