Hi everyone,

I’ve owned my ’09 Maxima for since September and have had this recurring problem with my suspension. Whenever I go over wide speed bumps or road “dips”, my rear suspension (sounds like the right side) squeaks. This problem seems to be amplified by cold weather. It is getting colder here in Toronto and as it does the squeak happens more frequently.
I took the car to the dealer about 3 weeks ago and during the drive with the mechanic, I couldn’t reproduce the problem (always my luck). However, they hoisted the car and said that they had lubricated both rear bushings – yet the problem persists.
Is this a problem anyone else is having? Any ideas as to what is causing this noise?

Thanks for reading, looking forward to responses.
TB.

 

I've posted this issue in the past so try doing a search in the 7th Gen section for more info. One thing that I found is that once I put in the Stillen Rear Sway bar there was no more noise coming from the rear when going over speed bumps. So its possibly something that has to do with the RSB either the bushings that hold it in place or the bar itself. Good luck to you.

 

My 7th generation right rear suspension squeaks infrequently, and I have the Stellen rear sway bar. My 6th generation did the same thing, but it did not have an aftermarket rear sway bar.
The noise becomes more noticeable as the temperature drops and becomes less noticeable as the car warms up. I have had both cars checked and no one at the Nissan Agency can find the cause of the noise. In my case the noise is hardily noticeable and I think more of an irritation than a problem.

 

Thanks for the responses. I'm getting the feeling that his is more of a irritation than a problem but I wanted to be absolutely certain that this isn't a problem as the car is under warranty. Even if it isn't a problem, I wonder what is causing this and why it is happening to my Max?

KillaKam, you mentioned in your original post about this problem that you thought your noise was related to the recall. Was this the case, or did they not fix it and you just installed the rear sway bar?

Thanks,
TB.

 

Slightly off topic, does the Stillen rear sway bar void the warranty? Considering purchasing an 09 and this is one of the first simple mods I plan to do.

If it isn't the sway bar bushings making noise, check out the upper strut towers, I had a squeak in a previous car that drove me nuts finding that squeak until I noticed I had a nut not tightened all the way in the upper strut mount.

 

Trix,

I have been experiencing a similar issue with my 2009 Maxima. No matter what the speed, any road undulation causes the rear suspension to make a loud compression/decompression noise. Similar to the "pop" you are describing.

My problem started out intermittently, but has now progressed to being reproducible at any time - even reversing out of my garage, the slight curb at the end of my driveway is capable of reproducing the noise.

The noise has progressed well beyond irritation – it has become a problem. The service tech I spoke with did say they had dealt with two other 2009 Maxima’s for a similar issue. I have an appointment next week at the dealership and will update as to the resolution.

 

Hi Becks,

Yes, please send an update as to what happens with your Maxima. I think I may end up purchasing the Stillen rear sway bar, so I'll update whether that removes the problem.

Good luck.

 

Are you talking about what I mentioned above or on the previous post about this in the other section?

 

My 06 did the rear squeak but only in cold weather, once it got warm it went away, even with my rear Nismo sway bar it made the noise, and now my 09 does it, but only in cold weather

 

I'm talking about the previous post about this issue that you started. In that post the last thing you wrote about was regarding the recall and you didn't state that you replaced the RSB. Did the dealer do anything to fix the issue or was it only after the installation of the Stillen RSB that the problem went away?

 

I have the exact same problem Trix described on my '09. Squeak from rear started a few months ago during the summer. Been to the dealer once for it, but could not reproduce when it was raining out. I was in the car with the technician and we tried everything. I have noticed it is getting worse now that it is colder. Car has been on the road for 15 months, nearly 15,000 miles.

Not sure if it's related, but I feel my car pulsates/vibrates at highways speeds. Dealer road-force balanced the tires, which improved the situation, but did not fully eliminate the shake. I think it comes from the rear, so that's why I'm describing this problem in same thread as concern for the rear squeak...

 

Well,
It sounds like there are a good number of people who have reported this problem yet there lacks any sort of solution - even from the dealer.

If anyone has any updates as to what a solution could be or has a similar problem, please keep posting!

 

Yup I have this also

 

I booked a service appointment for Thursday. I'm really hoping that the problem occurs when the mechanic is actually in the car this time. I'll update with any news...

 

Update: My car was looked at by my local Nissan dealership and they found that my rear sway bar bushings were rubbing against sway bar bushing shoulders - their method of resolve was to apply tape to sway bar to increase tension on bushings and prevent movement. They also lubricated the bushings and shoulders.

I experienced no noise on the ride home, so it appears the issue has been resolved. I do wonder if their fix was a quick fix and the problem may occur again - but perhaps the tape and lube will hold out?

 

Becks - you're a life saver!
You've finally answered all of our questions regarding this annoying issue. Based on your description, I can't visualize how exactly the problem is happening but I'll assume that the dealer will figure that out. I postponed my service appointment, but when i do go I'll definitely have your description in hand.

I'm at a bit of a cross-roads as to whether I should just replace my rear bar with the upgraded one from Stillen (will post about this later) as I figure this should also fix the problem. Or maybe it doesn't because it's just the bar from Stillen (no bushings or any other hardware)??? Thoughts?

Thanks again for posting Becks.

 

Have exact same problem. Going to the dealer soon. Thanks for posting the solution. I also noticed that cold weather aggravated the problem noise.
I would describe the noise as more of a "Creaking noise", which is why I could not find this post before, when I was looking for anybody with the same problem.
Perhaps OP can update the thread topic with the words "Creaking"?

I hear the noise every time I go over a speed bump at low speed. I hear the noise at times when there are dips in the road. But never when there is any kind of speed involved, mostly because the noise is masked by the road noise and surrounding noises.

thanks
Max

 

I noticed the same noise with the recent cold weather. Usually happens only in the morning when backing out of my driveway and over the curb to the roadway. I don't usually hear it again after that, and don't hear it in warmer temps.

I had the same noise with my '01 Altima. Cold weather really made it apparent. My mechanic also said it was likely the bushings.

 

Ditto, got the same thing happening to my 09...glad I'm not the only one.

 

I have the same issue, cant figure if its from the cabin, the moonroof of the back of the car, had it since day one. Its the only issue that drives me nuts about the car. Took it in once, they claimed they heard nothing out of the ordinary have not gotten back to push the issue yet.

 

i had the same issue w my 09 SV sport, it was very irritating! changed the rsb with the oem and the noise is gone its been a month now and still no noise

 

ahh i have the same prob, havent noticed if it was worse in the cold weather but definitly have the "creaking" noise, and a little sound as if air is compressing and decompressing when i go over speed bumps slowly, or dips in the road, i already have the stillen sway bar in, prob going to a body shop or the dealership soon, does anyone know 100% what the problem is?

 

i have the same prob too and when i took it to the dealership, i was told it was the stillen sway bar so i went to my body shop n install the oem sway bar and the noise was gone..

 

my sound was there before i installed the stillen sway bar, any other suggestions?

 

only suggestion is to take it to the dealer and tell them the problem but take off the stillen sway bar and put back the OEM one if you still have them or else they will tell you its the aftermarket sway bar causing the noise...

 

Same problem and it's embarresing on a brand new car. With the rocking seat and the battery problem this is the worst Nissan I ever owned.

 

I actually just started getting the noise back as well. I've had my rear sway bar installed for about 6+ months now and there was no squeak but now its back. I'm starting to think that something back there needs to be lubed up or something.

 

IVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 09. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN SERVICE TECHS AND THEY ARE BLAMING THE NOISE ON MY STILLEN EXHAUST. I HAD TO EXHAUST REEVALUATED WHERE IT WAS INSTALLED AND IT WAS TIGHT AS CAN BE... ****ERS! ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SOLVED EFFECTIVELY PLEASE E-MAIL ME, MHURLE72486@YAHOO.COM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO TELL THE TECHS NEXT TIME I BRING IT IN.



-MATT

 

Matt, ease off the caps and read the following!

 

My Max made the noise in the early fall, first they lubed the mounting brackets for the swaybar. it was not a permanent fix so the dealer installed wider mounting brackets from Nissan and it fixed it.

 

Do you have the part number for the wider mounting brackets? If not could you get it and post it?

 

Ya I would love to know that so that when I go to the dealership for the issue that I am having again I can have them fix the problem.

 

I found the Ro with the correct time of the noise, it was in May of 09. (Sorry about the time in the 1st reply.)This is what was written on the RO: Found rear sway bar bushings worn and creaking corrected by NH58AA: (ZL) (32), Installed 56243-9N10A : Bush- rear stabi Qty :2. They did the work on 5-5-09 and the problem has never come back. It was repaired at 24,123 miles. I now have 42,045 miles on it and no more noise. The service writer told me it was a improved part that he used for the repair. He described it as being wider and of different material than the one that came on the car originally.

 

I have the same problem, but my local dealer says that that problem is on every 2009 maxima and its a normal noise... soooo bs. I dont even know what to do

 

Ya they would tell you that, lol. Stealerships! I was told the same thing when I had taken mine there the first time to. They took out a demo Maxima over the same speed bumps that they took mine and they got the noise to so they said that it was a trait of the car.

 

I had the noise in October-December 2009, then it went away. It hasn't returned. Worst when going over deep dips like drainage areas in parking lots or over speed humps - on the down side, not going up.

 

I feel for all of you. Since the middle of May, I took two long distance trips, one to Northeast PA and another to see my doctor in Philadelphia and ever since, I have heard noises from the front suspension on my 2010 Max SV! The weather has been nice here in NJ so I've had my windows down more than usual and I live in a more rural city/suburban area so I've been driving a lot with my windows down. Anything over 30mph I can't hear because the wind noise becomes too great with the windows down, but anything under 30, when I go over speed bumps, dips, expansion joints, etc I hear this squeaky noise coming from the front suspension followed by what sounds like loud compressed air (pfff, pfff) sounds after the squeaky noise is heard! I went over the same speed bumps with my 08 TL, which has an even firmer ride then the Maxima and heard no noise coming from the suspension like I did on my Maxima!

 

smarty666
oddly enough I get the air compression noises over speed bumps, and my rear sway bar bushing squeak but only in the cold, funny how my 06 had these 2 issues, no front squeaks on turns but I will start driving with my windows down to really make sure

edit: I love my Max but I really wish the acura dealer did not feel the need to screw me out of the 08 TLS I wanted

 

I also have the pfff pfff noises. You are not alone

 

Good to know! I'm going in for this and other issues tomorrow and I'm going to go in hand with the TSB and Recall on the front strut stuff and they better get this solved! My TL has a much firmer suspension set-up then this Maxima and its suspension doesn't make a peep going over the exact same speed bumps so this is ridiculous!

My 2010 Max was made in Aug 2009 and the recall for the front strut insulators was for certain dates in August of last year but I was told my vehicle is not part of the recall. Its a bunch of BS and I don't think Nissan caught them all.