Need opinions, please.

Installed Apex springs & KYB AGX's 3 weeks ago.
Didn't replace front strut-mounts (85k mi. on car)
Insulated the springs by the book - this is not spring noise, ok?
Everything was fine - have taken it for several hard runs, no noise.

Then, just the other day, for the first time. . .

I start getting this "clunking" noise from the right side and it's accompanied by a squeaky sound (like rubber against metal)

It happens as the car goes over bumps or in right-hand corners as the lightened right side adjusts to rises & dips in the road.


Ok, so I did a little investigating:

Hood open, I pushed down hard on each corner to try to duplicate noise. Nothing on the left, -Barely a squeak on the right.

Pulled the wheels off - everything looks good underneath - properly seated, no rubbing.

I re-torque all the bolts - everything seemed to spec., still.

So, I figure, if it's a rubber on metal sound, isolate the areas where that could take place & spray with silicone lubricant. So, I saturate inside the recesses of both strut mounts (where the piston bolts are) inside the engine compartment.

Test ride: no more squeaks, but a slight clunk definitely coming from the right side: happens on certain bumps & when I modulate the throttle: (step on the gas, then release, repeat).

Common sense tells me that maybe that strut mount (w/ 85k mi) finally gave out under the demands of the new stiffer suspension (I've really flogged it hard a few times since it got it's new legs) & is allowing the top of the piston rod to slop around in there.

Maybe I've answered my own question, but what do you guys think?

Is there any way to DEFINITELY tell if your strut mounts are bad? All i keep reading is how to visually inspect them & that doesn't seem to do much.

I thought of maybe putting the e-brake on & putting the car in gear, applying a little throttle, alternating between 1st & reverse while a helper observes the behavior of the top of the piston rods in the mounts. If one is bad, you should be able to see it slop around in the mount a bit more than the other one as the driveline torque is applied, wouldn't you think?

Arrgghhh~! -All to save a couple bucks. I think I may have to pull it all apart again & replace the damn mounts! This sux!

 

hmmm I might have the same problem I will see this weekend

thanks for diagnosing this for me I didnt really think about it... still dont make sense to me cuz my car has 50K miles but i have the same clunk and squeak from the right rear corner

 

Here are some pics of a brand new OEM struts mounts...do you remember what yours looked like?



and another

 

They didint look like that!!!!!!

 

maybe your strut bearings are not seated correctly? does it make sounds while turning?

 

damn, my strut mounts are beat up!

 

Definitely not the strut bearings - I'm sure of that. They're new OEM's & seated correctly. I had a bad one before I did the suspension, so I know what they sound/feel like.

As for looks: well that's a tough one - my mounts definitely didn't look as squeaky clean as those pictured, but as for wear, I think this is difficult to tell visually, unless the rubber is obviously cracked or torn (which it wasn't, when I swapped the suspension).

That's why I'm still hoping to hear of a method of physically diagnosing their condition, beyond visual inspection. (a test of some sort)

So, I dunno, maybe I should just suck it up, assume they're "tired" & pay the price in $ & labor/time. I really can't think of anything else this noise could be.

This is a valuable lesson for anyone doing their suspension: if your car is more than 3 yrs old or over 50k mi, spend the extra few bucks on new OEM strut mounts! Please, learn from my mistake - my gift to you!

 

Do the springs make noise when turing, especially at low speed. Check to make sure that the "out" of upper spring seat in the out position. I have seen this to be the cause of front end noise.

 

I get the same noise but only while turning the wheel. I'm pretty sure it's an upper strut bearing. Does anyone know how much $ it is?

 

I replaced all the mounts and boots when I put my KYB AGX's on a few weeks ago.

 

I'm positive this isn't "spring" noise. The upper strut hat is installed correctly, with the "out" imprint in the right spot, all springs have been insulated properly, etc. . . The job was done "by the book," "to the letter."*

*(except for the replacement of the strut mounts)

 

So, this past weekend, I finally got around to installing the new strut mounts.

Unfortunately for me, the noise was not a failed strut mount.



I re-assembled the front suspension, complete w/ new mounts and test-drove, only to find the noise was still there. I drove around for a few minutes, pretty dissapointed & then it hit me smack in the middle of the forehead: bad engine mount(s)! Aaaarrrrrghh!

(This also explains why I wasn't really able to duplicate the noise by bouncing the suspension [standing on the steel radiator support frame inside the engine bay]) -because it wasn't really a suspension noise!

I can't believe I didn't consider this possibility before.

Well, at least I know now, that my front strut mounts are "fresh."

-But I do need to get this engine-mount business sorted out, now. I'll post a separate thread on that, since they're essentially two different problems/topics. Just wanted to let you all know of my findings. . .

 

This was a valuable info for all of us.

 

So you're saying it's the engine mount making the squeaking and clunking noise? How did you figure that out? I've got the same squeaking and very mild clunking, but I didn't notice any of that stuff until after i installed my new suspension.

hmmmm........

 

That SUCKS... But at least you know what it is!

Thanks for helping me with my H&R/AGX install though! Mine are working great so far with no noise...

-RMB

 

Here's my theory on this:

Since doing my suspension (1st time, 4 weeks ago) install, FSTB, & completing my OSCAI & "$15 upper intake" mods, I've been driving with a bit more enthusiasm (understatement - I've flogged the Max pretty hard a few times)

I'm positive my noise is NOT suspension-related at this point. I think my recent aggressive driving on the 7-year-old, tired, rubber mounts may have caused one or more of them to fail. I also have had two separate incidences of severe wheel hop (due to hard launches) within the last year or so that may have also contributed to an engine mount failure.

Why an engine mount? -Because I've done a bit of reading up & all the symptoms match.

The thing is, for this "type of noise" it can only be so many things: the noise is characterized by a muted/buffered "clunk" (as one would associate with a failed rubber-type mount: [strut cushion mount or engine cushion/mount]) when getting "on" and "off" the gas, driving in a straight line, or upon initial clutch engagement (you auto guys would notice it when you put it the tranny in "D" or "R").

(Under the right circumstances, it also happens in a corner, as I reported in my 1st post, but it's more significant that it's happening under the conditions I just described - to remove the suspension from being considered as the culprit).

The problem has grown worse since I originally posted about it, too, as if the rubber mount ripped suddenly & is quickly deteriorating.

Since I'm sure it's not suspension, it has to be an engine mount. I'm going to get under the car today & have a close look at them for tears, cracking, etc.

See: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....t=engine+mount

 

Cool! I'm glad it worked out for you, rmb. Enjoy the ride!

 

You all are going to want to kill me. . .I think what I actually have is a bad CV joint.

(My engine mounts appear to be in fine shape after inspection).


From my Hayne's manual (Chapter 8-7, Section 10)

"The most common symptom of worn or damaged CV joints, besides lubricant leaks, is a clicking noise in turns, a clunk when accellerating after coasting and vibration at highway speeds."


I was aware of the characteristic "clicking" symptom, but not the "clunking." As I mentioned, the problem has been getting progressively worse, (even over the last few days) & just tonight, I felt the characteristic banging/clicking for the 1st time. I have vibration on the hwy, but thought it was due to my nearly bald, out-of-balance tires (keeping on 'till I get the alignment done). I definitely have had the "clunk" when I get on the gas after coasting. (this is what I thought was strut mounts, then engine mounts, then. . . )

The CV boots have not leaked, but clearly, something has gone wrong in there. With 87k mi on the OEMS, I guess it's no surprise.

I'll be tackling this one on my own, I think.

Read some good things on the .org about www.raxles.com -will probably get my hardware there.

Thank you all for your patience!

Humbly,
KWheelzSB

 

AAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! quit screwing with my head!!! I'll be the next thing you'll end up saying is that it was your strut assembly after all. D'ohh!!!! Just kidding... let us know what you come up with after your CV joint investigation - I'd like to know for myself.