I have a '97 5-spd with 73K miles. I've had the infamous leaking axle seal and failed tranny bearings replaced at like 64K miles. Just recently hearing a creaking noise from the front drivers side when I take off. Sounds like a loose mount or something. Anyone?

 

I hear the same noise, from time to time. Is it a small, squeaking noise when you engage the clutch, or when your car jerks from abrupt inputs of the throttle in a low gear like first? That's what mine does... I was thinking mount as well.

 

Sounds like the same thing. More so when there's more weight in the car, or take off quick. Sometimes I hear it in second. But yeah, like you say, quick throttle in lower gear like the motor is torqueing a mount or something.

 

hey guys--
I have a 97 SE with 85k miles and i hear the same freakin creaking, almost sounds like its coming from near the door or the engine bay.... i havent a clue what that it is, but ill be at the dealer tomorrow and ill have them look at the mounts, ill let ya know

 

Cool...let us know. I'll probably get to Nissan in the next couple weeks. Have either of you had the tranny bearing problem?

 

I was in a car that made the same creaking noise. I think it's the lower control arm bushings.

Try this to isolate it.

Spray WD40 on all the lower control arm bushings and let it soak in for a bit. Drive the car to see if the noise stops.

If it doesn't, move onto the next item.

Front Sway bar - The bushings that hold the bar in place, not the end link bushings. Again, soak them down with WD40 and let it soak in, then test drive.

Next I'd look at the struts and springs. Again, spary them down with WD40 and test drive.

Eventually you will spray something with WD40 and the creak will stop for a while. Thats how I discovered the infamous spring creak with lowering springs. WD40 made my springs silent for about a week.

And lets not leave out the sub frame mounts. Lube them up and see if your creak stops. I'm not sure if there are bushings up there - but hey, it's worth a shot.

 

No, how would I be able to tell if it's a problem- any symptoms?? And how much was it to repair?

 

The drivers side axle seal starts leaking because the worn bearings inside the tranny allow the axle to move around. Mine was fixed under warranty, but I think it's around $1000. The bearings are cheap, but the tranny has to come out and disassembled. there's alot of info on this, try the search. ericwong done alot of work.

Hey njmaxeltd, thanks! and where are the sub frame mounts?

 

Your lower control arms are connected to the sub frame. That frame is mounted to the chassie of the car. You'll see it if you look under your car. It's what most of the lower part of your suspension and steering is attached to and I think the rear engine mount is connected to the sub frame as well.

 

I have pretty bad creaking on my front end when the car moves even the littlest bit. original struts and suspension components up front...not so much a usual creaking, more like a hard creaking, but I had the same symptoms in my last acura. A trusted mechanic told me back then they suggested greasing up suspension bushings like njmax suggests.

Course, I haven't really tested around for signs of bearing wear that many other 4th gen 5-speeds seem to run into. Want to re-check the paperwork and see if that problem has been addressed in the past, but I don't think it has to my recollection. And I'm going on 93k...

 

I'm actually having someone look at this problem today. Ever since my "curb" mod I've had the problem. I had my mechainc regrease all the bushings and everything on the lower control arm but that didn't fix the problem.

Kevin

EDIT: do you get it on brake Dive as well? Is it jsut one side of the front. if so it's that exact problem I'm having.

 

I've never noticed it during braking. It sounds like mine is just on the drivers side.

 

I've had it too. At first I thought it was just spring-creak but
I installed with new bearings and spring-wrap. Plust, it is only on
the driver's side. I've hit the stuff with WD-40 but perhaps I
missed the problematic link because the sound is still there. It sure
is aggravating. The noise seems to disappear at speed and isn't
present/worsened by undulations or suspension stress. So, I'm
thinking it may be an engine mount issue.

Car won't be back to the shop until next week but I'll post if
there isn't an answer here yet.

97 SE 5spd w/ 58K miles.

 

Mine seems to stop when it's raing outside so I guess it would be some kind of lubricatoins of rubber component issue.. The mechanic that looked at it today said that hte bottom of the Eibach sprind is not linning up correctly with the strut, he actually thought that it was a cut spring.
Kevin

 

I found the cause of my squeeking noise during take off and it was caused by one of the little hoses were touching my FSTB and when the engine moves when driving, the hose rubs up agains it making a little squeek. I had to bend the bracket that the hose is on so nothing touches the FSTB.