2000 Front End Noise

[stokejob]

The front end of my 2000 LE makes a clunking noise with side-to-side movement. It happens constantly when I'm on rocky roads, going over speed bumps at an angle, and nearly any situation that creates sideways movement for the front tires on my Pathfinder.

 

I made a short video to explain the noise more plainly. I had to give it a hard shake, but this is basically what I'm hearing on the road. I'm pretty sure this has gotten worse over time, but it could just be that I'm offroading more and consequently focusing harder on the noise.

 

Is this something to worry about, or is this normal front end play with IFS?

 

Thanks,

Shaun

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHYNQuqFKzo

Edited August 1, 2007 by stokejob

[projekz]

Wow...that's loud.

[Simon]

Could be a bad ball joint, or wheel bearing, or strut bearing. Jack it up, then move the tire, and see if you can see movement in the lower ball joint, or the top of the strut. If not, and the wheel moves, it's probably the wheel bearing. If that's the case, typically, you can just repack them, and tighten them up.

[nissandoms47]

Check your strut bolt up top in the engine bay. Mine was wayy loose and made the same sound. But it could also be a sway bar link or a tie rod end. Possibly a ball joint too but im doubting that.

[XPLORx4]

Wow, that is loud!

 

Have you had any suspension, tire, or brake work recently performed?

 

Check the following:

Lug nuts tight?

Strut bolts on knuckle tight?

Strut mount nuts (3) on the top of the tower tight?

Strut shaft nut on the top of the strut tight?

Strut shaft positioned in the center of the strut mount?

Strut mount in good condition?

Lower ball joint

Inner tie rod socket

Swaybar endlinks

Wheel bearings tight?

Edited August 1, 2007 by XPLORx4

[stokejob]

Wow, that is loud!

 

Have you had any suspension, tire, or brake work recently performed?

 

Check the following:

Lug nuts tight?

Strut bolts on knuckle tight?

Strut mount nuts (3) on the top of the tower tight?

Strut shaft nut on the top of the strut tight?

Strut shaft positioned in the center of the strut mount?

Strut mount in good condition?

Lower ball joint

Inner tie rod socket

Swaybar endlinks

Wheel bearings tight?

 

I had my brakes done about a year ago... too long to take it back to the same guy for free. I rotated the tires recently but checked the lugs last night and they're tight. The strut tower nuts are also tight.

 

For the wheel bearings... are the small nuts underneath the hubcap for some sort of cover for the wheel bearing or are they the nuts I would be checking for the tightness of the wheel bearing itself?

 

The rest of your list I will check tonight (these 12 hour days are killing me), although I'm not too sure where to find the lower ball joint(which sounds somewhat easy to locate) or the inner tie rod socket. I have the service manual but haven't unearthed it to take a look.

 

I appreciate yours and the others' replies.

 

Shaun

[Marooncobra]

Just watched your video clip. Are you sure the wheel nuts are tight? The sound is just like the wheel knocking against the hub. I did detect a bit of lateral movement of the wheel as well.