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Clunk Noise


jrvanas
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Hello everyone,

 

As an FYI - I have looked at other posts and have seen some material surrouding this topic - but Nissan is explaining something different...

 

2 problems:

1 - 'clunk' at low speeds when turning wheel

2 - 'high pitch' from front end while driving

 

1>

When turning the wheel at low speeds I am hearing and feelings a 'clunk' from the front end. I have read that it might be the steering stops (however the 01 pathy does not have them according to the mechanic).

 

 

2>

While driving next to a wall or parked cars I am hearing a high pitch squel. I read that it might be the dust boots. Nissan is telling me that my brakes are brand new (I bought the used car 6 months ago) so the pads are not low. He said that I would have to replace the brakes to fix the noise - I dont think the whole pad assembly needs to be replaced.

 

Any thoughts from anyone? Should I try a new Nissan dealership and let them look at it?

 

Thanks!

 

`JV'

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2. it maybe brakes. Well, it is 2004 and thus just because you bought it 6mo ago doesn't mean that the breaks are OK. it is an 01 right? without hearing/seeing for myself can't tell. it could be all kinds of things. check your shields on the exhaust and/or for something rubbing on the drive shaft(s)

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Thanks guys,

 

I am going to lift the car this weekend and see if I see any obstructions. I can have someone turn the wheel while I listen and look. For the wheel bearings - is there an esy way to tell if they are shot?

 

Thanks

 

JV

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  • 1 month later...

Well it looks like the "clunk" was related to the stearing connection - I think it was over torqued. I re-torqued them and the noise is very minimal now - I might re torque the whole front end if I have time.

 

I replaced the shims on the front brakes and the noise is still there even with the lube. I might see if new brake pads do the job in a couple months.

 

~jrvanas

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Is the squeal there all the time?

or just when you brake?

or just when you're not braking and it stops when you brake?

Is the squeal there in 2WD and 4WD?

On any particular road surface?

Just curious...

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Hey Mark,

 

The noise is there 24.7 when rolling - with or without gas and of course the noise is there with the brakes applied since the car is moving. The noise does not get louder with brakes appliued. I notice the noise on all pavement surfaces - have not been offraod.

 

~jrvanas

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I reckon if it were your brakes they'd do it either when you were braking or when you're not braking. Not both ways.

Have you checked out the wheel bearings?

Usually, old bearings will make an audible humming sound for a few weeks or months before they start to squeal. BUT, sometimes not. And sometimes you won't notice the humming sound over the hum from A/T or M/T tires.

A quick test:

Get on a nice, smooth, uncrowded piece of road somewhere, crank it up to about 40 MPH (or whatever works best for you) and slip the gearbox into neutral. Just coast and see if the sound is still there.

If the squeal is there when you're rolling in neutral, It's definitely your wheel bearings.

If the squeal is NOT there when you're rolling in neutral, It's definitely in the driveline (gearbox / diff) etc....

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Thanks so much - was trying to figure out how I could test this. I was going to pop up on jack stands but that was too unsafe in my mind. I will give this a try on the way to work tomorrow - hopefully not too much traffic. Wait I live in boston - I guess I will try in out works parking lot - lol

 

Thanks again,

 

~jrvanas

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If you get it in your mind to put it up on axle stands - DON'T.

You're right, it's a danger to life, limb and sheet metal.

If you have to do this, take it to a mechanic and get him to put it up on his hoist with you in the car. Then put it in gear and roll the wheels with him standing underneath listening. It's his neck, his workshop, his insurance and his responsibility. A good mechanic will have a go, though.

I did exactly this recently to diagnose a different kind of sound. Worked perfectly. Took the guy 5 minutes to correctly diagnose what half a dozen "specialists" couldn't find in the previous 6 months...

Oh, yeah, also: Don't bother trying to put the truck on a dyno to replicate the sound in a workshop. The rollers make too d@mned much noise.

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OK, I see you're uni so that's different. I lift mine up on 3or4 ton jackstands and put them under the chassis rails. It sits dead weight, no budge. Of course if it's running I am not getting too far under there but if it's off no prob.

 

I don't know exactly where and how the jacking points are on the uni but that's kinda tricky anyway....

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

About the clunk noise:

 

I have had a clunking noise in my '96 since I bought it used a couple years ago.

 

It happens at low speeds mostly, when I apply fairly strong acceleration and/or

deceleration. The noise is a low clunk that I can't pinpoint but it is under

the vehicle, behind the driver seat, I think. I can feel it through the floor.

 

If I accelerate hard, it clunks. Then it will only clunk again if I brake hard.

 

I did notice a cross-member that has broken loose back by where the speed

sensor is on the tranny - could this be the culprit? I think the cross-member

supports the exhaust system but I'll have to look again. Only thing is, that's

on the passenger side...

 

Any ideas/similar problems out there?

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this just popped in my head. the only squick i have ever had that was pretty much on all the time was when my balljoint went, and i mean busted off. thank g that i was going just a couple mph. if you step on the front bumper and bounce do you hear that sound?

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Had the squealing noise for a while too on my 90 Pathy. First only after slowing down from a long freeway run, like when you get off, and would squeal until u stop for awhile. Then finally all the time, even hear it at 65 mph. Mechanic took apart the auto 4x4 hubs and repacked them and haven't heard any thing since.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...

I had the same clunking noise in my 92 pathy and i could feel it on the drivers side, felt like it was right under me and it even made the same squeeling noise talked about in this post i greased my upper ball joints and the sound and clunking noise is gone but i'm thinking i should actually replace the ball joints soon before they break off.

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