yakfish Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) Hey all! Just found the forum while searching for solutions this afternoon. I have a 2002 4x4 Pathfinder. I have owned it for about 6 years. It has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. I bought it used with 90K miles on It and it now has 214K miles. It has developed a clunking noise in the front end. I first began to hear it when pulling into parking lots or going over speed bumps at angles about 15k miles ago. Now it has gotten worse and I hear it when merging onto the Interstate. There is a clunking noise and a slight vibration on the steering wheel. I am assuming it is either struts, shocks, maybe bushings or maybe even CV joints. I don't have the cash to replace everything and hope I get the issue fixed. I'm wondering if there is a common issue with these trucks that would be the most likely cause. After browsing the forum and seeing some of your rides I may not be opposed to a minor lift if I can do it while fixing the problem. You know...two birds with one stone! Edited February 27, 2014 by yakfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNAM Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Sounds like your sway bar end links are worn out. Easy and cheap to replace. Maybe also add new sway bar bushings. Also cheap and easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yakfish Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Awesome! Nothing I like better than easy and cheap! Is there a DIY tutorial somewhere on how to do the job? also do you have any part numbers? Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) Well, it could be a lot of things as well, including wheel bearings, strut tower mount (there is a recall) steering rack bushing, etc. Don't just start replacing things, crawl under it and look for some that is worn, torn, loose or damaged first. Sorry for the downer, but welcome to NPORA! B Edited February 27, 2014 by Precise1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOKEYR50 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Yep - don't convince yourself that it'll be a cheap and easy fix. These IFS setups have so many moving parts, but it only takes one worn part to introduce a clunk. Best way to diagnose is to get on your back under the truck, look for perished rubber bushes and have someone swing on the steering wheel like a rabid monkey - try and locate the source of the clunk - and replace that part first. If pain persists, repeat process, ad nauseam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 LOL Jacking it up so the front tires are in the air, properly supporting it and then pushing, prying, and prodding will often isolate the issue as well. If it moves under your strength, it'll definitely move under driving forces. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOKEYR50 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 'Precise'ly...... I'm currently chasing a knock at the moment. I have been trying all these methods, but ironically I think it's the U-joints in the steering column, everything else is tight as a drum. Frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yakfish Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thanks for the replies. I'll try to crawl under there this weekend to take a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushnut Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 what we've all learned here is to start looking the moment we hear an unusual sound coming from our trucks. Don't leave it until it gets worse. Nothing EVER fixes itself. By locating a problem early we can save money by isolating the problem before it makes a bigger one. remember the story of one small drip in a dam. after re-reading this i sound like a jerk. sorry. but take it as a lesson learned. 15k miles is way to long to finally get around to figuring out what that "noise" is. hope you figure out what the issue is and that you can deal with it yourself. a few proper tools, a good schematic and a little bit of stubbornness can go along way. good luck . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yakfish Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 what we've all learned here is to start looking the moment we hear an unusual sound coming from our trucks. Don't leave it until it gets worse. Nothing EVER fixes itself. By locating a problem early we can save money by isolating the problem before it makes a bigger one. remember the story of one small drip in a dam. after re-reading this i sound like a jerk. sorry. but take it as a lesson learned. 15k miles is way to long to finally get around to figuring out what that "noise" is. hope you figure out what the issue is and that you can deal with it yourself. a few proper tools, a good schematic and a little bit of stubbornness can go along way. good luck . You are absolutely right! I am a procrastinator. Lol! You think 15K is bad...I've had the swinging muffler for 50k. Its been too cold and I've had a driveway full of ice or snow or else I would have checked it out before now... No I wouldn't have... I'll get under there tonight if I get off work early enough. We're supposed to get another 12+ inches of snow starting tomorrow night. Hopefully I can get to it before the storm hits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yakfish Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 Seems like it was indeed the sway bar end links on both sides. everything else seems tight. Now I just need to find the parts. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushnut Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 should be available at your local auto parts store....if not try RockAuto.com there is a discount code somewhere on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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