Low RPM rattling, and steering "sticking"?

[Guest Black97]

Hey everyone. New member here, so this is my first post I've had my Pathfinder (97 SE 4WD auto) for about 9 months now. Have a couple problems...

 

First off, I have a rattling sound seemingly from down around the engine/trans somewhere, but it's only at very low RPMs (like sitting still with my foot on the brake and the trans in Drive). I searched and found that other people have had that problem, but not at the same rev range I'm having mine at. Does this sound like a loose exhaust heat shield? I doubt it would be the cat going bad, it had a replacement exhaust put on right before I bought it.

 

Secondly, my steering "sticks." Like, if I make a 90-degree right turn, after that the car wants to pull to the right. Same if I make a sharp left turn, it'll want to pull to the left. I just got my car aligned, so unless the alignment shop really sucks, that's not it.

 

AND thirdly, I just replaced my front shocks the other day. I did them myself since I've done struts/shocks before (on my 240SX). Now I'm getting a clunking noise from the struts at very low speeds when I turn the wheel sharply. I can't think of anything I might have done wrong

 

Any ideas on where to look for any of these problems? Thanks

[Guest Black97]

Anybody?

[Simon]

Hey. On your noise issue, I'd bet heat shields. Wait until she's cool, and get under and bang around a bit on the exhaust....you should hear the same noise, and be able to see where it's coming from.

 

with the steering sticking issue, it almost sounds like some bolt in the steering has been overtorqued. Thus, the "centering" force of the PS isn't strong enough to recenter the wheels. Now, granted, I'm no expert with R50 steering components........

 

Struts....I have no clue.....I don't have struts.

[94extreme]

most likely the heat shield.

if this return to center steering problem appeared right after you got it alligned then you should go back to that shop ASAP because they messed something up..

 

on the strut: you got everything retightened like you're supposed to.. my truck doesn't have the struts so just shooting in the dark here..

[Guest Black97]

I think the steering problem has always been there, but it's gotten more noticable after the struts/alignment.

 

Also, the reason I changed the struts is because the truck was wobbling really bad from side to side whenever I hit tiny bumps at freeway speed. It would only stop when I hit the brakes. It's gotten better since I changed the struts, but the truck still wobbles a little more than it should.

Edited February 7, 2006 by Black97

[Slick]

sssh i also remember hearing something about the trans mount being worn out that causes it to move around a bit (and it also makes it sag a bit).....