groaning/grinding noise in suspension. need help
03-08-2004, 04:14 PM
#1
groaning/grinding noise in suspension. need help
First, the problem: 2 months after I get my agx+sprint combo these little noises start coming up and now its getting worse and worse. Here are the three symptoms:
1. Groaning/Grinding noise when the wheel is turned all the way to the left, going forward or reversing. Visual inspection shows nothing wrong with suspension
2. Clunking noise from the front strut areas whenever going slowly over speed bumps or dips (if right side goes in first, only right side has noise... vice versa)
3. When the chassis is flexed (going onto driveways), the right rear clunks as the car travels up onto the driveway.
This is getting seriously annoying and the noise in problem 1 sounds terribly bad, like metal or metal or rusted parts.
1. Groaning/Grinding noise when the wheel is turned all the way to the left, going forward or reversing. Visual inspection shows nothing wrong with suspension
2. Clunking noise from the front strut areas whenever going slowly over speed bumps or dips (if right side goes in first, only right side has noise... vice versa)
3. When the chassis is flexed (going onto driveways), the right rear clunks as the car travels up onto the driveway.
This is getting seriously annoying and the noise in problem 1 sounds terribly bad, like metal or metal or rusted parts.
03-08-2004, 05:13 PM
#2
Did you wrap your springs? Usually if you dont wrap the bottom coils where they meet the struts and where they meet, they tend to make noises. If not, Check your ball joints. I just finished lowering my car Saturday and noticed mine were bad. Take off a wheel and try to move around your caliper, with axle and all. If you have any play in it, your ball joint is bad. Or it could be your axles going bad.
03-08-2004, 06:26 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,337
i used to have that problem...i havent driven my car in a while but the noise was more evident when i was riding on 245s....i switched to 235s and noise 'seems' to be gone.....
i might be way off but thats what worked for me
again, i havent driven my car in some time so it might still be there
i might be way off but thats what worked for me
again, i havent driven my car in some time so it might still be there
03-08-2004, 06:32 PM
#4
It's the spring isolation sleeves most likely. Did u take the isolation sleeves off the old coils and put them on or buy a new set for the Sprints? I used the old ones and as well bought new ones and added some plumbing tubing over the coils so that no matter what there'd never be any noise.
LEMAR
LEMAR
03-08-2004, 08:44 PM
#5
I suspect the rear noise is cause I don't have the sleeves on the springs (problem 3). But the fronts do have sleeves. I suspect that the engine is hitting the strut bar for problem number 2
but problem 1 just sounds bad, like the car is going to break down or the wheel is going to fall off. I will check the ball joints on the weekend
but problem 1 just sounds bad, like the car is going to break down or the wheel is going to fall off. I will check the ball joints on the weekend
03-09-2004, 07:41 PM
#10
Originally Posted by njmaxseltd
Sprint springs, 'nuf said.
please refrain from negative comments on the product, i'm just trying to resolve my issue here. thanks.
03-10-2004, 11:04 PM
#11
Larry, welcome to the club. A LOT of us have that noise. I have it as well, it doesnt matter if your wheel is cut all the way to the left or right, reverse or forward...it will do it only if the wheel is cut all the way to either side
I have Toks & Teins & this started to happen on him about 8K after I installed them. The struts are fine (12K so far) and the springs sit just fine. If you search on it, you'll fine about 10-15 threads with the same issue discussed. Im in most every single 1
anyway...
This has happend to many 5th & 5.5gen's, regardless of what suspension setup they had. Even some OEM suspension equipped guys had this same problem, so the aftermarket parts would not be the first place to look
I have yet to find time to pull my suspension apart, but I belive ive pin-pointed it. Its from the strut mount(s). The Bearing inside is messed up, you should be able to purchase it seperatley from the stealership. I doubt they will stock the part so you might have to special order it and wait 2-3days, but the overall cost shouldnt be much for each bearing. Im guessing $10-15each, its not much of an investment risk, just a bit of time.
So insteand of worrying about you suspension setup, start your search there. Its a cheap alternative to changing springs, only to have the same thing happen again
Until I get the time to take mine apart, there is only one thing I do now so I wont get that grinding noise...I dont turn the wheel all the way
Ill stop when the wheel is vertical rather then push it the last 4" only to hear grinding.
If any1 else has this noise, be4 you go switching out suspension parts, replace those bearings and see what happens. Good Luck.
I have Toks & Teins & this started to happen on him about 8K after I installed them. The struts are fine (12K so far) and the springs sit just fine. If you search on it, you'll fine about 10-15 threads with the same issue discussed. Im in most every single 1
anyway...This has happend to many 5th & 5.5gen's, regardless of what suspension setup they had. Even some OEM suspension equipped guys had this same problem, so the aftermarket parts would not be the first place to look
I have yet to find time to pull my suspension apart, but I belive ive pin-pointed it. Its from the strut mount(s). The Bearing inside is messed up, you should be able to purchase it seperatley from the stealership. I doubt they will stock the part so you might have to special order it and wait 2-3days, but the overall cost shouldnt be much for each bearing. Im guessing $10-15each, its not much of an investment risk, just a bit of time.
So insteand of worrying about you suspension setup, start your search there. Its a cheap alternative to changing springs, only to have the same thing happen again
Until I get the time to take mine apart, there is only one thing I do now so I wont get that grinding noise...I dont turn the wheel all the way
Ill stop when the wheel is vertical rather then push it the last 4" only to hear grinding. If any1 else has this noise, be4 you go switching out suspension parts, replace those bearings and see what happens. Good Luck.
03-10-2004, 11:19 PM
#13
Originally Posted by spiff56747
if you are talking about your strut bearings, they cost over $30 brand new, and you have to take apart your whole suspension to replace them
no big deal. I said I was guessing the price. Take apart your whole suspension huh...well to R&R the springs you'd have to do that anyway. It comes out as an assembly...1 peice. From that point on you'd have to dis-assemble it. Only difference is you would have to take it one step further and pop the bearing out of the mount. It should take you just 5min longer at the very most compared to just changing the spring. So dont make it sound like its A LOT of work, because it is not.
03-10-2004, 11:59 PM
#14
Originally Posted by HitManSE
Yes, im talking about the strut bearing in the strut mount. So its $30 no big deal. I said I was guessing the price. Take apart your whole suspension huh...well to R&R the springs you'd have to do that anyway. It comes out as an assembly...1 peice. From that point on you'd have to dis-assemble it. Only difference is you would have to take it one step further and pop the bearing out of the mount. It should take you just 5min longer at the very most compared to just changing the spring. So dont make it sound like its A LOT of work, because it is not.
no big deal. I said I was guessing the price. Take apart your whole suspension huh...well to R&R the springs you'd have to do that anyway. It comes out as an assembly...1 peice. From that point on you'd have to dis-assemble it. Only difference is you would have to take it one step further and pop the bearing out of the mount. It should take you just 5min longer at the very most compared to just changing the spring. So dont make it sound like its A LOT of work, because it is not.buy new strut mount and bearing (one trip, instead of going back later). Then i'll have to trim down the strut mount so that it will fit the modified agx's.
also, the left front strut is ghetto. My shop threw in a 95 maxima strut mount and didn't trim the bump stops. The rear is also not wrapped with isolation sleeves so i'll have to see if I got the stock ones to put on.
and if all else fails, i'm going tein coilovers with edfc
03-11-2004, 12:13 AM
#15
Isolation sleeves would definetly help for the rears As for getting the mounts themselves, that can aslo be one. Might as well Its not like these small parts are expensive, but they can add up so thats your call...
It should do the trick, but please do post back with the end results
As for getting the mounts themselves, that can aslo be one. Might as well Its not like these small parts are expensive, but they can add up so thats your call...It should do the trick, but please do post back with the end results
03-11-2004, 05:18 PM
#16
If you buy strut mounts they should come with the bearings. I went with kyb and spent $80, oem is probably more but I've heard oem is better. I've had no problems with the kyb's, but I haven't had them on very long.
03-11-2004, 08:39 PM
#17
I have that exact noise, but everything seems to be ok. I guess I can live with it. Also, it actually started when the weather was getting cold, and is actually better in warmer weather. Ins't that strange?
03-11-2004, 09:28 PM
#18
i have a org buddy that works at nissan, so i'll go with OEM and we'll tear apart the suspension to see whats up.
and yes, the noise has gone away somewhat now that its gotten hotter in socal (high 80's today)
also... me, kloogy, and maximadave all have the exact same problems (all suspension components installed by the same shop). But we run all different suspension setups
and yes, the noise has gone away somewhat now that its gotten hotter in socal (high 80's today)
also... me, kloogy, and maximadave all have the exact same problems (all suspension components installed by the same shop). But we run all different suspension setups
03-11-2004, 10:15 PM
#19
Originally Posted by slammed95
Larry, it sounds like your strut bearing got crushed. Same thing happened to me when I didn't install the strut mount totally straight.
The is an "out" stamped onto the bottom of the mount, and this needs to be perpendicular to the axle, facing the outside of the fender. If this is not done right, it will make the mount sit at a slight angle due to the angle of the strut tower, and it will crush the plastic strut bearing.
Hope this helps.
The is an "out" stamped onto the bottom of the mount, and this needs to be perpendicular to the axle, facing the outside of the fender. If this is not done right, it will make the mount sit at a slight angle due to the angle of the strut tower, and it will crush the plastic strut bearing.
Hope this helps.
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