Front end temp dependent noise troubleshooting
 

Hey guys, I really need a hand figuring out where to start with this one. So on start up with the engine cold I have zero issues. However once up to temperature and driving for ~30-40mins I can hear a clunking-ish noise from the front end.

From what I've found,
it is not engine rpm related,
It is not consistently wheel rotation related,
Noise only happens when up to temp (190F+)
I can not replicate the sound out side of the car by forcing the front end to bounce,
The noise is from the front end but I can't localize it to driver or passenger side.

It sounds like a damaged CV shaft / boot or damaged wheel bearing. But I've never dealt with either of these being temperature dependent.


Mods- ksport Kontrol pro coilovers (verified all fasteners tight), spc camber arms.

The sound came out of nowhere. I had not done any maintenance or modifications within the month of the noise starting.

Brought the car into Nissan and they said "there were too many aftermarket parts for them to know what was going on" so no help there.

Any ideas or help at all would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance guys!

Radiator fan?

Are you sure the noise is not coming from the engine?

When you say "It is not consistently wheel rotation related", does that mean that is sometimes wheel rotation related? Does the frequency vary?

I'm sure it's not engine related, because I can force it. At a stoplight with an incline, if I roll back and tap the brakes the front end will stop abruptly and trigger the noise. The noise is not triggered by the brakes but by the motion of the front end.

Try the roll-back-and-brake routine with someone standing outside the car. See if they can pinpoint where the sound is coming from.

Sounds like drop links , is it a clunk rather than a rotational noise ?

Yes. Much more of a clunking, than a grind. Like I said it sounds to me (limited experience here) like a ball bearing is shot in a wheel bearing or the cv shaft is failing. I'll look into drop links are they the same as end links? Never heard of drops though Thanks

Yeah could be a difference in the terms in the UK , drop links , end links , anti roll bar stabiliser links , all the same thing , very common problem on the 350/370 and cheap enough , stock is fine

Okay cool. That's what I was assuming. Any way to tell for sure if they're failing? anything to keep an eye out for during a visual inspection?

you might see the play if up on ramps using a prybar , for what they cost i'd just replace them

UPDATE. Last night I was driving around, the noise started after about 30 mins of driving. I've noticed that it is ONLY at speeds >20mph. I then got on the highway and after about 20 mins of 55+ mph driving, the noise was gone.