Front end clunking

Montez · 10-29-2010, 01:32 PM

Could be a bad motor mount, had that same issue with my 350 (clunk clunk/ rumble rumble sound over certain bumps). Turns out it was a bad motor mount.

G Fo12ce · 10-29-2010, 02:21 PM

Everyone else has mentioned the sways and links so I thought I'd just throw this out since it doesn't say in your signature what springs/shocks/coilovers you may have if any.

A blown shock can make that clunk noise too from bottoming out. Check for blown seals or oil, or you can see if it compresses too easy (but you have to take it off for that). Also check the center nut on the shock shaft and the 3 upper nuts that hold the top mount on.

kenchan · 10-29-2010, 03:08 PM

yah if it's not the endlinks i would look at the engine mount and strut mounts, tower bar, and struts themselves.

... then later find out it's just a loose battery.

ThoriumHotdog · 10-29-2010, 03:08 PM

Do you run your A/C a lot?

I'm not sure about the 370z but past Altimas had a horrible A/C clutch. After a while it would start clunking every time the compressor turned on.

kenchan · 10-29-2010, 03:16 PM

would suck if his oil drain plug was rolling around on the cover.

spearfish25 · 10-29-2010, 05:49 PM

Loving the speculation!

Jacked her up, took her cover off, and had a look up her skirt. And the problem was....nothing. Saw that one coming. Strut mounts, sway mounts, engine mounts, end links, essentially every bolt I could find under there was a-OK. Oil drain plug was where it should be. I keep the A/C compressor off with the cool temps as the accessory fan makes the oil cooler overly effective during the fall/winter/spring.

Either I'm hearing things or this issue will present itself later. Regardless, I'm going to add some Whiteline end links to my spring to-do list.

I'll revive this thread from the dead sometime down the road if I ever locate the issue. Thanks to everyone for their input.

ChrisSlicks · 10-29-2010, 06:05 PM

I had some noises over bumps and it was the grease on the sway bar bushings that had dried up. I re-lubed the inside of the bushing and no more noise. It was a squeaky clunk noise.

spearfish25 · 10-29-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

I had some noises over bumps and it was the grease on the sway bar bushings that had dried up. I re-lubed the inside of the bushing and no more noise. It was a squeaky clunk noise.

Funny you mention that. I just placed an order for a grease gun and some over-priced Hotchkis special silicone lube. They did look a bit dry. Anyone else tired of taking the undertray off the car?

cptspeed · 10-29-2010, 07:47 PM

^^yes. Wish it was like the titan, remove 2 screw sand 2 bolts and loosen the back 2 bolts.

sonic370 · 10-29-2010, 08:38 PM

i'm no gear head no offence. but once i had a 97 vette and had the same noise. it ended up being something about the calipers.

spearfish25 · 10-29-2010, 09:40 PM

It's pretty impressive how broad the differential diagnosis is for such a general sound. Brakes have been working nicely but I'm starting my 6-pot AP Racing caliper fund since my Akebono dust boots are fried and I figure they'll die eventually.

spearfish25 · 11-06-2010, 09:21 AM

AND THE WINNER IS...

Sway bar bushings.

Lubed them with the Hotchkis silicone goo and the sound is gone. Thanks for all the help. I'll have to make a 4-5 month schedule of lubing those things. Such a nasty sound when the bushings are dry.

ChrisSlicks · 11-06-2010, 09:35 AM

Do I win a prize? LOL.

I used a different grease when I re-lubed mine, seemed to last longer than the Hotchkis stuff.

spearfish25 · 11-06-2010, 10:12 AM

Your prize is that I will bother you first when I have my next problem

.

Which grease are you using? I was looking around online for silicone-based greases but they're tough to find. I did see that people get some plumbing stuff from Ace that is silicone based and is much cheaper. Hotchkis really screws us on the price.

370Zsteve · 11-06-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

AND THE WINNER IS...

Sway bar bushings.

Lubed them with the Hotchkis silicone goo and the sound is gone. Thanks for all the help. I'll have to make a 4-5 month schedule of lubing those things. Such a nasty sound when the bushings are dry.

A-HA!

10-29-2010, 02:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
G Fo12ce Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 996 Drives: Sold! Rep Power: 52	Everyone else has mentioned the sways and links so I thought I'd just throw this out since it doesn't say in your signature what springs/shocks/coilovers you may have if any. A blown shock can make that clunk noise too from bottoming out. Check for blown seals or oil, or you can see if it compresses too easy (but you have to take it off for that). Also check the center nut on the shock shaft and the 3 upper nuts that hold the top mount on. __________________ Nismo Suspension: New Owners Check Here!

10-29-2010, 05:49 PM	#21 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Loving the speculation! Jacked her up, took her cover off, and had a look up her skirt. And the problem was....nothing. Saw that one coming. Strut mounts, sway mounts, engine mounts, end links, essentially every bolt I could find under there was a-OK. Oil drain plug was where it should be. I keep the A/C compressor off with the cool temps as the accessory fan makes the oil cooler overly effective during the fall/winter/spring. Either I'm hearing things or this issue will present itself later. Regardless, I'm going to add some Whiteline end links to my spring to-do list. I'll revive this thread from the dead sometime down the road if I ever locate the issue. Thanks to everyone for their input. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-29-2010, 06:05 PM	#22 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	I had some noises over bumps and it was the grease on the sway bar bushings that had dried up. I re-lubed the inside of the bushing and no more noise. It was a squeaky clunk noise. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

10-29-2010, 07:47 PM	#24 (permalink)
cptspeed Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tampa Posts: 799 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 17	^^yes. Wish it was like the titan, remove 2 screw sand 2 bolts and loosen the back 2 bolts. __________________ FI CBE, 20" forged specialties rims, swift springs, boston subs, kicker amp, focal components

10-29-2010, 09:40 PM	#26 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	It's pretty impressive how broad the differential diagnosis is for such a general sound. Brakes have been working nicely but I'm starting my 6-pot AP Racing caliper fund since my Akebono dust boots are fried and I figure they'll die eventually. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

10-29-2010, 01:32 PM	#16 (permalink)
Montez Track Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca Posts: 604 Drives: 16 LEX GS,09 Z,03Max Rep Power: 17	Could be a bad motor mount, had that same issue with my 350 (clunk clunk/ rumble rumble sound over certain bumps). Turns out it was a bad motor mount.

10-29-2010, 03:08 PM	#18 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah if it's not the endlinks i would look at the engine mount and strut mounts, tower bar, and struts themselves. ... then later find out it's just a loose battery.

10-29-2010, 03:08 PM	#19 (permalink)
ThoriumHotdog A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: TX Posts: 1,104 Drives: Turbo CRX si Rep Power: 17	Do you run your A/C a lot? I'm not sure about the 370z but past Altimas had a horrible A/C clutch. After a while it would start clunking every time the compressor turned on.

10-29-2010, 03:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	would suck if his oil drain plug was rolling around on the cover.

10-29-2010, 08:38 PM	#25 (permalink)
sonic370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange Texas Posts: 1,574 Drives: 09 370Z Sports PGK Rep Power: 18	i'm no gear head no offence. but once i had a 97 vette and had the same noise. it ended up being something about the calipers.

11-06-2010, 09:21 AM	#27 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	AND THE WINNER IS... Sway bar bushings. Lubed them with the Hotchkis silicone goo and the sound is gone. Thanks for all the help. I'll have to make a 4-5 month schedule of lubing those things. Such a nasty sound when the bushings are dry. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

11-06-2010, 09:35 AM	#28 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Do I win a prize? LOL. I used a different grease when I re-lubed mine, seemed to last longer than the Hotchkis stuff. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

11-06-2010, 10:12 AM	#29 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Your prize is that I will bother you first when I have my next problem . Which grease are you using? I was looking around online for silicone-based greases but they're tough to find. I did see that people get some plumbing stuff from Ace that is silicone based and is much cheaper. Hotchkis really screws us on the price. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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