Metallic clicking sound from rear of car

kenchan · 06-08-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

133 ft/lbs.

I don't have it on my car yet, and the axle hub lock nut is good and tight. I did have the problem on my previous car, the G35 at about the 2 year mark. The dealer performed the axle rotation/lubrication as mentioned in the TSB and it was gone after that.

thanks! i will keep this in my notes and make it habit to check the torque from time to time. i might even be able to reach it without removing my wheel since i dont use center caps on my Weds.

(not sure, will see)

i do remember reading about this in the G35 forums as well.

luckily my 04 G35C has not had this noise the last 7yrs, but if it ever makes this noise i know wat to do.

Econ · 06-08-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unclemeaty

Pull the rear-driver side wheel off and check the ~1.25 inch axle nut - It takes you about 5 minutes to check this. I had found the axle nut on mine had backed out a full 2 turns and made the metalic clanking that you may be experiencing. I dont think the passenger side has this issue due to rotational direction. Let me know what you find. I had posted some pictures in another thread about this.

where is this nut located?

ChrisSlicks · 06-08-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Econ

where is this nut located?

It is in the center of the hub behind your rear wheel (access may be possible through the wheel with the center cap removed). It is what holds your wheel hub on, and hence keeps your wheel attached and the axle attached to the hub.

There has only been 1 report of this being loose that I'm aware of so far, but it's a good thing to check if you have the wheel off anyway.

spearfish25 · 06-08-2011, 07:29 PM

What's the story with greasing the axles? I found the section in the service manual that talks about packing them with grease. But there's no mention of re-greasing them in the maintenance manual intervals.

ChrisSlicks · 06-08-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

What's the story with greasing the axles? I found the section in the service manual that talks about packing them with grease. But there's no mention of re-greasing them in the maintenance manual intervals.

They only re-grease them if they click, it isn't considered a regular maintenance item.

spearfish25 · 06-08-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

They only re-grease them if they click, it isn't considered a regular maintenance item.

Good to know. Taking them apart looks like a royal PITA.

shawn84 · 06-10-2011, 02:30 AM

YouTube - ‪370z‬&rlm;

My car also has the metal clicking sound. Please watch my video and tell me what you guys think...

RCZ · 06-10-2011, 01:52 PM

Mine sounds like a metal on metal click... I will try and get a recording later for you guys. Might as well put that gopro to work.

nynhex · 06-13-2011, 08:47 PM

Just a heads up, my metal sound is back again. It sounds like a thin metallic sound, like a "clink" or "plink" sound. I'm trying to find a pattern as to when it happens only thing I've been able to do is this.

Take off in 1st gear, hit the gas, let off completely immediately. The bucking causes a small "plink" sound from somewhere towards the rear of the car. Also seems to happen when I'm on uneven road more so than flat.

I'm probably going to have to take it back to Nissan but I seriously can't afford dumping another $300+ while these guys chase ghosts.

nynhex · 06-14-2011, 01:50 PM

I'm taking the car back to Nissan Friday. But to a different dealer who's Mod-friendly and offers really good service. I'm hoping they find something and fix it this time under warranty. I'm at 33k and want to get this fixed before I run out of warranty on the car.

nynhex · 06-18-2011, 11:25 AM

So I took my Z to Baker Nissan here in Houston yesterday. They drove the car around for a couple hours trying to find out where the sound was coming from. They said it was definitely not the TSB rear-axle issue (which they said they would have taken care of for free).

So they still have my car and are going to try to swap the drive shafts/rear end from another 09 on the rack for an engine replacement to see if it helps. If so, they will order the parts and install under warranty.

The worst that's coming out of this is having to pay for a rental daily, but oh well. I'll keep everyone updated..

Link to Youtube video of sound. For some reason embedding isn't working for me
YouTube - ‪370z Metallic Click Sound‬&rlm;

spearfish25 · 06-23-2011, 05:52 PM

Any more news?

I've noticed a clicking from my car in the parking garage as well. It actually sounds like a nail in the tire going around and clicking on the ground as I'm rolling slowly. However, I've searched for nails and found none. I also seem to hear it only when I'm turning slowly, but not when i'm going in a straight line. It's a pretty faint click so I'm considering just ignoring it.

daisuke149 · 06-23-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Any more news?

I've noticed a clicking from my car in the parking garage as well. It actually sounds like a nail in the tire going around and clicking on the ground as I'm rolling slowly. However, I've searched for nails and found none. I also seem to hear it only when I'm turning slowly, but not when i'm going in a straight line. It's a pretty faint click so I'm considering just ignoring it.

noticed same thing. turning right the frequency increases. going straight or left nothing.

phunk · 06-26-2011, 03:04 AM

heres one thing for you guys to check... those of you who have removed your axle nuts for any reason. when i changed my rear wheel studs i had to pull out the hubs due to ARP studs 3" length. when i reinstalled i used new cotter pins for the axle nut. since the second i left i immediately heard the cotter pins ticking as i drive slowly and they flop around in position. to this day they still annoy the hell out of me as ive been too lazy to pull the wheel and make the cotter pins more snug in position. ive verified the sound easily though since my TE37SLs have no center caps i just got out of the car and jiggled them and knew immediately that was my new sound. Now i know why the factory installed cotter pins had a heavy grease/paste on them, to keep them from jiggling around!

but i also definitely have the axle clicking too. i recognize it from my 350z. its most noticeable when switching direction from reverse to forward and vice versa as the lash in the joints swaps directions.

nynhex · 06-26-2011, 11:51 AM

Here's my update...

After 5 days of Nissan driving my car they couldn't locate the exact location of the sound. They tried swapping axles, driveshafts, and other parts but couldn't nail it.

Finally they tightened down all of the suspension components and also greased the axles again (the previous dealer only greased the diff side, not the hub side which was dry). After that the noise went away.

I've had it for about 4 days now and I haven't heard the sound except one time pulling out of my parking spot in the garage. May have been my imagination but we'll see what happens. If it continues they are going to replace the diff, but I'll also have them check the cotter pins as you had suggested.

I've only had this car for 2 months and it's been in the shop for half of that. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't have gotten rid of my Mazdaspeed3. But I did buy a 09 Z so maybe that's part of it...

06-08-2011, 07:29 PM	#19 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	What's the story with greasing the axles? I found the section in the service manual that talks about packing them with grease. But there's no mention of re-greasing them in the maintenance manual intervals. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

06-13-2011, 08:47 PM	#24 (permalink)
nynhex Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 247 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 371	Just a heads up, my metal sound is back again. It sounds like a thin metallic sound, like a "clink" or "plink" sound. I'm trying to find a pattern as to when it happens only thing I've been able to do is this. Take off in 1st gear, hit the gas, let off completely immediately. The bucking causes a small "plink" sound from somewhere towards the rear of the car. Also seems to happen when I'm on uneven road more so than flat. I'm probably going to have to take it back to Nissan but I seriously can't afford dumping another $300+ while these guys chase ghosts. __________________ \|Berk\|Konig\|Nismo\|

06-14-2011, 01:50 PM	#25 (permalink)
nynhex Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 247 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 371	I'm taking the car back to Nissan Friday. But to a different dealer who's Mod-friendly and offers really good service. I'm hoping they find something and fix it this time under warranty. I'm at 33k and want to get this fixed before I run out of warranty on the car. __________________ \|Berk\|Konig\|Nismo\|

06-18-2011, 11:25 AM	#26 (permalink)
nynhex Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 247 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 371	So I took my Z to Baker Nissan here in Houston yesterday. They drove the car around for a couple hours trying to find out where the sound was coming from. They said it was definitely not the TSB rear-axle issue (which they said they would have taken care of for free). So they still have my car and are going to try to swap the drive shafts/rear end from another 09 on the rack for an engine replacement to see if it helps. If so, they will order the parts and install under warranty. The worst that's coming out of this is having to pay for a rental daily, but oh well. I'll keep everyone updated.. Link to Youtube video of sound. For some reason embedding isn't working for me YouTube - ‪370z Metallic Click Sound‬&rlm; __________________ \|Berk\|Konig\|Nismo\| Last edited by nynhex; 06-18-2011 at 11:28 AM.

06-23-2011, 05:52 PM	#27 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Any more news? I've noticed a clicking from my car in the parking garage as well. It actually sounds like a nail in the tire going around and clicking on the ground as I'm rolling slowly. However, I've searched for nails and found none. I also seem to hear it only when I'm turning slowly, but not when i'm going in a straight line. It's a pretty faint click so I'm considering just ignoring it. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

06-10-2011, 02:30 AM	#22 (permalink)
shawn84 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 149 Drives: 2009 370z Rep Power: 16	YouTube - ‪370z‬&rlm; My car also has the metal clicking sound. Please watch my video and tell me what you guys think...

06-10-2011, 01:52 PM	#23 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	Mine sounds like a metal on metal click... I will try and get a recording later for you guys. Might as well put that gopro to work.

06-26-2011, 03:04 AM	#29 (permalink)
phunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,668 Drives: 370 Rep Power: 974723	heres one thing for you guys to check... those of you who have removed your axle nuts for any reason. when i changed my rear wheel studs i had to pull out the hubs due to ARP studs 3" length. when i reinstalled i used new cotter pins for the axle nut. since the second i left i immediately heard the cotter pins ticking as i drive slowly and they flop around in position. to this day they still annoy the hell out of me as ive been too lazy to pull the wheel and make the cotter pins more snug in position. ive verified the sound easily though since my TE37SLs have no center caps i just got out of the car and jiggled them and knew immediately that was my new sound. Now i know why the factory installed cotter pins had a heavy grease/paste on them, to keep them from jiggling around! but i also definitely have the axle clicking too. i recognize it from my 350z. its most noticeable when switching direction from reverse to forward and vice versa as the lash in the joints swaps directions. __________________ Charles @ CJ Motorsports : Website \| Facebook \| Instagram \| YouTube Home of the 9 second, stock longblock, stock drivetrain 6MT 370z. 9.91 @ 142mph

06-26-2011, 11:51 AM	#30 (permalink)
nynhex Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 247 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 371	Here's my update... After 5 days of Nissan driving my car they couldn't locate the exact location of the sound. They tried swapping axles, driveshafts, and other parts but couldn't nail it. Finally they tightened down all of the suspension components and also greased the axles again (the previous dealer only greased the diff side, not the hub side which was dry). After that the noise went away. I've had it for about 4 days now and I haven't heard the sound except one time pulling out of my parking spot in the garage. May have been my imagination but we'll see what happens. If it continues they are going to replace the diff, but I'll also have them check the cotter pins as you had suggested. I've only had this car for 2 months and it's been in the shop for half of that. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't have gotten rid of my Mazdaspeed3. But I did buy a 09 Z so maybe that's part of it... __________________ \|Berk\|Konig\|Nismo\|

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