Rear axle click/clunk at start/just before stop. Nissan Bulletin NTB12-055d
 

I've seen older and somewhat newer threads covering this topic. My 2012 coupe had this problem a few months ago. Local dealer (not my selling dealer) repaired the problem under the 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Don't know if they would have repaired it under under drive train warranty but in my opinion they should have.

Anyway, I demonstrated the symptom to the service advisor and asked him to demonstrate it to the tech, and do a search for any related service bulletins. An hour later the car was presented to me, repaired, with an explanation from the service advisor that there was indeed a service bulletin covering that problem, and a description of the repair was on the work order. The advisor offered up that the repair was most likely not permanent and might be needed again in the future (I appreciated his honesty).

I am including here the service bulletin in question here for your use in leveraging your dealer in providing the repair for you under the drive train warranty if necessary. I obtained this bulletin legally by doing a search on line and then paying for a technical bulletin subscription.

https://www.icloud.com/pages/AwBuCAE...bulletin.pages
Note that no where on this bulletin are there any claims that it is for the eyes of Nissan authorized service technicians only; in fact quite the opposite: the notice box at the bottom of the first page is clearly implying that end users in possession of this bulletin should do nothing more than use the information included in it to discuss the vehicle's condition with the dealer to see if the bulletin applies.
I hope this helps.

BTW, I traded in the Z for a new one a few days ago and hope the problem don't appear on the new car, but if it does, I'M READY!

Dam I had given up on this issue. I went searching online for this bulletin everyone kept talking about and it wanted me to pay to see the TSB. I thought it had to be a scam! May pop by the dealer when I have time since now we have proof there is one. Thanks DYNAZOR!

should mention TSB in the title :) thanks for sharing! greasing didnt cure the noise for me

Done. Excellent suggestion, thanks.

And by the way, I went back and checked my work order. The repair was done on June 6 this year when the car had 35,000 miles on it, and the symptom never reappeared yet up to the point when I traded it in last Saturday with 44, 000 miles on it.

Every 10,000 well need some grease then! Mine started right at 40K miles.

I'm thinking maybe every 35,000 (like when mine first occurred) to 40,000 (like when yours first occurred). I traded mine with 44, 000 miles on it , but the problem had NOT returned. Good luck.

I guess it's safe to assume that if the car is out of warranty, they won't do this for free right?

So is this basically slop in the diff? I've got the same problem at 55xxx kms.
I also can't download this on my phone and don't have a pc :(

Really no pc??

Anywhoo....that click is on the halfshaft where it is bolted to the wheel hub, u have to remove the wheel and get a #32 socket and tighten that bolt, of course u shold grease the halfshaft to hub connection (and not the slide in connection (with 177weight or 77 icant remember), rather where they hit and stop on eathother), but indidnt do it and found my bolts where loose. After that was done i had no more click.

Thanks for the info,and I do have a pc ,but the things got a lot of viruses! Have to get her cleaned. :shakes head:

Does this click cause more issues if not fixed?

Well... I noticed mine about 3 months ago. I always thought it was the rear end starting to go,so I started stashing cash for a new one. Hopefully I can fix the problem with a simple tightening of the nut mentioned above and use my funds for a new clutch (stage 3) :tup:

well long term, i mean like really long term maybe to the metal bushings that are installed there in btw the half shaft n the wheel hub, they keep getting hit all the time they will deform and will have to be replased. I suggest taking it to the dealer or mechanic its like a 20 min job max.

Ya,took me 20 mins and 15 bucks for the 32 mm socket. I got about 2/3rds of a turn on one side and 1/4 turn on the other side! No more clunk and the car actually feels a lot smoother on take off from 1st gear! Thanks for the heads up doom monkey. Rep coming your way. :tup:

Have pic of nut that I have to tighten? I'm not sure exactly which one you guys are talking about.

YzGyz