grinding sound from front of car at very low speeds?

[squazimo]

what would cause a grinding sound from front of car at very low speeds? dealer couldn't figure it out.

[Derango]

Does it happen all the time or just when you first start moving? Because the car does a lot of self-checks that can cause various thunks, grinding noises and other such sounds within 30 seconds of you first starting to move.

[squazimo]

it makes the sound any time i go at very low speeds. on level or turning the steering wheel, i thought is might be brake calipers or wheel bearings..?

[philipa_240sx]

First off, welcome to the forum.

Your problem sounds like a brake issue. Does it go away when you lightly apply the brakes?

[JFP]

I had a similar issue. It was the rotor backing plate rubbing. The dealer fixed it while I waited.

[dpacurar80]

what would cause a grinding sound from front of car at very low speeds? dealer couldn't figure it out.

I have the same issue..around 3-4 MPH...its more loud when you turn..also happens if you shift to neutral while going down hill\coasting..

[JFP]

I have the same issue..around 3-4 MPH...its more loud when you turn..also happens if you shift to neutral while going down hill\coasting..

Yup, exactly what my Rogue did. The rotor back plate is a fixed piece of sheet metal, if its not straight at the factory it can contact the brake rotor. The dealer probably wedged a screw driver in there and bent it back to clear. No problems since.

[bill875]

I had the same problem. The front driver side rotor backing plate needed to be bent back and the grinding/rubbing sound went away. Wow, I never realized how bad it was. My Rogue is now a dream to drive with the window(s) down.

[MacRogue]

I took my Rogue in today because of the same noise and told dealer about the rotor back plate after reading the comments on this forum. Tech isolated noise to feathered tires in front. He rotated the tires and gave me a wheel alignment. I have on occasion hit the curb when making turns, and it must have knocked my alignment off. I was higher & had better visibility in my old Ford Escape. So I'm still trying to adjust to the Rogue. Anyway, I'm not hearing the noise anymore in the Rogue.

[AndyP]

I I was higher & had better visibility in my old Ford Escape.

Dude, talk about lipping the curb.........I traded in a Dodge Dakota with probably about the same or better clearance than your Escape but I was constantly lipping the curb around town. I only recently learned my way around here well enough to stop doing it and now that I have my Rogue I have not issues at all. My problem was being TOO high up and not being able to see the curb, not to mention that it was a pickup so the overall length was killing me. I can't believe you can lip the curb in your Rogue. Do you hug the corners a lot or is it more of a wheel base thing?

Also, as to the noise, I think I read something around here about the Rogues making some vibrating or booming noises at low speeds because of some fuel efficiency tweaks Nissan did to get the mileage up. That wouldn't happen to be this grinding noise maybe? I also read something about the tire pressure being WAY too high right off the lot and that can cause potentially cause some extra noise (as well as a bit more bumpy ride).

[philipa_240sx]

I think I read something around here about the Rogues making some vibrating or booming noises at low speeds because of some fuel efficiency tweaks Nissan did to get the mileage up.

You would be referring to the the torque converter and CVT programming. The CVT has a tendency to go into overdrive and lock up the converter much earlier than an automatic transmission. The very low rpm's in overdrive contribute to some vibration, esp at city driving speeds. It's much like lugging a manual transmission car in high gear. The bonus is improved fuel efficiency.

[MacRogue]

Could have been the length of the Rogue vs Escape since the Rogue is almost 10in longer. So far I haven't lipped the curb anymore (knock on wood). Anyway, the noise is back. I heard on two occasions this past week. Initially when this all started, I would hear the noise intermittently, and then it began happening frequently. I called dealer again to alert them. When noise happens more often where dealer can duplicate it, I'm to take it in and they're supposed to contact a Nissan engineer.

[Goblin]

quote: I also read something about the tire pressure being WAY too high right off the lot and that can cause potentially cause some extra noise (as well as a bit more bumpy ride).

Funny you mentioned that as my tire pressure was set to 39 on all four. It clearly reads 33 on the door panel. What gives Nissan?

[squazimo]

i drive a slawd

they replaced a strut and it had no effect.

after the third time i had the noise checked out. the dealer told me there was a technical service bulletin on the grinding sound. it is the transmission. nissan doesn't have a correcting part or fix for it yet. i am waiting for a recall on the faulty transmission

i like the car but am not happy about the transmission.

[AznJohn22]

When i slow down and lightly applied the brakes, I hear a sound too. But i think it is a totally different issue.

[philipa_240sx]

Funny you mentioned that as my tire pressure was set to 39 on all four. It clearly reads 33 on the door panel. What gives Nissan?

Someone stated in a post months ago that Nissan purposely ships thier vehicles with tires inflated to their maximum pressure. The dealer is supposed to check and correct the pressure before delivery.