Knock near front wheels, only when turning under load?

[stevepugh]

Hi all, just found this forum - what a huge group! I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this trouble that started last night -

2000 Sentra, standard transmission. 112K miles. Daily commuter and has been a good steed for ten years.

Since last night, whenever I turn right or left and the car is in forward gear, I get a knock that speeds/slows as the car speeds/slows. Turn right, the knock is to the front-right side of the engine compartment. Turn left, the knock is more toward the front-center of the compartment.

Coasting and turning either way, no knock. Accelerate straight ahead, no knock. Turn under load in *reverse*, no knock. At high speeds turning either way, no knock.

Any ideas? If this was an early-80's Oldsmobile or a VW bug, I could hunt my way around no problem but these new cars are so...crowded...(that's my inner Old Geezer talkin')

Thanks for any help that can be offered! Steve

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Sounds like a couple of busted cv joints? I remember having that issue with a couple of '86 Corollas my family and another owned, same year models, same problem happened around the same time.

Not sure if it is the cv joint if it doesn't happen at highway speeds, then again the knocking sound is more pronounced when turning sharp, which we usually don't do at highways speeds (not with our econo-boxes).

[stevepugh]

Thanks for the quick reply - a further Google on 'CV Joint' definitely makes me think that's the issue here. Same Google search also makes me reluctant to try and replace the joint(s) myself, but that might change once I get an estimate or two ;-)

Thanks again, Steve

[AZhitman]

Not a hard job - We can walk you through it.

Replace both axles at the same time, it's easier / cheaper that way.

Welcome aboard.

[stevepugh]

You guys rock more than a little bit!

Quite a few articles online recommended replacing both axles at once (and replacing the whole axle assembly rather than mucking around with just the joints, which I found interesting).

While I hunt down a Haynes manual (assuming I can clear what, a solid half-3/4 day to do the work?), any sage words of advice going in?

Thanks, Steve

[AZhitman]

While I hunt down a Haynes manual (assuming I can clear what, a solid half-3/4 day to do the work?), any sage words of advice going in?

Save the money.

Use the real deal.

Factory Service Manual 2000 Sentra

I believe the SU section is suspension, right click and save on your PC.

[stevepugh]

So a funny thing happened today, or rather DIDN'T happen - as of sometime this morning, the noise is GONE. No knocking at low speed, high speed, load on the transmission, turning right or left, NOTHING.

No grinding, no sticking, nothing to indicate that things have gotten worse, but could they have gotten better? Like there was a squirrel building a nest on my axle, and he finally fell off this morning?

I'm confused....tomorrow I'll crawl under and take a look when it's a bit lighter/warmer outside. *shrug*
Modified by stevepugh at 10:25 PM 1/29/2010

[nametakennow]

Could have been a rock or something caught up in the suspension. Take a look and see when you get a chance.

Also the rubber section of the top mounts on the suspension tend to go pretty regularly on 00-06 Sentras. It could be that one has worn out and will only intermittently make noise.

[stevepugh]

Thanks, I'll be keeping a closer eye on it from now on - due to "spousal concerns" ;-) , I wound up taking it into the dealer on Saturday and after half a day they hadn't found anything visible either...needless to say, the next time the noise starts up I'll be rooting around faster than three or four days later.

Thanks again to all of y'all for your help, I'm SO glad I found this place!

Steve