2002 Q45 --Clicking"ish"/Popping noise coming from front of car

[mreric8377]

For about a month or so I have noticed a clicking/popping noise coming from the front of my car. The noise only occurs on right turns. Speed does not seem to be an issue related to the noise, I hear it at slow 5 mph speeds or any other safe speed you can make a right turn at. I took my car to the dealership to have it diagnosed but to no avail they were not able to find out what was causing the noise. They advised that pretty much anything I did to try to fix it would be a guess. They suggested to try starting with replacing the struts and insulators. That is a $1300 guess plus tax. But I also know that eventually they need to be replaced( but since I have never had a car with bad struts I truly dont know how a car should respond with bad struts.) I am mechanically inclined to a degree. My car has 107,000 miles on it. I have the regular Q45 not the premium edition. Has anyone ever had a problem like this? Is it a DIY fix? Does the strut replacement sound like a smart move? Thanks

[SteveTheTech]

Hey there and welcome to NICO.

Does the noise reoccur or is it only when turning the wheel?

[mreric8377]

The noise continues as long as I am making the turn the noise continues. If the car is going straight or left it does not make this noise.

[SteveTheTech]

Although the struts may in fact need replacement which at that mileage is not uncommon. It sounds like your problem may be a wheel bearing or problem with the brakes. Have the brakes been replaced recently? What color are your pads and brake grease?

[grip1968]

My 97 Q45 makes the same noise when I turn left & right, I thought it mightbe the tie rods. but not sure

[TBrack]

mine is doing the exact same thing, I'm pretty sure it's tie rod ends if not the whole tie rod.

[mreric8377]

Would the tie rod ends be cheaper than the struts to replace? Are they easier?

[TBrack]

Would the tie rod ends be cheaper than the struts to replace? Are they easier?

Cheaper, yes. As far as difficulty, I can't say about the F50 but on the G50 it's about the same difficulty.

[mreric8377]

Ok. Thanks. Are any special tools needed? I saw from a few pictures of a tie rod replacement that a few wrenches and a couple of jackstands will be needed. Is there anything suprising that I might run into while im down there?

[TBrack]

Ok. Thanks. Are any special tools needed? I saw from a few pictures of a tie rod replacement that a few wrenches and a couple of jackstands will be needed. Is there anything suprising that I might run into while im down there?

maybe someone else can chime in but you should need that special fork tool if I remember right

[redZENKI]

Ok. Thanks. Are any special tools needed? I saw from a few pictures of a tie rod replacement that a few wrenches and a couple of jackstands will be needed. Is there anything suprising that I might run into while im down there?

That's all the tools you'll need. The only thing surprising would probably be that it's gonna be tough to take off at first being that it's never been tampered with before. Oh, and remember to make an ink marking on your tie rod where it meets with the tie rod end. This is so you don't mess up your alignment.

[ahmed_wasim]

I had similar noise coming from my 02Q45 as it were tie rod ends. If the noise is also there when going in a straight line then its the strut. You can buy the full strut from Joe (infinitipartsusa.com) for $221.

[SteveTheTech]

You will need to get it aligned right after you replace it if you do end up replacing it.

There should be movement in the joint.

Jack up the front wheels and shake the tire side to side.

Also check the stabilizer links as they will commonly cause a noise when they fail and they are much cheaper.

[maxnix]

Oh, and remember to make an ink marking on your tie rod where it meets with the tie rod end. This is so you don't mess up your alignment.

Regardless of how carefully you do this, you will not be able to get it back exactly right and your car will require an alignment.

[mreric8377]

Thanks everyone. This job shouldnt take all day right? I plan starting on it about 6 or 7 am on the weekend so that I can be done in time to get an alignment on the same day.

[SteveTheTech]

Not to rain on your parade, but are you sure you are replacing the right part and not just throwing parts at it. I don't want to see you just throw money at something without confirmation.

[TBrack]

:edit: nvm used search

[mreric8377]

Honestly, no I am not sure its the right part. But I dont know how to figure out which part it is. Any suggestions?

[SteveTheTech]

Personally I would try removing the 17mm nuts securing the stabilizer links and take it for a short ride see if the noise changes. It's just a test but it's worth a shot.

[Q45tech]

Every body chimes in regardless of their front suspension design!

The 90-96 and 97-01 and 2002-06 couldn't be more different where suspension is concerned.EACH group has its own UNIQUE set of NOISE MAKING PARTS.

The newer the model the more changes and the less robustness was built in................the aluminum parts and of course the rubber bushings.

THE ONLY COMMONALITY is that they all need new shocks ]and associated rubber parts] at 60k or 4 years IF AS NEW PERFORMANCE AND QUIETNESS is desired.

[mreric8377]

Honestly, no I am not sure its the right part. But I dont know how to figure out which part it is. Any suggestions?

[maxnix]

I think you are totatlly in the dark about determining which parts may be at fault. I would examine the tension rod bushings first.

Download an FSM and read about the front (and while you are at it, the rear also) suspension.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/

[dan b]

I have the same problem Dealer looked at the car and wrote up a sugestion how about replace the whole front end. what a joke so i have replaced tension rod bushings from napa $42 Tokio struts Strut boots rack autozone $258 just ordered parts from joe king pins thrust bearings $200http://forums.nicoclub.com/zeropost?cmd=reply&id=4011584# Tie rod ends next

[SteveTheTech]

This is a picture of the component I would like you to check as you have the newer model in which the tension rods are not subjected to oil deterioration.



Move the rod from side to side and try to detect movement disconnect the lower 17mm bolt and take the car for a short rtide to see if you still hear the noise.

[dan b]

I have the same problem Dealer looked at the car and wrote up a sugestion how about replace the whole front end. what a joke so i have replaced tension rod bushings from napa $42 Tokio struts Strut boots rack autozone $258 just ordered parts from joe king pins thrust bearings $200http://forums.nicoclub.com/zeropost?cmd=reply&id=4011584# Tie rod ends next Please let me know who gets the popping to stop first thank you all dan.

[ahmed_wasim]

I am changing the full front suspension. The person doing the job told me that the noise was due to broken coil springs.

[maxnix]

The person doing the job told me that the noise was due to broken coil springs.

A lot of wierdness going on in this thread. Unless you are driving in a salt bath, don't see why all this would be necessary. Broken springs are rare.

FGY33, F50 and Y34 have MacPherson strut front suspension.

G50 is a multilink.
Modified by maxnix at 3:27 PM 10/7/2008

[dan b]

Steve thanks for your reply. My front end looks nothing like the one in the picture. I have a stabilizer bar with connections at both lower control arms. Do you mean to disconnect the stabilizer bar from the control arm. I have tried to jack up the car and put pressure on the bottom of the tire to see if i can see movement to no avail. Pushing the tire side to side i can see a slight movement if you look real close. I cannot duplicate the popping noise on a jack stand. It always happens when you drive for a bit then you turn through a gutter then the pop occurs then you have to drive some more its like building pressure then releasing on a turn through a bump or shifting the weight of the car in a turn. The tie rods look fine when i checked for slop. My friend said that the thrust bearing on the king pin might be shot the car has 145000 miles on it. I have never done the king pins or lower control arms. I have replaced the upper links. thank you for your time.dan.

[SteveTheTech]

You know what I did not notice that you have a 94. The picture I posted was of a 2002. It could be you wheel bearing, noises on cars of that age are very difficult over the internet since yours is not happening all the time there are a few things that it could be.

[xerexabante]

The spring insulators are to looked at. They look look like a hose that they slit in the middle to insulate the springs to the seat. they might have slipped off.