'97 Path Noise in Front End

[REACTOR '03]

Hi Everyone, I just got back from Supporting ops for 0IF. I was really gald to see my Path and it is a lot more fun to drive now with the Jim Wolf pop Charger and the Tornado air, she hauls enough for me but I am having some trouble with the front end. On a smooth road she handles like a dream except for the steering wheel that is a little off center when I am going straight and at cruising speed. That is not so annoying as I probably knocked it out of whak when I did a little off-roading before I left. The major problem I have is when I am going over bumps I hear a noisie coming from the front end that sounds like something is loose. It is more pronounced when it is cold. I replaced th Upper and lower control arm bushings with Poly Urethane ones from 4x4 parts.com. That helped a little but the noise is still there. I replaced the ball joints about 4 months before before I put in the control arm bushing just before I left. Do you think that the worn control arm bushings caused the ball joints to wear out much faster or is there something else that is missing? I took it to Nissan and they said I needed new bearings I replaced them and it still makes that noise. The only thing I can think of is the ball joints or something in the steering, but don't know what. Any help would be greatly apprecited. In an effort to hunt down this noise. I have replaced the wheel bearings, strut mounts, upper and lower control arm bushings and the ball joints that may be worn again. The only thing I have not touched is the sway bar bushings and swar bar links. As I understand it if they were bad the steering would be kind of freaky and suspect around corners but she corners like a dream. The only time I hear the noise is on uneven road or lack there of. I would like to fix it before I start doing hunting for more power out of the engine. :ylsuper By the way the Pop charger makes people look twice when I get on it, its fun. Its coupled with 2 1/4" exhaust from the cats back. I know its not much but it satisfies. I digress. If anyone has any idea what that noise would be I would greatly appreciate it.R3

[NISTECH]

Is the noise a knock type noise and the more uneven the road is the more rapid the noise is? If it is I would say it sounds like the struts are bad.

[REACTOR '03]

I only hear the noise when it is moving any surface that is not completely smooth. It gets much worse the colder it is, like there is something really loose. I have had the struts go out, before. They don't make much noise except when you bottom them out and the vehicle feel like your riding on water, every little motion would cause the front end to sway or dive. Sometimes the wheel just kind of feels loose, especially when I am on uneven road there is a lot of play in the wheel and even when the vehicle is going straight, the wheel is slightly turne to the left but that might be a seperate problem. It's the noise the bothers me. I guess I could try replacing the ball joints again can't hurt. I does feel like some type of rubber especially since it is more audible when it is cold.

[NISTECH]

check the links where they bolt to the struts. check the joint for play. also check your rack sliding force. lift the front end off the ground and grab the tire front and back and jerk it back and forth just a little bit and see if you hear a knocking noise. better if you have some one do it while you hold your hand on the tie rod while they do it. you basically want to jerk in the direction of turning the wheel. if the knocking is felt in the tie rod you probably have excessive play in the rack.

[REACTOR '03]

I am going to try to take it to a mechanic this weekend. I went to Nissan Dealer Last week. They said it was the bearing. $600 to replace them. $325 at Buffalo Tire and Care so I went with them and no the noise is still there. I did find an intersting was to make the noise appear though. I forgot I put it in 4h and I backed out of a parking spot. It was raining and I was in some dirt but I had a lot of traction. The Path acted like it was on dry pavement and when I turned the wheel it heard the noise and felt the jerking motion one normally gets when the front wheels are locked and one is in 4h. Re-reading your post. I know that I am probalby not supposed to but if I am at a stand still and I turn the wheelf from left to right. I will hear a noise. I don't know if it is from the same part because it alwasy souds louder on the road, could be becasue of the sudden shock to the mysterious worn part when the road condition changes. I will investigate and let you know what I find. Also any hints on what to look for if the transmission is going. Every once in a while the vehicle seems to skip. It just started last week and has done it about 4 different times. I normally happens when crusing, but one problem at time for now. At least my engine still make me smile.

[NISTECH]

your front hubs are always in full lock up on your pathfinder. 1996 and up have fully locked hubs all the time.

just for the fun check the P/S rack bushing right below the oil filter see if it has deteriorated from oil getting on it during oil changes.

[REACTOR '03]

Nistech, I made a hard call and gave her up. I have an '03 Pathfinder now. I like that it is familiar yet differnt, and more powerful. I know that was the most expensive solution but I didin't really trust who I bought the vehicle from and was stuck with it for while. I really liked the vehicle I just don't think the dealer ever told me the truth when I bought it. Never buy a vehilce in NY City, especially used, and don't be dumb *** like me, do your home work on carFax etc, have it checked out and what not. I did learn a lot and I had so much fun it that there was not ever a question on what to get the only problem was chosing color. I have it in white. For the price and options, I think anyone would have taken this vehilce in white. I love it now.