2003 PATHY - CLUNK NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION

[robbykennedy]

My 2003 Pathy is making a clunking noise coming from the front suspension, sometimes from the drivers side but the noise comes from the passenger side most of the time. I was pretty sure the noise was coming from the ball joint or the lower control arms. Last weekend I replaced the ball joints and both front lower control arms, the noise persists. I also replaced the front anti sway bar bushings.

I raised the vehicle and checked for everything that might be lose in the front suspension but I do not see anything obvious.

Do you guys have any suggestions as to what else to check?

[fleurys]

Inner tie-rod... This is what was making the noise on my 2001... eventhough I could not move it by hand, it was the problem....
if you decide to change it, take moog brand... life guarantee..


S.

[robbykennedy]

Inner tie-rod? Excuse the ignorance, are those the one located next to the tire? The ones that you once you replace you have to take the vehicle for alignment?

Moog brand - where do I buy the moog brand ?

[donald]

Amazon.com has auto parts: http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sr_aj?node=15732341&ajr=0
Rockauto.com is a good source as well.

[Buzzman]

Sway bar links.
90% of the front end clunking on these things (R50's) comes from these.

[artemny]

Sway bar links.
90% of the front end clunking on these things (R50's) comes from these.

Hey guys. I have the same annoying problem. Thank you all for advice.
I'm not very well mechanically skilled, but lately I'm just paying TOO much to my mechanic and start doing more and more job by myself.
You think I can replace these things by myself without a lift and special tools and breaking my fingers (all 10 of them ) and teeth (there's just a few left )

[Buzzman]

You think I can replace these things by myself without a lift and special tools and breaking my fingers (all 10 of them ) and teeth (there's just a few left )

Yes, you can do them yourself, no special tools other than the usual socket and/or wrench, and probably a good pair of vice grips.
The nuts may be seized, so use some penetrating oil.
If you buy them (less than $100 for a set from the dealer), be sure you get new nuts with them. Don't re-use the old ones.
All you need to do is jack up the front corner, remove the tire, put a good jack stand under there to prevent possible injury (like the truck falling down on top of you), and you're good to go.
I've replaced mine 3 times already, and will be doing them again this summer. They don't last long.

[robbykennedy]

Sway bar links.
90% of the front end clunking on these things (R50's) comes from these.

Thanks Buzzman, I am going to try that.I found them at $26.61 each - moog brand.
http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... OOG-K90659

If that doesn't solve the clunk noise coming from my front end suspension I am going to try the inner tie rods.

[asnorton44]

Sway bar links.
90% of the front end clunking on these things (R50's) comes from these.

Thanks Buzzman, I am going to try that.I found them at $26.61 each - moog brand.
http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/pr ... OOG-K90659

If that doesn't solve the clunk noise coming from my front end suspension I am going to try the inner tie rods.

Yep I just ordered a set of MOOG K90659 Sway Bar Links; have them installed this weekend. Ended up ordering from Amazon for 2 day shipping $44 to the door.

[Buzzman]

Keep us posted guys.
Thx.

[robbykennedy]

For what I understand I should be able to replace these guys without have to remove the sway bar from the bushings?
Is this correct?
[/quote]

[donald]

Yes, that is correct.

Although I've never completely removed them myself, when I replaced my front strut assembly, I had to remove the top bolt of the sway bar link as it attached to the front strut. I left the bottom bolt attached to the sway bar itself.

So based on that experience, you should be able to remove it without having to take the entire sway bar down.

[Buzzman]

Yes, that is correct.
You should be able to remove it without having to take the entire sway bar down.

Correct.
The only thing you have to remove is the wheel/tire.
The hardest part will be removing the old nut. They tend to corrode and seize, especially if you drive in a snowy, road salt region like I do.
Once the old one is off, the new one is a five minute install.

[robbykennedy]

Sway bar links.
90% of the front end clunking on these things (R50's) comes from these.

Buzzman, thanks alot for the advice. I replaced the sway bar links and most of the clunking noise is gone; it was pretty noise. I still have a bit of clunking noise, I would say the anti-sway bar links accounted for 95% of the clunking noise. I only have a bit of noise coming from the from the right side. Do you have any suggestions as to what else to check for?.

[Buzzman]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad it worked.
As for the last 5%, it could be anything.
I would start by checking for any play in the wheel bearings.
Raise the front corner where the clunk is, and then grab the wheel/tire to see if there is any play.
It may be as simple as just tightening the wheel bearing nut.

[robbykennedy]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad it worked.
As for the last 5%, it could be anything.
I would start by checking for any play in the wheel bearings.
Raise the front corner where the clunk is, and then grab the wheel/tire to see if there is any play.
It may be as simple as just tightening the wheel bearing nut.

I had quite a bit of clunky noise coming from the front suspesion, so here is a recap of what I have replaced so far:

- Front Anti Sway Bar Bushings. - Didn't help.
- Driver Side front lower control arm and ball joint - It may have helped but didn't noticed that much of a difference. (When I removed the arm noticed that I really didn't need to replace it. Front and rear rubber bushings were still in good condition). I feel the ball bearing needed to be replaced, although it was not the smoking gun I was looking for but I was able to move the joint in any direction easily with my hands. I could not move the new ball joint that easy with my bare hads.
- Front Sway bar links - HELPED alot, 95% of the clunking noise was produced by the links and most of the clunk noise is gone.

Like I said I still have a bit of a clunk noise coming from the right side.

I do not know if it makes sense to replace the passenger's side ball joint. If replacing the passenger side ball joint does not help I am going to replace the outer tie rod, of course if this helps then I am going to replace the driver's side outer tied rod since I have to pay alignment anyways. But before I take the vehicle for alignment I am going to make sure the clunk noise is completely gone. If the clunk noise persists I am not going to take the vehicle for alignment just yet and proceed to replace the inner passenger's side tie rod.

If this does not do it, nothing will.

[TerryJim1]

CV joints?

[AZhitman]

Strut bushings. I'll bet that's it. Replace them when you put in new struts.

Also, here's lots of other folks' experiences with the same issue - Read through, and make sure you checked everything that they did.

forums.nicoclub.com/search.php?keywords=pathfinder+clunk&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sr=posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

Keep us updated!