Front end rattle- 110,000 miles.

[Bluemill]

We have a 2001 SE Pathfinder with 110,000 miles. It just started making noise at the left front wheel about a month ago. We just had the car into the Nissan dealer for the strut tower corrosion recall, and I asked them to check it out. They tried to sell me on a whole raft of unneeded repairs, like new front brake pads, (they have about 8mm left on them) new belts, (replaced last winter- I did this with new tensioner pullies), and the one that took the cake, oil pan needs replacing- because it's going to rust out and leak oil soon! I still have my chin shield, and the last time I changed the oil, the pan looked like new. The next day I jacked up the left front and looked at the pads, and they were in good shape, with about 8 mm on each pad. I had a lot of difficulty removing the wheel, typical aluminum to steel corrosion, so this was additional proof they didn't look at my brakes. They may have sold me some struts, or new anti sway bar bushings, but they tried to sell me stuff that did not need doing instead. They did not earn my trust!

This noise is a fairly loud thunking noise when going over medium sized bumps, and just in the left front area. It's more metallic than the sway bar bushings in the rear we fixed a few months ago. Any ideas?

Best,

Bluemill

[iceman14n]

could be the ball joints, thats the first thing i got replaced when i bought my QX4 at about 150000 KM.

[ARKQX33V6]

I read that you have new struts, but if they were installed incorrectly they can be noisy over bumps. Jack both front wheels off the ground and with a 5' pry bar try lifting each wheel with a hand on the top 3 bolted areas of the strut and feel for movement while you pry on the bar trying to lift the tire.

Worn shocks will make noise as you describe, whether new or old but worn, test them even though they are new.

With tires up grasp each wheel at 3 and 9 and 6 and 12 and try to shake back and forth feeling for looseness.

In either case good performance yields no noise no looseness, but worn things cause banging. If wheel bearings are going the worn areas allow excess movement thus noise.

Tie rods have to be real bad to bounce.

CV joints and CV boots need to be tested and looked at.

[Buzzman]

From the description you provided, I'm pretty sure it's your sway bar/stabilizer links:



Common problem and a straightforward fix.

[G8rDuc]

From the description you provided, I'm pretty sure it's your sway bar/stabilizer links:



Common problem and a straightforward fix.

Just replaced those and the sway bar mount bushings...took care of it

[Bluemill]

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I'll be doing some suspension checking this weekend. I'm hoping it's the sway bar bushings. That's the easiest, I would guess.

Best,

Bluemill

[VanG]

I just replaced my sway bar end links for the same issue. My right side was bad, causing a loud clunking sound when going over bumps. I replaced both because I figured the left side wouldn't last much longer.

[604-Allstar]

I'm having the same issue except I just changed my stabilizer bar links as one had snapped and still having the same issue, Any suggestions

[MrMojorisin921]

From the description you provided, I'm pretty sure it's your sway bar/stabilizer links:



Common problem and a straightforward fix.

Just replaced those and the sway bar mount bushings...took care of it

Me too!