Rear Suspension Slam - 2006 Infiniti M35

[remmy1]

When accelerating quickly , if I hit a bump my rear suspension makes a very signinficant bang!!! inside the cabin. The dealer is replacing rear suspension but Maybe I'm just not familiar with the tighter suspension. Drove two Lexus before M. Anyone have this problem?

[TXSJaybird]

Remmy,

Youre getting your dealer to replace your suspension for you?!?!?

Wow...I tried like heck to have this fixed in my M45 sport...but all they would tell me is that it was "normal operating characteristics" and they couldnt do anything.

In fact, one reason I sold my M45 was this issue. (among other things, not all bad)

I traded it in for a non sport M35, in hopes I would get rid of the BANG. Nope...this one does it too. Same exact thing you describe...only when accelerating, and loud as hell. So..its not a sport vs. non sport issue.

Let us know if they DO replace it. You might be the first.

[remmy1]

after hearing from you I think it's a desing flaw. Thanks so much for respomding by the way. I'm in a 06 m35 non-sport as well. How i got them to replace the suspension is I simply got extremely angry with the service manager and threatened to write corporate if they didn't replace them...maybe I'm wasting my time. How did you get out of your m45? was it a lease?-Remmy

[TXSJaybird]

Remmy,

Hard to say if you would be wasting your time or not. I bet its at least worth the effort. Did they say about how long it would take? (car in the shop)

I believe it is a design flaw...although not everyone reports having this. Since my build times were 6 mos apart on both my Ms...I dont know what to think.

I got out of my M45 (which I bought) by getting into a lease for the M35. That was the only way I wasnt going to take a bath....although im paying a bit higher for the lease than normal. It was worth it to me...still got the monthlies down a few hundred, which is what I was looking for as a new house and baby are in the picture.

PLUS, I got a new M. New car smell and no more black, not a bad deal!

Keep up posted. Im very interested to see how your dealer handles this.

[infinititech1]

i drive at least 1 different M every day and have never heard a noise like this

[remmy1]

Then there must be something seriously wrong. The problem gets worse the longer I wait for the parts. Since you have never witnessed a problem such as this this may be a difficult question to answer but do you think that replacing rear suspension will fix it?

[TXSJaybird]

For what its worth...both of my Ms didnt start "slamming" until I had 1 or 2k miles on them.

Brand new was just fine....

[remmy1]

Mine did it from the beginning but on the test drive the roads were repaved. I've got 3000 miles on it now and its much worse. How have you resolved tyhe issue?

[remmy1]

disregard message jaybird....didn't realize you were the same guy. I'll let you know how long its gonna take to have the work done when the parts come in.

[infinititech1]

did the dealership say they could duplicate the noise??

i have no idea what could actually cause a noise that...but i dunno what it sounds like cause ive never heard it. but if its when the rear suspension moves then it has to be somethin with the suspension...i'm not sure what they are replacing but should fix it...

[audtatious]

The only time I heard that noise in a M was during spirited acceleration from a stop while turning. Ends up it only happened when VDC was on.

[TXSJaybird]

I had no problem duplicating this for my dealer..on both my Ms. I could not get a "fix" out of them however...only them saying its "operating characteristics" of the vehicle. One service guy kind of acknowledged its not right..but said its an engineering problem...and they couldnt do anything about it.

Also...both my Ms did this with VDC on and off. Made no difference.

Some have said its the product of the Ms multilink rear suspension...and that other cars with this setup also have the "slam" I was a long time Maxima guy before the Ms so I wouldnt know about that...

Remmy, I trust you will keep us updated!

[remmy1]

absolutely buddy...I will be sure to let you know as soon as there is development. If replacing the rear suspension doesn't resolve the issue the next step is getting out of the lease because I cant see driving a $50000 dollar car and having a problem of this magnitude.

[remmy1]

they had the car three damn days and they couldn't haer it because they didn't make the effort to find bumpy road. All the roads in hollywood Ca are a mess (potholes, Cracks from earthquakes etc.) Thats where i work and where the problem is the worst. In Santa Monica where the dealer is the roads are all repaved so it was difficult to demonstrate the issue but they are replacing shocks anyway.

[remmy1]

The rear suspension came in today and to let you know they are going to do the work in one day. I will let you know if there is any change after the work is done

[TXSJaybird]

The rear suspension came in today and to let you know they are going to do the work in one day. I will let you know if there is any change after the work is done

Thanks for the update. Please try to find out exactly what they are replacing...see if you can get in the service bay when they are working on it and get thier point of view also. Or not.

Im just very curious to see what their "fix" will be on a supposed engineering problem.

Thanks and good luck!

Oh, and remember, it will more than likely ride well at first...its after a few hundred miles perhaps that the "true test" will show. But, I could be wrong about that..

[remmy1]

already thought of getting back in the service bay but thanks for concern. I will be sure to find out exactly what they are replacing. It is nice to be able to communicate with someone who knows how frustrating this issue can be. I will keep you posted.

[remmy1]

wanted to geve you an update.The suspension replacement is finished but I asked them to take a look at the speakers in the car and they found 5!!!!!!!! that were blown (both center channels and 3 others....rediiculous). When I pick up the car tomorrow i will have a sit down with the tech and he will show me exactly what they replaced suspension wise.

[TXSJaybird]

Cool man, well see what they say.

5 blown speakers? Do you have the tech package? Keep it cranked up much?

[remmy1]

Went to pick the car up on friday and before I could drive off the lot I noticed a SCRATCH. The car has to go to the body shop and i wont get it back until after thanksgiving. Needless to say i am thoroughly irritated. i'll let you know how the car rides after the holidays. Yes I do have the tech package and yes i do crank it a bit but not enough to blow 5 speakers. Take care.

[Popsickle]

lol thanks everyone, I notice that noise now! Also heard it while driving over a clump of dirt in the road :\