Suspension diagnosis help help help!

[Peterofdevon]

Hi Guys,

Need some guidance on a suspension rattle diagnosis on my 94.

Symptom: rattle and bottoming out clunking in front right undercarriage area over short rapid bumps at lower speeds.

Infinity dealer diagnostic said bad right strut and dogbone link.

My tech (not Infinity did the work) replaced all the struts with “blues” and both dogbones and bolted in Jeff’s FSTB. Prior to this he did the strut bars (initial diagnoses). The car handles like a champ over 40mph and can change lanes on a dime with no sway. The clunking bottoming out was fixed (bad strut) BUT BUT BUT, the low speed over bumb rattle did not go away, plus I swear from time to time the right front seems lower than the left. This is getting to be a pain in the *** and expensive.

I’m a new owner to the car and I assume the right front had repeated pothole damage.

Any ideas out there to guide my tech on the rattle?

Thanks!!!!

Peter of the 3Qs

[maxnix]

Did you change out all the rubber? Spring seats? Lower arm bushings may be bad (no mileage cited), or it could be your hub and bearings.

Just need to look at it more carefully.

[squeefoo]

Ball joint, kingpin bearings, or tie rod end.

My vote is balljoint. The lower arm can be removed and a 300ZX balljoint pressed in !

[elwesso]

I vote sway bar bushings, the frame bushings.. Start with the easy (rubber bushings) and then go up... The bushings need replaced anyway.

[Peterofdevon]

There is also a slight vibration until 40 to 50 MPH, then its smooth. Also at low speeds the vibration disapears with braking.

Does this sound like a wheel bearing? I had one go two years ago on the 93---its was noisy as heck---a big grinding noise. This is not that case.

Curiously, since installing the FSTB the vibration seems more pronounced across the front of the car---I suspest the right front problem is being more shared with the left.

Thanks for the ideas and keep them coming!

Peter

[rob1]

I have the exact same problem on my 94Q (125M), but have not started with replacing parts. Did you replace the front strut mounts? Please let me know what happens so I can fixed my car. Thanks.

[3Q Jay]

wheel bearing = very noisy low freq grumble. my guess also the strut mount, although this would not explain vibe.

may also be sway bar end links, you didn't mention that in the service history.

zerothread?id=134056

[Peterofdevon]

may also be sway bar end links, you didn't mention that in the service history.

zerothread?id=134056

Strut mounts were done with the struts...hmmmm. Still scratching my head.

As a review: new strut rods, struts, strut mounts, dogbones. Plus Jeff's bar.

I'll put my tech on the hot seat tomorrow and make an apt with the Infinity dealer. Anyone here know the name of the best G50 tech (and his dealer) in the Philly area?

Peter of the three Qs

[DrewQ45]

Sounds like your upper links (control arms) are shot. That rattling over speedbumps is a classic symptom. Very easy job to change them.

You may have more wrong but that's where I would start.

...Drew...

[Peterofdevon]

Drew,

I did the upper links (dogbones). As I was out this afternoon I listened carefully and could from time to time hear the rattle travel down the undercarraige on the right. The sway bar links are begging to make the best sense. It looks as if the bar touches the carriage (right? wrong here?) (couldn't get a clear look in the light) and the rattle may be being amplified.

It sure drives like a sonnabitch champ. Jeff's FSTB stops the body roll and the new sus parts plus the "blues" put the car in-write-me-a ticket-land. I also did the yoko DBs and swapped out the stock wheels for BBS (15s). I will echo other posts that the "blues" added an inch or so to the car.

It is not a family cruiser anymore

Peter of the 3Qs

[RobertsnewQ]

End links are a VERY common Nissan problem. The balljoints aren't very big and they wear out pretty fast. Light, high frequency rattle over small bumps is a common symptom. Also worn calipers...

Like GQJay said wheel bearings are a totally different sound.

[Q45denver]

How are your tension rods? I just put new ones on this weekend and while it might not be like new shocks its pretty close.

[elwesso]

Peter... I agree with you... Id just go ahead and buy new end links, bushings, and the sway bar frame bushings...

Are you interested in poly bushigns??? If so, let me know and ill get you the hook up for the Q.

[RobertsnewQ]

Unless something has changed, suspension restoration parts co. has THE BEST prices on Energy Suspension poly. Look under 300zx Z32 (90-96).