suspension makes a loud bang when it bottoms out

[boxcarbill]

Did some in the big city driving today and noticed a loud bang when the suspension bottoms out. Like going over a hump at a good clip or hitting a harmonic series of bumps such as crossing the ruts of a heavily travelled cross street at speed.

[KimberKenobi]

Sounds like the problem CodeRed was having... The dealer couldn't isolate the problem or fix it... (I can't link you to the thread right now because I'm on my phone...)

[KimberKenobi]

The original thread:zerothread?id=259693

The updated thread:zerothread?id=262387

does this seem similar to your problem??

[CodeRed]

Actually. I might as well update you all on whats now happening with my car.

I filed for lemon laws and nissan send down a factory rep. I drove with him all day trying to pinpoint the noise. It turns out that my steering column/rack is bent. I hope your not having the same problems as me your you will most likely be dishing out some more money.

[motoguy128]

My front left makes a "thunk" noise. It's does this since the first week I owned it, but I haven't decided if it was normal or not, since I've never owned a car before with electric steering.

Going over large bumps, however, the suspension tops out (the opposite of bottoming out) as the car gets a little airborne and makes a loud clunk. I'm guessing theres a little play in the spring.

For me, I need to take my car in to have the first problem looked at. The second, I think is normal.

[CodeRed]

Yes, go get your car checked out. You could have a bent strut -.- and be wearing your tires out prematurely.

[BBISHOPPCM]

The electric steering works just like hydraulic steering, only the motor powers the rack directly, making for much more responsive steering.

[boxcarbill]

when you get airborne your suspension bottoms out. When mine does this it makes a loud thunk. It hope it's common to all Versas. As long as I don't bottom out the suspension I never hear the noise.

Edit: I was just informed when the suspension bottoms out the carbody "tops out" and Tops Out or topping out is the term for this condition. I hope that clears up any misunderstanding that might have existed.
Modified by boxcarbill at 10:56 AM 9/23/2007

[Vahagn23]

I get a loud bang sometimes when I go over a bump or a pothole a little fast, not those big bumps little bumps, it bangs out pretty loud, but i guess its normal

[boxcarbill]

not that I want everyone's Versa to have this characteristic, but I'm glad it's normal and not just me.

[RedWhale]

Mine does it as well but mostly when driving over my apt complex's huge speed bumps. I still suspect it is caused by hitting the bump just right so that the spare in the trunk thunks down but that's just my opinion.

[boxcarbill]

I only looked briefly at my spare once to see if it was there. I never thought to check to see if it was bolted down tight. Yes, speed bumps are a good way to experience the thunk I'm talking about.

[Rockhound]

when you get airborne your suspension bottoms out. When mine does this it makes a loud thunk. It hope it's common to all Versas. As long as I don't bottom out the suspension I never hear the noise.

Edit: I was just informed when the suspension bottoms out the carbody "tops out" and Tops Out or topping out is the term for this condition. I hope that clears up any misunderstanding that might have existed.]

Not to rag on semantics, but I thought that "bottoming out" referred to shocks being fully compressed, whereas "topping out" was when the shock is fully extended. So when you drive fast over a hill, you first "top out" as the car tries to rise and then "bottom out" when gravity has it's way. Perhaps I'm wrong, though?

Just thought I'd mention that this probably isn't the first Nissan car with a clunky suspension. Although I'm certain that my wife and I have not heard this happen in our V, my '02 G20 rear suspension clunks over speed bumps (when it "bottoms out"). Very annoying, and I think there's a TSB out for the G20, but I've never pursued anything as I just take speed bumps slowly to eliminate the noise.

[lain]

I never have had this problem with my Versa. I even hit a dip once going pretty quickly cause i didnt see it...went over that dip smoothly...not that I would do it again. Also on bumps I always take them slow...like people behind me almost hit me slow.

[Rockhound]

Also on bumps I always take them slow...like people behind me almost hit me slow.

Haha, nice, yeah that's what I have to do with my G to prevent the noise...always get someone who wants to fly over speed bumps behind me. Oh well.

[kc5f]

We've only got a few smaller speed bumps around here, and I've never had a problem with them. But after a week in the Mexico City area, I'd hate to drive over the thousands and thousands of "topes" they have there. The folks that were driving me around had to take them at almost a full stop and at an angle, and even then we scraped the bottom of their Stratus quite a few times. Makes the "cuota" tollroads quite worth it!

[boxcarbill]

We've only got a few smaller speed bumps around here, and I've never had a problem with them. But after a week in the Mexico City area, I'd hate to drive over the thousands and thousands of "topes" they have there. The folks that were driving me around had to take them at almost a full stop and at an angle, and even then we scraped the bottom of their Stratus quite a few times. Makes the "cuota" tollroads quite worth it!

Oh god...not the Mexican topes. Sometimes they are 4 inch diameter ship ropes. The last time I came north out of Yuma on hwy 95 I had to pass over one at the border patrol checkpoint.

BTW, Is that a ham call?, never mind...I just looked you up on the zed. ¿Donde está tu qth? Carolina del norte.

[Clipsed]

*off topic* Nice to see another train guy here boxcarbill.

[boxcarbill]

Me gustan los trenes y los ferrocarriles. Gracias amigo.
Modified by boxcarbill at 2:15 AM 9/26/2007

[kc5f]

¡Y me parece que eres radioaficionado también, Bill! Comencé como WN9SRI en 1966, recibí KC5F en 1980, y hemos estado aquí desde '86.

[lain]

no hablo espanol.

[Clipsed]

lol todos se van a decir, que esta pasando? jajaja!

[boxcarbill]

Si, soy radioaficinado tambien.My spanish is poor at best. Not anxious to give my call here but I still have my original 2x3 from 1995. Upgraded to general in Feb when they dropped the code requirement, looking for a used extra class study guide at the moment.I'll e-mail you my call.I hope they're not too strict about off topic chatter here.