THUMPING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL/ PINGING ON ACCELERATION

[sevendedlysins]

2003SE MURANO WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHT WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE. THIS ALSO OCCURS IF I HIT A BUMP OR ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN STEERING COLUME. IS THERE A BUSHING THAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. JUST STARTING DOING THIS A WEEK AGO.

ALSO DEVELOPED A PING ON ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. I ONLY USE PREMIUM FUEL. I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT BRANDS AND IT STILL PINGS. I ADDED ANTI PINGING SOLUTION WITH NO DIFFERENCE STILL PINGS. HAVE THE OIL COMPANIES REFORMULATED THEIR PREMIUM WITH LESS THAN THE 93 OCTANE THEY SAY IT IS.THIS HAS STARTED SINCE MARCH 2008 ANY SUGGESTIONS HOW TO ALEVIATE THIS PINGING? IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. NEVER HAD THIS OCCUR BEFORE IN THE 5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE MURANO. THE CAR ONLY HAS 33000 MILES ON IT.

[2003muranoowner]

I had a similar problem after having to drop the cross member (uni-frame) on my 03 Murano. There are two bolts that attach the rack and pinion. They must be "super tight". I don't know what torque specification it needs to be but I do know I had it re-tightened and the thumping sound was gone.

When you turn the wheel in either direction, you get this thump, correct? Maybe this can help.