Weird Knocking...

[atiffarooqi]

Hey everyone, i have a 2003 Spec V and i had been warned about my struts being bad by a technician. Now, i think fro mteh front left wheel well, or near there, there is a repetitive rotating knocking noise along with a squeaking. i linked the problem to the suspension b/c the knocking resembles the rumbling sound you hear when yo uhit a bump with bad struts, except this sound stays as long as the wheel is coasting. when i come to a stop sign or something, and im creeping to the stop line, i hear a slow rubbing, squeking, so it must be that the wheel is rubbing against something. im going to get it checked out, but does anyone have any clues as to what it may be?

[OneFastStanza]

Hey everyone, i have a 2003 Spec V and i had been warned about my struts being bad by a technician. Now, i think fro mteh front left wheel well, or near there, there is a repetitive rotating knocking noise along with a squeaking. i linked the problem to the suspension b/c the knocking resembles the rumbling sound you hear when yo uhit a bump with bad struts, except this sound stays as long as the wheel is coasting. when i come to a stop sign or something, and im creeping to the stop line, i hear a slow rubbing, squeking, so it must be that the wheel is rubbing against something. im going to get it checked out, but does anyone have any clues as to what it may be?

I would pull off the wheel and see if the wheel is visibly rubbing anything. You would know if it is the wheel though cause it should get faster or slower based on whether or not you are accelerating or decelerating.

The other possibility is if you have had your front suspension off maybe they weren't tightened down from the strut tower cause I have had that happen before and it makes a bit of noise.

[atiffarooqi]

It definitely gest faster and slower wit hthe speed of the car. I scared myself for a second and thought that maybe the diff is broken or something. I dont think the suspension has been off. i had the brake discs replaced, i had engine replacements also, but i dont think those require the suspension being removed.

[DevilMB3017]

Hey guys, my Dad's Sentra (2001 I'm pretty sure) GXE or something like that is having the same issue.

It seems pretty much identical to atiffarooqi's problem. It happens to him more so when he turns to the right and never happens when he turns to the left. It sounds like its coming out of the right side. You think it could be the strut mount isn't tight? That's something pretty easy to fix.

I was concerned it was a bushing or a bigger suspension job...

[nametakennow]

Check the strut tower bolts, then the lower bolts to the axle. If all is well, I'd say your strut itself is shot.

[DevilMB3017]

Thanks for the info/help man, but I was just wondering how strut tower bolts can come loose like that. Is there anything I can to do to prevent this from happening again?

[nametakennow]

Did they actually magically come loose? I can see someone forgetting to tighten them properly, but I've had mine on and off a couple dozen times and never had them come loose over time.

Anyway, if they did, I'd check the rest of the strut assembly. If it's badly shot, it may be causing enough vibration and all to loosen them... though that seems like a pretty extreme case. If the strut is fine, add some Loctite to the bolts.

[DevilMB3017]

See, I don't live with my Dad, so I won't be able to check out the car again until Saturday. I really didn't think they could "magically" come loose like that, haha. I'm willing to bet his problem is either the strut itself or the lower axle. I'll let you guys know how/if I fix the problem this Saturday.

[redtop200sx]

wheel bearing . jack the front of the car up grab the wheel the noise is coming from and see if it has movement from side to side or from top to bottom

[atiffarooqi]

GOt it checked out, it was apparently the strut bolt. Tightened the top and the one near the wheel.

[atiffarooqi]

I actually tried the shaking thing 200sx mentioned, but the whole suspension assembly was shaking, i know already i have a bad strut so im going to pretend they are leaking and get them replaced under warranty.