Spork

iTrader: (6)

Just today, I noticed that when I make right turns, something makes a loud weird creaking sound. It only does it when I turn right. Also, the steering seems to make it worse. However, when I'm sitting still and turn the steering wheel, it makes no noise. It is somewhere at the front of the car.

I've jacked up the front and checked the wheels are play (bearings).

I've made sure all lugnuts are tightened down and torqued a little overspec. 100ft/lbs.

The front wheel is not rubbing on anything.

The rotors and pads are new.

The tire pressure is all good, tires are rather new, and wheels are LMGT4's.

This is the first time this problem has arisen.

Car is an 03 with 69035 miles. Car has gone through the 60000 mile service.

If anyone has experience with this problem, or can suggest anything wrong, please feel free. I'm making an appointment with the dealership to have it checked out unless I get some good answers and suggestions that may fix it.


Thanks

Sean

shocks will go and you will hear a sound like a door that needs to have it's hinges oiled. Do you have trouble pushing down on the fender? If it's easy, they are going. they may also be wet with leaked oil from around the seal

blasian

iTrader: (29)

I had a creaking in the rear driver side when I would backup off the curb to the street. I thought it was the shock in the back but it was the end link.

SuperBlack350z

iTrader: (59)

yeah, my endlink creaked as well and the problem went away when i replaced it.

blasian

iTrader: (29)

Definitely worth a shot. I think the stock end links are like $15 each or something.

It went away for me after I installed aftermarket end links.

Ed 718

iTrader: (32)

I just swapped my front and rear end links this weekend and guess what the annoying loud thud went away. I hope it stays like this since that loud thud was rather embarrasing............I'm on 153k on the chasis.

terrasmak

iTrader: (8)

+10 on endlinks, especially if you have aftermarket bars.

Spork

iTrader: (6)

Alright, thanks guys! So... where are the end links?

I'm going to try push on the car and see if it goes down, etc.

I assume you mean sway bars, and those are stock.

Also, if I wiggle the steering wheel left and right fast, there's a clunking noise up front.

blasian

iTrader: (29)

Figure out what side it's coming from or you can just replace both if you want, it's a lot cheaper than shocks.

End links go from the sway bar to the lower control arm IIRC. Been a while since I've looked around there.

OldDirty Z33

Possible cv boot

terrasmak

iTrader: (8)

CV shafts click.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Worn struts may not make a sound. They just let the car bounce. Here is a simple test:

Push down on the bumper, and let go. The car should rise, then return to the original position. If it bounces more than once, you know that its time for new struts.

Spork

iTrader: (6)

Alright, so I checked it again today...

Sounds more like a bunch of marbles in a coffee can being shaken, along with a creaking sound... Almost both combined. Wtf?

I did the shock test, and it doesn't bounce like david stated.

For the record... what is the normal like of OE shocks? Because I've been noticing that the ride in the Z is a lot more harsh than it used to be... Or am I just being oversensitized by knowing something is wrong?

Nocturnal Speed

iTrader: (11)

I'm having a similar issue. The noise is much more noticable in the rain or wet roads. It comes from the driver front side and the strut has been replaced already.

Which ones and where did you get yours?

Nocturnal Speed

iTrader: (11)

I'm having a similar issue. The noise is much more noticable in the rain or wet roads. It comes from the driver front side and the strut has been replaced already.

Which endlinks and where did you get yours?

blasian

iTrader: (29)

I have Gridlock end links and I got them from Z1 Performance. I think that's the only place you can get them.

They are $300ish for all four.

Nocturnal Speed

iTrader: (11)

Sorry for the double post, internet was acting up...won't let me delete one of them for some reason.

Nocturnal Speed

iTrader: (11)

Thanks for the info.

WTX350Z

iTrader: (8)

my first bet would be endlinks like previously posted...who ever posted CV must be from a FWD car...as the CV joints we have are in the rear, and they don't go out unless you destroy them w/ hard launches....but that's another story.

If David's way of checking the shocks proved no issues, then try the other side. I will say I've seen it where the sway bar was under tension and significantly decreased the bounce...but noise shouldn't be the complaint with a bad shock.....oil at that corner of the car maybe, and bouncy ride most definitely. But again with stiff components that are found in a sportscar it may not be as noticable.

Lifespan of a shock/strut is TYPICALLY between 60-100k miles From my experiences

it doesn't matter if your on the brakes, or no brakes at all? I'm looking for other possibilities.

My first hunch is endlinks as well...SPL or SPC can't remember the name, they make nice ones but they are ridiculous in price....but I'm cheap

Spork

iTrader: (6)

Endlinks... something I can replace myself? Greg?


In a little bit I'll go out and jack up the car to check the shocks.

Over the winter, the car was jacked up off the ground with no wheels for over a month. Could this lead to shocks failing soon if not now?



Does not matter if I am on the brakes, but it seems it gets worse if I'm on the gas while turning. I cannot pinpoint exactly which side the noise is coming from. I swore it was coming from the passenger side, but I drove with a buddy to see if he could tell where it was coming from and he said the driver side.

It only happens when I turn right, gets worse when the gas is pressed.



Thanks a lot guys for all the help so far. I appreciate it!