I'm having the hardest time figuring out what's causing my front-driver's side suspension to make a popping noise when I cut the wheel left. I thought maybe the isolator on the spring wasn't seated right, so I moved it closer to the edge, and greased up the base of the strut where the spring rests. But the sound is still there. This is after my Hotchkis spring install, just the springs.

Should I have had the spring unmounted from the strut and then remounted? Could the bolt on the tophat be tightened down too much? I really don't understand what the problem is.

The noise does not happen when turning right, only when the wheel is being turned left. The car has to be on the ground, as well, so it's something to do with pressure or strain somewhere. The car drives and feels perfectly fine, though. But the clunk is driving me mad.

I've searched many threads, and only found issues pertaining to end-links, which it definitely can't be - because my clunk doesn't happen when on the highway or uneven roads. I'd have to be driving and turning at a reasonably slow speed.

 

First, you did not specify what kind of "suspension install" you just did. Second, you have the endlinks symptoms backwards -- the noise (popping/clunking) usually happens when you're driving slow and turning, driving over a rough road. The noise usually does not happen on the highway.

More than likely, the noise you are hearing are the endlinks binding.

 

Loose bolts and nuts on the suspension usually cause that noise. I got the same thing when I installed the Hotchkis kit. Go underneath and find everything that's linked to the suspension or whatever you upgraded/replaced.

I also found out that the dealership didn't do a great job with re-installing my exhaust system after the fuel filler TSB job.

 

I've had end-links go on my 2001 Maxima, and it's definitely not it. It's a fairly pronounced, easily audible popping noise like something has just popped back into place - end-links aren't that loud or extremely noticeable when they begin to go. My sound is also not consistent, like failed end-links are, and it'll happen when the car is completely still.

 

Any risks involved in touching the center bolt on top of the strut/spring assembly? I know that if I loosen it all the way the spring can uncoil and cause an accident. I just wanted to see if one of the bolts is too tight, or not tight enough.

 

Sorry I can't help you with the problem, but please let us know with the result. I'm thinking to have my car lowered with Hotchkis springs, but still afraid..

Wish you luck.

 

you cant make the center nut on the strut too tight. Considering you recently installed springs IIRC, I'd check all the strut mounts, swaybar mounts (if you touched them), etc.

too loose can easily cause those noises. The isolator is not the issue, and I'd definitely clean whatever grease you used in the spring pocket out asap...that's going to do nothing but attract a ton of sand and grit

 

Will do, Adam.

 

Well, it's all fixed. The resolution was simple, tighten down every nut and bolt that has to do with the suspension. We separated the spring and strut first, cleaned the grease off (per Adam's advice). Put it all back together, and made sure to look over and re-tighten everything that we touched.

I took the DIY suspension guide from the tech area and looked over all of the nuts and bolts that pertain to the suspension and made a list of what to tighten down. Once all is said and done, the noises are gone.

So remember, folks, be absolutely sure that you've got everything tightened down.

 

Funny...I just installed rotors and pads and now mine is doing it...I will have to tighten stuff down too..Hopefully that will be all there is to it...

 

its probably not that you did a bad job on the install, its just that you have retorque things usually after teeh first 500 miles or so. Plus its probably needed the greease as well.