Notices
Brakes & Suspension 350Z stoppers, coils, shocks/dampers

metalllic clunk sound when going over small bumps

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-03-2013, 11:25 AM
  #1  
Jamin401
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Jamin401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RI
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default metalllic clunk sound when going over small bumps

hello my350z i own a 2008 350z and had a question about the sound im hearing. its been rather cold recently (30 degrees and below ) and i have recently been hearing a metallic clunk sound going over bumps or even really small bumps coming from the left rear of my car. everything seems to be working but its bothering me. I have also just a couple weeks ago had axle back straight pipe exhuast put on ( dont worry only temp. till tax return time ) i havent had the time to get outside and check since im working full time and since the weather has been so cold but any ideas? I apologize if this has been answered or if this is in the wrong location. Thank you

Jordan.

P.S. the car is lowered nothing extreme maybe .5" at most. actually whats stock height anyways?

thanks again
Old 01-03-2013, 11:28 AM
  #2  
stuartc323
Registered User
 
stuartc323's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

if your still running OEM shocks and struts on lowering springs its the shocks, How high is the mileage on your Z?
Old 01-03-2013, 11:50 AM
  #3  
Jamin401
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Jamin401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RI
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

thank you for the response. its at 48k miles and i belive it was either aftermarket cups or cup mod was done? does that sound like an actual thing? my skills with cars only goes into electronics and wiring so i apologize with my terminology. but im pretty sure the rest of the suspension set up is stock. just to throw it out there i did notice my rear wheel fenders are rolled already as well. ( just to give a better estimation on my height ) if pictures are needed i can take them but it would have to wait till i leave work =(
Old 01-03-2013, 12:20 PM
  #4  
Nismo350z#0310
New Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Nismo350z#0310's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: The Piedmont
Posts: 14,565
Received 562 Likes on 441 Posts
Default

If your lowered it could be your sway bar hitting something. Mine clunked the same until I adjusted it. You said your fenders are rolled, that's a good indication it's lowered a good bit.
Old 01-03-2013, 12:23 PM
  #5  
ShadowHunter66
New Member
iTrader: (4)
 
ShadowHunter66's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Santa Monica
Posts: 1,261
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Mine has squeaking in the rear coming from the left side and I can't narrow down what's making it..Good luck.
Old 01-03-2013, 12:49 PM
  #6  
PerfZ
New Member
iTrader: (3)
 
PerfZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: hilliard ohio
Posts: 2,402
Received 14 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Squeaks are generally bushings. Lube if possible or replace. Clunks can also be worn end links on sways bars, happened on my fronts. didn't look bad or even feel bad but replacement solved it anyway.
Old 01-03-2013, 12:56 PM
  #7  
winchman
Registered User
 
winchman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ShadowHunter66
Mine has squeaking in the rear coming from the left side and I can't narrow down what's making it..Good luck.
That's coming from the bushings at the top of the rear shock absorbers. You can verify this by taking them apart and applying a little grease to the mating surfaces. That'll cure it for a while, but it'll come back.

What appears to be a permanent fix is putting thin discs of teflon or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene between the contact surfaces. I did that to mine about six months ago, and haven't heard a peep since.

I happened to have some of the material on hand, so I made them myself.
Old 01-03-2013, 02:21 PM
  #8  
Jamin401
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Jamin401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RI
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thank you guys for the ideas. everything was fine till about a day or two after the axle back straight pipes but ill check the sway bars. so far that seems like it could be the issue. performance wise im not feeling or seeing any difference, just the noise. when i get home ill take a picture of the area the best i can see if you guys can narrow it down. i have another idea of what it could be that ill point out in the picture as well. having fenders rolled was a very happy surprise i must say haha. after i solve this im going to dive into the word of spacers, offset, tire size, and wheel sizes >.< but thats for a different day...

p.s. axle back sounds better then i thought but my uncle, ( NH car mechanic ) when he heard it asked if i wanted a gift card to a muffler shop for christmas so i guess its a little too loud..... thanks again

Jordan
Old 01-03-2013, 02:35 PM
  #9  
Arvin89
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Arvin89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

When you say cup mod.. do you mean the cup kit air suspension?
Old 01-03-2013, 05:01 PM
  #10  
Jamin401
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Jamin401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RI
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

no arvin89 sorry for my terminology when I purchased the car they mentioned it was slightly lowered. I asked with what method was it lowered and they replied with the suspension cups were aftermarket. frankly I dont really understand completely what it means but the car sits nicely
Old 01-04-2013, 05:45 AM
  #11  
3oh5z
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
 
3oh5z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South Florida
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

pic of said cup mod?lol
Old 01-04-2013, 07:19 AM
  #12  
Nismo350z#0310
New Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Nismo350z#0310's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: The Piedmont
Posts: 14,565
Received 562 Likes on 441 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by PerfZ
Squeaks are generally bushings. Lube if possible or replace. Clunks can also be worn end links on sways bars, happened on my fronts. didn't look bad or even feel bad but replacement solved it anyway.
Yes, could be the endlinks as well. I had the same clunking and purchased the Circuit Sport endlinks and Hotchkis Sawy bars after I had lowered the car and the clunking was occurring. The clunking stopped after I installed them. OP, this may be your problem.
Old 01-04-2013, 11:18 AM
  #13  
Jamin401
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Jamin401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RI
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

3oh5z no problem ill take a picture of said cup kit/ after market cups/ whatever im talking about lol. it will have to wait till im out of work though
Old 01-04-2013, 04:19 PM
  #14  
Waiz
Premier Member
iTrader: (57)
 
Waiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SoCal
Posts: 18,465
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

If you could get a picture of your setup we could help you out

I have a feeling you might have coilovers which is what the metallic sound might turnout to be
Old 01-04-2013, 04:45 PM
  #15  
2000atlanticgt
New Member
iTrader: (5)
 
2000atlanticgt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TN
Posts: 237
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Any chance the exhaust that was installed 2 days before this noise started is rubbing or hitting on anything? That is where I would start looking.
Old 01-06-2013, 02:51 PM
  #16  
Jamin401
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Jamin401's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RI
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Update!

ok so after inspecting more closely I seen that I have aftermarket suspension stupid me for not looking closer and taking their word anyways the pictures show the brand of them, they seem to be stance brand

http://www.stancecoiloversuperstore....lus--coilovers

I dont know what level they are but im going to say the cheapest they sell to be safe about it. pictures included! dirty car is dirty.....







if you guys know what ones these are id appreciate the help! also I guess this means I can go lower? pretty excited to be honest I havent looked up any reviews yet but hey I thought it was stock with a weird cheap mod that nobody heard.
Also the clunk is very minimal now

Last edited by Jamin401; 01-06-2013 at 02:53 PM. Reason: update
Old 01-06-2013, 04:08 PM
  #17  
Nismo350z#0310
New Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Nismo350z#0310's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: The Piedmont
Posts: 14,565
Received 562 Likes on 441 Posts
Default

With Stance you can go just about as low as anyone could want. It's a lot easier with stance too seeing you lower it via the coil body and not the spring assembly so it doesn't effect spring preload. It's just a matter of disconnecting the shock body(?) and the swaybar endlinks. You'll need to purchase one of their lowering keys (not sure of the terminalogy) to help you loosen and tighten it. You can also adjust the dampening, but it looks like the top **** has broke off from your pictures.

Edit: maybe the **** isn't broken off. Might just appear that way in the pic.

Last edited by Nismo350z#0310; 01-06-2013 at 04:12 PM.
Old 01-06-2013, 05:25 PM
  #18  
djwatts
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
 
djwatts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: IN DAT CALI LIFE
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I have the exact same sound. Same setup with true coilovers (stance). Just happened recently. The coilovers I installed about 6 months ago with no issues (sound wise) till now. If anyone might know what it can be please advice. I'm going to look at it in detail soon.
Old 01-06-2013, 09:32 PM
  #19  
3oh5z
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
 
3oh5z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South Florida
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

well to be frank, STANCE and any other coilover setup is going to produce noise.period. They aren't made to be comfy daily driven products. But to answer your question, yes you can go very low with this setup....
Old 04-01-2013, 01:23 PM
  #20  
phiooz
New Member
iTrader: (4)
 
phiooz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: dallas
Posts: 901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

let me know if youre still having this issue.


Quick Reply: metalllic clunk sound when going over small bumps



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:39 AM.