I have a rattle/squeak in the passenger side upper shock mount area. I have removed all of the plastic paneling....it's definitely not the interior pieces. Rather, its coming from inside the area where the upper rear shock mount is located. I thought maybe it was the shock itself. I swapped the driver's and passenger's rear shocks...that didn't help. Then I removed that little orange washer and sprayed some WD40 on the shock mount itself before putting it back on. That seems to help for about 2 or 3 days.

I do know for a fact that it's coming from inside that area though. I can literally put my ear on the strut bar while jumping up and down in the rear hatch and I hear the nosie. I usually hear it everytime I hit a bump. I was wondering if it was something else from the suspension just traveling up the shock and making noise in the car.

It is also definitely got a metal on metal sound to it. Like tapping two coke cans together or something. I was wondering if it could be two pieces of metal that form the strut bar flexing and hitting each other. I know its welded together but there are places where it's not. I'm confused.....any help would be appreciated.

 

It is a problem we have seen before. The right side section of the strut bar/shock tower panels need to be replaced (cut out and welded in new). One or two of the welds broke loose. Can't see it but can definetly hear it.

 

Dang, that's what I was afraid of.

Who can do this kind of work? I wonder if this is affecting my car any...or how bad it could get over time if not fixed. I was 99% sure it wasn't the shock, but the strut tower itself moving.

I have no idea how to find a shop that can fix this. I know a guy that does custom fabbing that could fix it, but he never works on imports...just trucks mostly.

 

The part is avaliable from Nissan but we had to send them to a body shop to fix. Sorry for the bad news. We wrestled with the first one also because it does sound like a shock problem.

 

Any idea on the cost of the part? I have a friend that works at a body shop, so I guess I could have him fix it for me hopefully.

 

Part# 79430-CD000 $73.00. It's the right side of the strut bar.

 

I'll order one from you so that I know I'm getting the right part. I'll send you a PM. Unless shipping is a lot?

 

Hey Tim,

You actually helped me out a little while back when I took my car in at WCN for a similar problem. The tech said it was an issue with my rear sway bar and had the part replaced. The noise isn't as bad, however I can still hear it. I'm wondering if I have to have done what you are explaining in this post. I was hoping once I changed my suspension that it would go away but I'm not sure how long that will be. I think I might take it over to you guys now??

NISMOFO,

Sorry to highjack your thread! But if it's the same noise I have it sure is annoying!!!

 

problem could be fixed if you got a similar issue as follow.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ztalker
Back in 03 i had to leave my Z with the dealer multiple time to figure out where a clicking/tapping noise was coming from in the rear. They pinpointed the location after they placed a smaller technician(not the trunk monkey) in the trunk to ride along. It was the left rear suspension strut hitting the strut tower due to poor fitment(excessive play). They fixed it with a shim. I later shim it again with custom made gaskets.


Wow!!! Thank you Ztalker. I went ahead and installed washers over the bolts and the loud clincking noise is gone. WOOHOOO!! I went an extra step. Went to home depot and got a small roll of this soft plastic sheet that is used under floors. Cost me five bucks. Cut it to shape, a tad bigger, and placed it on the base mount. The extra length wraps around the edges so that the edges don't come into contact with the wheel well. Now I have no more loud clicking over major bumps, and no more light continuous clicking noises. All noises have ceased. I love my car again!!

 

kinda confused while trying to picture this in my head. i have a very similar problem.

do you have any diagrams or even some pics of the area? basically, where the side covers go over the rear strut tower?
thanks

 

I can take a picture of the area I'm talking about. It's right where the rear shock bolts up to the inner structure of the quarter panels. Just two bolts hold the top of the shock there. But the rattle is coming from that area. It's more like a "ping, ping, ping" as I'm going down the road. I have my plastic covers off the rear strut tower bar right now.

An actual diagram or picture of the actual part being replaced would be pretty helpful though.

It looks like the part is around $50 w/o any shipping or tax. I'm going to have a friend of mine (works at a body shop) look at it tonight...one last opinion....then most likely order the part tomorrow. I just have no idea how much this will cost in labor.

 

Hey NISMOFO,

Once you find the problem if you could post those pics that would be great!! I would love to find out if this is the same problem I have! Let me know, thanks!

B

 

Haven't ordered the part yet. Took it to the bodyshop to have my friend look at it. he's going to look up the part # to determine if it's a part from inside the hatch or from inside the fenderwell. He think's it's being install from inside the fenderwell.....that flat part that the shock bolts to.

Performance Nissan, can you confirm?

Anyways, I'm giving him the part number today and he's going to look up what the part looks like to get an idea of what he's getting into.

 

The part that I had been refering to is inside the hatch area. Best idea is to have someone ride in the back with chassis ears if possible to pinpoint the noise before trying to fix it.

 

Yeah, I have done that.......twice. Hahaha. You definitely can't see it......put if you put your ear right over the strut bar where the shock is.....you can totally tell it's coming from there.

 

Update: It's def not the part I thought it was. Still have no clue what the noise is for sure. I'm tempted to try putting expandable foam in there, but I'd rather "fix" the rattle...especially if it's something that could be cracked.