Here's the deal.

Parts replaced, noise is gone...on the passenger side.


However, as I feared the noise is also on the driver side. I told them I thought it was making the noise on that side as well and requested they look at it but of course when I got the car back they obviously didn't check that side, it's not as bad as the passenger side was but it's there.

So, i'll be taking it back for that side as well, but the parts replacement DID fix it.


The work order lists the reason as "internal shock failure"

 

Oh wow...that's pretty serious, if true. Well, thankfully my buddy came through and gave me both his OEM struts, so I'm going to be installing both. His only have like 17k miles on them, so they're still fresh.

They're also 2005 struts, and seeing as how most of us having this problem are 06+, I'm going to assume I'm better off with these. Well, hopefully this resolves it all, because my driver's side has also began to clunk.

 

Well, it appears these shocks fail rather quickly so replacing them isn't a bad idea.


I'll stick with stock for now since mine is under warranty. As soon as the extended warranty kicks in, the shocks aren't covered anymore.

 

How's the car so far?

 

It completely fixed the passenger side noise. The driver side noise isn't as bad but it's there. It sounds just like the passenger side sounded when it first started.

So it appears that the root cause is "internal shock failure" according to my dealer.

I thought about taking it to a different dealer for the driver side since they made me wait almost a month for the parts to come in. That's just ridiculous...this could be a widespread problem hence the extreme back order.

No TSB yet for this issue that I've found.

I'll keep updating. Fixing this noise makes you love your car again.

 

Well, I can't wait to get mine done, then. =)

 

Quick update on mine - had it over at Forged and they determined it to be something in the exhaust. I've already replaced my suspension with coilovers so think my issue is different than what's posted here. I'm out of town this week so haven't been able to get more details but will try to get some and post it up when I get back (note, my exhaust isn't stock either btw).

 

Mine is fixed! =)

Replacing the entire strut assembly + hardware has made the sound disappear. I'm using a buddy's 05 OEM struts on both sides. They're a little different in design, but work perfect. So far, so good! Hope that doesn't change!

 

So it appears this is some kind of design flaw in the struts or shocks. 06 is when they switched to the new tokico shock set up I believe and 06-08 seems to be the prevelant years with this issue.

My passenger side noise is completely gone, the driver side is bearable for now, but I'll still be taking it back soon to get that side done.

I'm off tomorrow so maybe I'll do it then, if I can bear being without my car for a day (and then waiting a %@%!@ month for parts!)

It sure is fun to drive again, the car is back to feeling tight, like it's supposed to.

captfantastic, I know you said you had these parts replaced...are you completely sure the dealer actually replaced what they said they did?

 

I've been posting my progress in another thread here:

https://my350z.com/forum/maintenance...ml#post8083834

Long story short, same passenger side clunking sound, same response from dealer that it was the rear passenger shock. They did not have a shock and other suspension parts in stock to make the swap, but their tech did "tear down" the shock and didn't find anything obviously wrong with it (must mean an internal failure). The dealer ordered parts about 2-3 weeks ago and I got the call today that they've arrived. I'm taking the car in on Monday for the repair and I'll post back to you with the results afterwards. (Oh, and I have a 2007 Touring with Nismo V1 spoiler & 20k miles)

Can't wait to get this knocked out!

-RDR

 

Well the clunk was gone for me also when I had those parts replced- forna few weeks. Then it came back, so just FYI..

As for me, I went to advantage Nissan in westbury and they screwed me. They gave me the usual " we can't duplicate the problem and we looked at it and don't see anything..." in other words, they did nothing.

I have an appointment at Nissan of manhattan next week. Maybe they're better. It seems that the dealers just don't want to bother looking for the problem.

I'd pay someone to fix it if I knew someone I could trust. Maybe I'll have better luck when it's out of warranty because they'll charge me and maybe they'll actually try.

I am furious over this stupid problem.

 

I'll keep you updated on how it goes for me. But just changing out the little hardware that goes around the strut doesn't help much. It's the strut itself that's damaged.

 

The fact that it takes so long for parts leads me to believe this is a widespread issue and it seems specific to the stock tokico shock set-up used from 06-08.

In the cases where the noise comes back, i'm curious to know if the common demoninator is the replacement shock was the same stock tokico shock.

If so, the permanent solution may just be to do what Arnold did and just replace with a completely different set of shocks.

 

I agree, if the issue is temporarily fixed by replacing the shocks and other suspension parts that go along with it we might need to find an aftermarket solution...

I'll be letting the dealer sort it out while it's still under warranty though.

-RDR

 

I picked the car up during lunch and all is well; problem solved.

For those of you who plan to do this for your own cars, here are the details from the service ticket for my '07:

Parts:
NH34 RPL one shock absorber/spring assy - 178 WN93
-1 E6B10-CF40C Absorber K
-1 55269-4U00A Nut
-1 56217-AG000 Bush-Rear
-1 55338-AL500 Seal-Shock
-1 55323-AR00A Tube-RR MO
-1 56218-AG000 Bush-Rear
-1 55248-2Y00A Cover-Boun

The dealer note also states:

"Confirmed and found popping noise coming from rear passenger shock...removed and replaced with new shock, bushings, sleeve, nut - all needed...test drove vehicle after repair and checked out OK (noise gone)...completed"

Also, per standard Nissan repairs this repair is warrantied for 12 months or 12k miles...no clue on what they would charge as this was a warranty repair and was free to me.

Good luck with your cars everyone!

-RDR

 

Also, the replacement/repair took only an hour and 15mins to complete.

-RDR

 

Well, I don't know. They supposedly changed the struts and all associated parts and it went away but then came back...

Anyway, I have yet another appointment tomorrow. This time, I'll see if Manhattan Nissan feels like trying to actually help...

I'm thinking of taking one of these techs aside and offerring private $$ if he'll fix it...so desperate.

 

btw, if it's a defect in the shocks, how come some of us have the noise with aftermarket suspensions?

 

That is very strange. Perhaps there's more than one source of a rattle/clunk in the same area? For me, I had not only the passenger shock replaced...my hatch shocks were replaced a few weeks earlier...have those of you with aftermarket suspensions (and who have this clunk issue) replaced both the suspension and hatch components?

Without having performed the repair myself I do not know what else is there to make clunking sounds...I'll have to assume when your aftermarket suspensions were installed all of the bushings/sleeve/other parts were also replaced...

Something else I've found is if the stock jack is put back with the 'eye' end facing towards the fender it looks like it can rattle and hit the inside of the fender (this is actually what I was checking when the hatch smacked me in the face and split my nose open).

Good luck everyone, I'll post back if the sound returns.

-RDR

 

Do you have aftermarket struts on the car? If not, then it makes no difference if it's just the springs that are aftermarket. I'm willing to bet the people who have noises and have different struts have a different noise.