rattling/clunking in rear?
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7
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From: Raleigh, NC
Same issue here. '07 model. Bought it last august (08) with 7500 miles on it; started noticing the clunking noise around december 08. took it to the dealer, they said it was the spare tire (which i had checked earlier)
still experiencing the clunking... it does seem to go away when it is warm; it's the loudest when it's sub-freezing outside.
when driving it sounds like it's coming from the rear-right side.
still experiencing the clunking... it does seem to go away when it is warm; it's the loudest when it's sub-freezing outside.
when driving it sounds like it's coming from the rear-right side.
Same issue here. '07 model. Bought it last august (08) with 7500 miles on it; started noticing the clunking noise around december 08. took it to the dealer, they said it was the spare tire (which i had checked earlier)
still experiencing the clunking... it does seem to go away when it is warm; it's the loudest when it's sub-freezing outside.
when driving it sounds like it's coming from the rear-right side.
still experiencing the clunking... it does seem to go away when it is warm; it's the loudest when it's sub-freezing outside.
when driving it sounds like it's coming from the rear-right side.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: new york
great neck nissan, NY
The tech at Great Neck Nissan was Jack. He said he owned a 350Z, so maybe he knows what he's doing. I hope so. He drove the car well, so I believe he had one.
Just my luck, when we drove it to listen for the noise, it must have been the smoothest stretch of Northern Blvd! Normally, it happens every 3 seconds with all the bumps around Queens and LI!
He doesn't seem to know what it is for sure, but he said he'd replace the rear passenger "strut." I faxed him this thread, but didn't hear from him. If it gets fixed, I'll be happy and I'll recommend this dealer to anyone.
When I checked back, the parts dept. named 3 of the 6 parts that SOZ listed on this thread. I wish they were replacing all 6 in one shot. I have a bad feeling this is going to go on for a LONG time. But we'll see.
The noise is driving me INSANE.
I'm bringing it in tomorrow, so I'll let you guys know what happens.
IN the meantime, does anyone know of any particularly good Z service centers in the NY area, if I have to go elsewhere to get this fixed?
Just my luck, when we drove it to listen for the noise, it must have been the smoothest stretch of Northern Blvd! Normally, it happens every 3 seconds with all the bumps around Queens and LI!
He doesn't seem to know what it is for sure, but he said he'd replace the rear passenger "strut." I faxed him this thread, but didn't hear from him. If it gets fixed, I'll be happy and I'll recommend this dealer to anyone.
When I checked back, the parts dept. named 3 of the 6 parts that SOZ listed on this thread. I wish they were replacing all 6 in one shot. I have a bad feeling this is going to go on for a LONG time. But we'll see.
The noise is driving me INSANE.
I'm bringing it in tomorrow, so I'll let you guys know what happens.
IN the meantime, does anyone know of any particularly good Z service centers in the NY area, if I have to go elsewhere to get this fixed?
Last edited by captfantastic76; Feb 18, 2009 at 08:35 AM.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: new york
Great Neck Nissan said the noise was gone, but they wanted to replace the left "strut" (three of the parts listed by SOZ above) as well, as standard procedure. But I heard the noise as soon as I hit a bump on the way home, thought it may be less and might be coming more from the driver's side now. It's hard to tell. BUt it's DEFINITELY still there and very noticeable.
I'm bringing it back on Wednesday.
ANyone else have any updates or ideas? Does anyone else live in the NY area near me? Where do you go for service and are you happy?
Thanks
I'm bringing it back on Wednesday.
ANyone else have any updates or ideas? Does anyone else live in the NY area near me? Where do you go for service and are you happy?
Thanks
I sent you a PM weeks ago. I'm going to take my car in to them, as well for the issue. Either that or Garden City, since I know someone there. Did they also adjust your trunk latch for you? Mine has sunk, and my trunk doesn't up open anymore - I have to press the trunk button a few times for it to come up.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: new york
it's gone!!!
I took my car back to Great Neck Nissan on Friday. They replaced the strut assembly on the driver side and now the noise is completely GONE!!!!
Great Neck Nissan did a great job.
Yes, Arnold, they put stronger shocks on my hatch so now it stays up even in the cold. But you still have to hold the button down and pull it up. It won't release by itself. I'm not sure if anyone's does.
Jack is the tech who fixed the noise. He said the struts were not returning properly.
It's odd that both the hatch struts and suspension struts, though very different, lost their pressure. They must have been defective.
But Jack and Great Neck Nissan did a great job.
Great Neck Nissan did a great job.
Yes, Arnold, they put stronger shocks on my hatch so now it stays up even in the cold. But you still have to hold the button down and pull it up. It won't release by itself. I'm not sure if anyone's does.
Jack is the tech who fixed the noise. He said the struts were not returning properly.
It's odd that both the hatch struts and suspension struts, though very different, lost their pressure. They must have been defective.
But Jack and Great Neck Nissan did a great job.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Sounds like a defect. I'm taking mine in to get my rear struts checked out this week. They sound FINE in warm weather (75deg+) but colder than that, I hear clunking. It's really similar to my last car which had shot struts near the end of its life.
Wish these struts were under warranty, my Z is.
Wish these struts were under warranty, my Z is.
Finally figured it out!
I think I've finally figured it out! I was doing some more research and one guy over on 350ZMotor*ng had this problem over 3 years ago. He describes exactly what I, and others, are experiencing:
Which is exactly what my problem sounds like. I had my hatch struts replaced, checked every panel in the rear, removed the tools and spare and nothing. So what's the solution for the slapping noise that occurs every time your right rear wheel goes up/you hit a bump?
Another member by the name of slanteye reported in the same thread:
Now, I know that those other Z sites are banned around here. But for the sake of the community, please don't edit or delete this post, mods.
Originally Posted by ZFRNZ
Mine is definately not a SQUEEK but a metal to metal slapping sound.
Took my car into the dealer concerning this rattle again and I think we've figured out what's causing the rattle. After have the mechanic call me to swap ideas, we've come to the conclusion that it's a gasket. A gasket you say? A gasket. Where the rear shock attaches to the body, there is a gasket between the shock flange and the body of the car. Originally, the mechanic replaced all the parts on the list above except for this OEM gasket. He did say it was worn so he maid his own. The only problem was that it was made out of cardboard. At the time of ordering all the parts, the gasket wasn't in stock so to help me get out the door quicker, he constructed the gasket himself. This wasn't done to cut corners or screw me over but to allow me to get my car back quicker cause I was going out of town.
After he replaced all the parts and put the newly constructed gasket on, everything was perfect. The sound was definately gone. However after about 4 months, it slowly started to come back. It appears that the thickness of the "paper" gasket, under constant pressure from the shock, thinned out. This is why initially the rattle was gone but as the gasket got thinner, the shock flange would start to make contact with the body thus causing the rattle. With out this gasket there, there would constant be metal to metal contact between the shock and the body.
This also explains why I only heard the rattle when the tire bounced up. When the tire bounced up, it was pushing the shock up causing the flange to smush the paper gasket and wear it down resulting in it hitting the body.
Come to find out the OEM gasket is a plastic-coated gasket that "should" not wear. Obviously my original one did but only on one side. Maybe my original was just a bad gasket....I don't know. I just hope this He's ordering the gasket and once we get it put on, I'll keep everyone up to date.
After he replaced all the parts and put the newly constructed gasket on, everything was perfect. The sound was definately gone. However after about 4 months, it slowly started to come back. It appears that the thickness of the "paper" gasket, under constant pressure from the shock, thinned out. This is why initially the rattle was gone but as the gasket got thinner, the shock flange would start to make contact with the body thus causing the rattle. With out this gasket there, there would constant be metal to metal contact between the shock and the body.
This also explains why I only heard the rattle when the tire bounced up. When the tire bounced up, it was pushing the shock up causing the flange to smush the paper gasket and wear it down resulting in it hitting the body.
Come to find out the OEM gasket is a plastic-coated gasket that "should" not wear. Obviously my original one did but only on one side. Maybe my original was just a bad gasket....I don't know. I just hope this He's ordering the gasket and once we get it put on, I'll keep everyone up to date.
Just picked the car up from the dealer. On the drive back to my office.....I did not hear it! W00t! ::knock on wood:: I was purposely going over bumps to check if the sound was there or not. Up to this point, the gaskets did fix the problem for me. Parts listed below.
Part# - SPO 55338-AL500 Desc: Rear Strut gaskets (Gaskets go between the shock flange and the body.
I will say that the rear feels a little bit more "cushy". The ride doesn't seem as harsh when going over a bump.
Part# - SPO 55338-AL500 Desc: Rear Strut gaskets (Gaskets go between the shock flange and the body.
I will say that the rear feels a little bit more "cushy". The ride doesn't seem as harsh when going over a bump.
I got my car back today from having the gasket replaced and the sound is gone.
I am in Heaven no noise while I am cruising quietly w/o the radio
Yes the ride does seem a little better
I am in Heaven no noise while I am cruising quietly w/o the radio
Yes the ride does seem a little better
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 26
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From: west covina, ca
so i was having this same type of clanking noise coming from somewhere underneath my 08Z. it started after i removed my strut bar to install a new intake. i put the strut bar back on, and i tightened it as hard as i could.
i took the car in this morning to the dealer for the problem, and the guy said the left side of my strut bar was not tight enough. he tightened it for me with their powerful drill, and the noise, until now, is gone.
so just in case. if you have that noise and you have ever removed your strut bar, that may be one of the reasons.
i took the car in this morning to the dealer for the problem, and the guy said the left side of my strut bar was not tight enough. he tightened it for me with their powerful drill, and the noise, until now, is gone.
so just in case. if you have that noise and you have ever removed your strut bar, that may be one of the reasons.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 1
From: new york
Arnold,
I think the noise has been creeping back slowly, on the passenger side. Thank you for your post. If it persists, I'll check and see if I had that gasket replaced or not....
Would an aftermarket replacment of one or some of these suspension parts fix this problem once and for all?
Thanks for your help.
I think the noise has been creeping back slowly, on the passenger side. Thank you for your post. If it persists, I'll check and see if I had that gasket replaced or not....
Would an aftermarket replacment of one or some of these suspension parts fix this problem once and for all?
Thanks for your help.
Subscribing.
Have the same issue. Went off-roading (on accident) a while back. Now that it's warm, the rattle is there. Sounds like passenger rear, like everyone else, I've taken everything out and put it back... no fix.
Sounds like a small thin piece of metal "clanking" up against a bigger piece of metal... only when I bounce. Like a clamp for a cable has unseated itself.
I shall investigate this rear strut gasket in the very near future (great post above). If I never post in this thread again, the strut gasket fixed the problem.
Have the same issue. Went off-roading (on accident) a while back. Now that it's warm, the rattle is there. Sounds like passenger rear, like everyone else, I've taken everything out and put it back... no fix.
Sounds like a small thin piece of metal "clanking" up against a bigger piece of metal... only when I bounce. Like a clamp for a cable has unseated itself.
I shall investigate this rear strut gasket in the very near future (great post above). If I never post in this thread again, the strut gasket fixed the problem.
Have this same problem...sounds like metal to metal clunking....right around the rear passenger cross bar or possibly the right rear strut. I've sworn up and down it's the hatch but now I'm not so sure. I'm on Stance GR+ Pro OEM style coilovers so I know it's not that....and I rode w/ them for almost a year before the clunking started.
But damn is it loud and annoying...mine is an 04.5 Enthusiast model btw.
But damn is it loud and annoying...mine is an 04.5 Enthusiast model btw.
I have this metal-on-metal *CLINK* sound every time I hit a descent sized bump. It's from the rear drivers side wheel though. I wonder if this could be the gasket that you guys are referring to. I am going to check over all the bolts this weekend for something loose and see if that fixes it. If not...I will look into replacing that gasket. I will post back my results once I figure out the solution.