No, this isn't going to be a dirty story.

I've been searching and can't find anything relating to the issue I'm having.

First, I know about the CV clicking on takeoff. Mine clicks like crazy but I got used to it.

Now just the other day I noticed a squeaking sound which made me keep the radio down and focus on the car. The squeaking sounds to come from the left rear wheel area and it is speed related. The faster you go the faster it squeaks.

After noticing that, I noticed I also have a speed related thumping. I can feel it in my seat/floorboard. It thumps at the same rate as the squeak.

So when I was coming back from lunch today I rolled through the parking lot at idle in 1st gear, opened the door and leaned out to listen. It sounds like it's coming from the wheel and not under the car, but I also can't listen to the passenger side while I'm driving. But at that slow speed it turns from a squeak to more of a creaking type sound like if you were in bed sinning with your lady.

Last night when I got home I grabbed the tire and twisted/rocked on it and it didn't move (which makes me think it's not the wheel bearing).

I really don't want to have to replace the driveshaft (if it's a u-joint), and I've already replaced the CV's once.

The car has 106,3xx miles on it and the last 50k weren't very easy miles.

Has anyone else heard one doing this and know what it would be before I throw it on the lift this weekend and tear everything apart?

 

Also,

2004 6MT touring
Stock suspension (waiting to put the hotchkis TVS on it with KYB struts)
No spacers
370Z wheels
225/45/18 front and 245/45/18 rear tires
SPL solid diff bushings
Whiteline poly subframe bushings
Redline gear oils
No clearance issues

 

More also,

It is loudest when under a neutral or light load. If you press the throttle it gets quieter and if you're engine braking it gets quieter.

In neutral it still makes the noise when rolling clutch in or out.

 

Put your e-brake on while driving slow and see if anything changes.
U-joints are easy to diagnose, especially if they're noisy.
Try jacking up one control arm at a time and see if that produces any squeaks.
Take a good look at your cv boots too, they can be ripped, but not obviously ripped.
It's easier to listen for stuff if you drive near a wall, in a tunnel, or even next to a tall curb, jersey barrier, etc.

The cv squeak is an easy fix, you can loosen it and knock it in, it'll go about half way. Put a little spray copper anti-seize with the straw in there and re-torque it. Be sure to hit both sides so you cover most of the splines.

 

I tried the parking brake just to try to rule that out. I also heel toe'd to drag the main brakes and neither made it worse. They made it a little quieter since it was loading the driveline as applying throttle or engine braking does which makes it go away almost completely.

I guess I'll throw it up on the lift, check the boots better (they looked fine just looking under the car), jack up each side and give the wheels a proper shake down, then go from there. I also planned on lubing the CV splines when I had the car apart to put the springs and braided brake lines on it.

If I don't see anything obvious I'll lube up the splines and see if that's all of it. I park in a gravel lot daily and it's been awful dusty lately (plus sand/salt from the road probably hasn't helped matters)

My 93 F150 was obvious when the u joint was bad. You could feel it. My brothers 92 F150 was squeaking so bad it was obvious as well.

I guess this is my car telling me it's time for a VQ56, aluminum driveshaft, LSD to replace the VLSD and upgraded CV's. lol


I was hoping someone has had experience with this and would be able to tell me exactly what it is. I'm contemplating riding my coworkers motorcycle to work tomorrow in the cold just because the Z is worrying me. I don't want the wheel falling off goin 65.

 

I could find it in a heartbeat if the car was in front of me, but you know, this is the internet.

 

I feel kinda dumb.

When I first noticed the squeaking/vibration I shook the tires and nothing moved. It was solid.

I jacked it up yesterday and the left rear tire wobbled all over the place...

Took it off and looked in the holes and the factory lug nuts were digging into the holes with the hex shape so they were never holding tight and worked their way loose.

Swapped them out for some spline drive lug nuts and everything is good again.

 

What kind of rims? That's weird.