Popping/catching in front suspension/rack - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

leonb2004 · 04-03-2007, 10:05 PM

Well, prior to the last drift day I noticed that my front suspension would pop sometimes when turning tight, or parallel parking. Also, when pulling out of the driveway, I noticed sometimes it would almost catch, and give the same feeling as if your front tires were rubbing and catching on the inner fenders. Of course, drift day made things worse. Sometimes, the car would catch when I would go full lock, pop a little, then would release.

Any ideas or quick ways to diagnose exactly what my problem is? Ive searched, and have found several different possibilities as to what a "popping" noise can be, but none have actually caught/rubbed like what Im describing. Ive heard steering rack bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, etc...

TheTimanator · 04-03-2007, 10:16 PM

have tried jacking up the car an inspecting everything?
If there's something rubbing chances are you'll be able to tell. If that's not the problem try moving your suspension around, turn the wheel to full lock, remove the shock/strut and move the arms or something. Basically attempt to reproduce the noise while the car is in the air so you can track it down....

leonb2004 · 04-03-2007, 11:50 PM

Ive tried that, fully inspected everything, problem is, it only catches sometimes... maybe once a day... unless Im driving hard, then of course its game over for my front suspension, hehe.

chmercer · 04-03-2007, 11:51 PM

check the top nuts on the shocks, impact them down

gotta240 · 04-04-2007, 12:57 AM

DONT impact them down. Go by the specs for the struts.

I had an APEX-I struts SNAP OFF below the threads. I would only imagine that impacting would help cause this.
JMO

leonb2004 · 04-04-2007, 02:17 PM

I didnt impact them, but the car popped sometimes before my coilover install, so Im sure its nothing to do with the top bolt.

nism014 · 04-04-2007, 02:35 PM

I had a problem somewhat similar to that, and could never find it when looking for it. Till last week when i installed my new o2 housing. come to find out, one of the two nuts holding down my tension rod under the control arm on my passenger side came off and caused the tension rod to lift from the control arm and slam back down.

i suggest checking all your nuts and bolt to everything connected to your front suspention. over and under...if you already did then I don't know what else could be wrong.

uthemofo · 04-04-2007, 02:46 PM

my bet is on the tension rod. could also be that you have a WORN out rubber bushing on the tension rod. Check it out...if there stock chances are the black bushing is dead.

Flybert · 04-04-2007, 04:17 PM

Under hard tight cornering, the only thing that causes binding on my car is the LCA.

Nikeboy355 · 04-04-2007, 04:55 PM

You have to use an impact on the top nut because it is connected to the center shaft... If you try and use a wrench, the center shaft will just spin...

leonb2004 · 04-04-2007, 09:04 PM

Yeah, I dont see how the TC Rod can cause binding. It really feels like it is in the rack. Perhaps a balljoint? The control arm isnt bent.

04-03-2007, 10:05 PM	#1
leonb2004 Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: AL Posts: 71 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Popping/catching in front suspension/rack Well, prior to the last drift day I noticed that my front suspension would pop sometimes when turning tight, or parallel parking. Also, when pulling out of the driveway, I noticed sometimes it would almost catch, and give the same feeling as if your front tires were rubbing and catching on the inner fenders. Of course, drift day made things worse. Sometimes, the car would catch when I would go full lock, pop a little, then would release. Any ideas or quick ways to diagnose exactly what my problem is? Ive searched, and have found several different possibilities as to what a "popping" noise can be, but none have actually caught/rubbed like what Im describing. Ive heard steering rack bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, etc...

04-03-2007, 10:16 PM	#2
TheTimanator Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Nashville Age: 41 Posts: 2,535 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: TheTimanator Feedback Score: 1 reviews	have tried jacking up the car an inspecting everything? If there's something rubbing chances are you'll be able to tell. If that's not the problem try moving your suspension around, turn the wheel to full lock, remove the shock/strut and move the arms or something. Basically attempt to reproduce the noise while the car is in the air so you can track it down.... __________________ 89 S13 hatch/////98 Subaru 2.5RS

04-04-2007, 02:46 PM	#8
uthemofo Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san jose Posts: 425 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	my bet is on the tension rod. could also be that you have a WORN out rubber bushing on the tension rod. Check it out...if there stock chances are the black bushing is dead. __________________ My Feedback

04-03-2007, 11:50 PM	#3
leonb2004 Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: AL Posts: 71 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ive tried that, fully inspected everything, problem is, it only catches sometimes... maybe once a day... unless Im driving hard, then of course its game over for my front suspension, hehe.

04-03-2007, 11:51 PM	#4
chmercer BANNED Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: texas! Age: 39 Posts: 3,288 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	check the top nuts on the shocks, impact them down

04-04-2007, 12:57 AM	#5
gotta240 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: so cal Posts: 3,496 Trader Rating: (21) Feedback Score: 21 reviews	DONT impact them down. Go by the specs for the struts. I had an APEX-I struts SNAP OFF below the threads. I would only imagine that impacting would help cause this. JMO

04-04-2007, 02:17 PM	#6
leonb2004 Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: AL Posts: 71 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I didnt impact them, but the car popped sometimes before my coilover install, so Im sure its nothing to do with the top bolt.

04-04-2007, 02:35 PM	#7
nism014 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HI Posts: 406 Trader Rating: (14) Feedback Score: 14 reviews	I had a problem somewhat similar to that, and could never find it when looking for it. Till last week when i installed my new o2 housing. come to find out, one of the two nuts holding down my tension rod under the control arm on my passenger side came off and caused the tension rod to lift from the control arm and slam back down. i suggest checking all your nuts and bolt to everything connected to your front suspention. over and under...if you already did then I don't know what else could be wrong.

04-04-2007, 04:17 PM	#9
Flybert Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: none Posts: 3,862 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Under hard tight cornering, the only thing that causes binding on my car is the LCA.

04-04-2007, 04:55 PM	#10
Nikeboy355 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 45 Posts: 734 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You have to use an impact on the top nut because it is connected to the center shaft... If you try and use a wrench, the center shaft will just spin...

04-04-2007, 09:04 PM	#11
leonb2004 Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: AL Posts: 71 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah, I dont see how the TC Rod can cause binding. It really feels like it is in the rack. Perhaps a balljoint? The control arm isnt bent.