HELP! My car clunks - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

*DSC* · 03-18-2002, 04:24 PM

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'> My car feels fine but it makes a "clunk clunk clunk clunk" sound when i'm first starting off, when I'm driving slow or when I come to a stop. I have absolutely NO CLUE what to look at <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> Sway bars are still attached properly, tire pressure is good, shocks feel fine and I don't see any leaking...I dono what else to look at. I didn't notice it untill I lost traction (had just started to rain...still driving like it was dry). The light turned green and I was trying to take off fast cauz my lane ended ahead and I just sat there spinning my wheels for about 2 seconds when I got traction and speed off. I don't see how that could have hurt anything but its the last thing I can remember doing before I started hearing this clunk sound. Anybody have a clue what it could be? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'>

geeaj · 03-18-2002, 05:08 PM

drive shaft mounts...tranny mounts..motor mounts are all likely causes. Most likely drive shaft or tranny mount.

DrDubbleB · 03-18-2002, 05:09 PM

Can you tell the direction it's coming from? Is it coming from the front or back of the car? If it's coming from the front, when it clunks, can you feel anything? Is it a loud clunk, or not? Does it sound like metal on metal? Do you still lose traction easily? Could be a bunch of things, more information is needed.

geeaj · 03-18-2002, 05:13 PM

If the clunking comes from the front, either during acceleration or deacceleration, then it could be the motor mounts. If its a "woppp..woppp" type noise, could be wheel bearings too. But usually not a clunking.

It if comes from the rear, during accel or decel, or during downshift, it could be the driveshaft mount, tranny mount, or maybe even your rear end.

*DSC* · 03-18-2002, 06:37 PM

Umm I dono what the hell it was.  I just took it for a spin so I could more accurately describe the sound it was makeing and it wasn't makeing it.   <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'>
It will most likely rain again in a day or two so I'll let you all know if it comes back. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

junia · 03-18-2002, 08:35 PM

My friend had that happen in his FD and it was his diff.  We just changed it out with another one from a junkyard and that fixed the problem.

03-18-2002, 10:33 PM

if u have hubcaps, maybe it's your hubcaps.

240meowth · 03-18-2002, 10:46 PM

it could be the rubber protector on the strut? i have no idea what it's called, strut boot?  sometimes it breaks and... i don't know why it makes that noise, but i had it on my tercel, and i decided to glue the rubber back, and it was fine... till one day... SMACK, totaled...

camppain · 03-19-2002, 12:01 AM

was it wheel hop dsc? if so check your subframe bushings with a prybar see how much play there is.

also see if your tensio rods are good and tight. i had left mine loose so i heard a clunk everytimes i applied the brakes. other than that also check your exhaust see if the cat bracket and all the hangers are good could be your exhaust hitting your trans your undercarraige or diff.

i would check that first a nice hanger would be the easiest (ghettoest) fix <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

HippoSleek · 03-19-2002, 07:25 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (camppain @ Mar. 19 2002,01:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">was it wheel hop dsc? if so check your subframe bushings with a prybar see how much play there is.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Got Clunk!

This one appears at all times, in low gears, whenever you drop off the throttle and the car dips forward.   <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

issed:'>

And it's a PITA to fix!
(I'm hoping these are not your symptoms)

camppain · 03-19-2002, 09:47 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (HippoSleek @ Mar. 19 2002,8:25)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteBegin--camppain+Mar. 19 2002,01<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (camppain @ Mar. 19 2002,01<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>1)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">was it wheel hop dsc? if so check your subframe bushings with a prybar see how much play there is.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Got Clunk!

This one appears at all times, in low gears, whenever you drop off the throttle and the car dips forward. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

issed:'>

And it's a PITA to fix!
(I'm hoping these are not your symptoms)</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
you can say that again 6 hours labor at my dealer torch and anything to get theem out <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

but i just got the whiteline subframe bushings i didnt feel like torching stuff out blah blah blha etc etc tehy work great i must say no more wheel hop

HippoSleek · 03-19-2002, 12:15 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (camppain @ Mar. 19 2002,10:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">but i just got the whiteline subframe bushings i didnt feel like torching stuff out blah blah blha etc etc tehy work great i must say no more wheel hop</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
The "Drift Pineapples"?

I was seriously thinking about getting those.  How much are they/where did you get them? -Don?  How much work was it to get them on (I've heard third hand they are cut and just slip on)?  Did you have to jack the subframe up and just slip them in or was it a bit more complex?

Oh - and in the above description, you left out the fact that the damn bushings themselves are outrageously expensive (Nismo's are about $200, IIRC).

03-18-2002, 04:24 PM	#1
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cry.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> My car feels fine but it makes a "clunk clunk clunk clunk" sound when i'm first starting off, when I'm driving slow or when I come to a stop. I have absolutely NO CLUE what to look at <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> Sway bars are still attached properly, tire pressure is good, shocks feel fine and I don't see any leaking...I dono what else to look at. I didn't notice it untill I lost traction (had just started to rain...still driving like it was dry). The light turned green and I was trying to take off fast cauz my lane ended ahead and I just sat there spinning my wheels for about 2 seconds when I got traction and speed off. I don't see how that could have hurt anything but its the last thing I can remember doing before I started hearing this clunk sound. Anybody have a clue what it could be? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'> __________________

03-18-2002, 05:08 PM	#2
geeaj Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 357 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	drive shaft mounts...tranny mounts..motor mounts are all likely causes. Most likely drive shaft or tranny mount. __________________ Beware the fury of a silent man, be more cautious of his silent farts....

03-18-2002, 05:13 PM	#4
geeaj Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 357 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If the clunking comes from the front, either during acceleration or deacceleration, then it could be the motor mounts. If its a "woppp..woppp" type noise, could be wheel bearings too. But usually not a clunking. It if comes from the rear, during accel or decel, or during downshift, it could be the driveshaft mount, tranny mount, or maybe even your rear end. __________________ Beware the fury of a silent man, be more cautious of his silent farts....

03-18-2002, 06:37 PM	#5
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Umm I dono what the hell it was.  I just took it for a spin so I could more accurately describe the sound it was makeing and it wasn't makeing it.   <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'> It will most likely rain again in a day or two so I'll let you all know if it comes back. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> __________________

03-18-2002, 08:35 PM	#6
junia Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 343 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My friend had that happen in his FD and it was his diff.  We just changed it out with another one from a junkyard and that fixed the problem. __________________ 1990 Nissan 240sx hatchback, 1991 Nissan Silvia K's PS13, 1978 Toyota Corolla KE-30

03-18-2002, 05:09 PM	#3
DrDubbleB Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,119 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Can you tell the direction it's coming from? Is it coming from the front or back of the car? If it's coming from the front, when it clunks, can you feel anything? Is it a loud clunk, or not? Does it sound like metal on metal? Do you still lose traction easily? Could be a bunch of things, more information is needed.

03-18-2002, 10:33 PM	#7
Guest Posts: n/a	if u have hubcaps, maybe it's your hubcaps.

03-18-2002, 10:46 PM	#8
240meowth Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: torrance, ca Age: 41 Posts: 2,407 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	it could be the rubber protector on the strut? i have no idea what it's called, strut boot?  sometimes it breaks and... i don't know why it makes that noise, but i had it on my tercel, and i decided to glue the rubber back, and it was fine... till one day... SMACK, totaled... __________________

03-19-2002, 12:01 AM	#9
camppain Will never get banned... Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego CA Age: 45 Posts: 1,510 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	was it wheel hop dsc? if so check your subframe bushings with a prybar see how much play there is. also see if your tensio rods are good and tight. i had left mine loose so i heard a clunk everytimes i applied the brakes. other than that also check your exhaust see if the cat bracket and all the hangers are good could be your exhaust hitting your trans your undercarraige or diff. i would check that first a nice hanger would be the easiest (ghettoest) fix <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> __________________ -=-99 Sentra SE 5 speed-=- -=-95 240 SE 5 speed-=-

03-19-2002, 07:25 AM	#10
HippoSleek Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: elsewhere Posts: 2,081 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (camppain @ Mar. 19 2002,01:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">was it wheel hop dsc? if so check your subframe bushings with a prybar see how much play there is.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> Got Clunk! This one appears at all times, in low gears, whenever you drop off the throttle and the car dips forward.   <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='issed:'> And it's a PITA to fix! (I'm hoping these are not your symptoms)

03-19-2002, 09:47 AM	#11
camppain Will never get banned... Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego CA Age: 45 Posts: 1,510 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (HippoSleek @ Mar. 19 2002,8:25)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteBegin--camppain+Mar. 19 2002,01<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (camppain @ Mar. 19 2002,01<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>1)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">was it wheel hop dsc? if so check your subframe bushings with a prybar see how much play there is.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> Got Clunk! This one appears at all times, in low gears, whenever you drop off the throttle and the car dips forward. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='issed:'> And it's a PITA to fix! (I'm hoping these are not your symptoms)</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> you can say that again 6 hours labor at my dealer torch and anything to get theem out <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'> but i just got the whiteline subframe bushings i didnt feel like torching stuff out blah blah blha etc etc tehy work great i must say no more wheel hop __________________ -=-99 Sentra SE 5 speed-=- -=-95 240 SE 5 speed-=-

03-19-2002, 12:15 PM	#12
HippoSleek Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: elsewhere Posts: 2,081 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (camppain @ Mar. 19 2002,10:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">but i just got the whiteline subframe bushings i didnt feel like torching stuff out blah blah blha etc etc tehy work great i must say no more wheel hop</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> The "Drift Pineapples"? I was seriously thinking about getting those.  How much are they/where did you get them? -Don?  How much work was it to get them on (I've heard third hand they are cut and just slip on)?  Did you have to jack the subframe up and just slip them in or was it a bit more complex? Oh - and in the above description, you left out the fact that the damn bushings themselves are outrageously expensive (Nismo's are about $200, IIRC).