S14 strut tower area makes creaking noise? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

slidingsky · 06-22-2008, 02:33 PM

Zenki S14 with 155k or so on the chassis.

Everytime I take off or basically make the car's back end squat there is a creaking noise like when you walk on an old wooden floor. It happens every time the suspension travels.

I noticed the noise about two weeks ago. I thought it was my stock suspension but have since replaced it with cusco coilovers. That didn't help, if anything made it worse.

So I'm wondering if this is just chassis old age or something that has worn out?

koukimonster139 · 06-22-2008, 02:38 PM

bushings and whatnot are probably shot

slidingsky · 06-22-2008, 03:13 PM

Well, if that is the case then it's a good time to get a bushing kit.

misfitsfreak81 · 06-22-2008, 03:29 PM

I have had the same thing going on with my s14 for about a year now. its more noticeable if you have coilovers for sure. im guessing its more related to age of the chasis, but bushings could be part of it as well. mine has over 200,000 miles on it. if anyone has anything more specific on what is causing the noise please let us know.

mike

murda-c · 06-22-2008, 03:30 PM

Do you have any urethane bushings?

slidingsky · 06-22-2008, 03:32 PM

I don't, it's all stock underneath except for subframe spacers? I didn't put them on there.

EDacIouSX · 06-22-2008, 03:41 PM

probably your strut towers flexing at the firewall.

slidingsky · 06-22-2008, 03:47 PM

That's exactly where the sound is coming from. I'm wondering if a strut bar would help.... I have never been a fan of em.

EDacIouSX · 06-22-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slidingsky

That's exactly where the sound is coming from. I'm wondering if a strut bar would help.... I have never been a fan of em.

yes stru bars will extend the life of your towers by preventing sideways flex. 3 point will prevent sideways and up and down flex. fender brace and tower plates will prevent up and down flex as well. what you hear is mostly up and down flex.

if you understand free fall diagrams this will explain what 2 point strut bars do to a cars handling

http://e30m3performance.com/myths/St...bar_theory.htm

slidingsky · 06-22-2008, 03:56 PM

Cool info, thanks.

**ThatGuy** · 06-22-2008, 03:57 PM

Yes, add braces.

They always help.

slidingsky · 06-22-2008, 04:03 PM

Well I seriously just drive the car, I don't do any motorsports or anything like that so I just saw no real need for anything like that.

**ThatGuy** · 06-22-2008, 04:14 PM

It makes it more enjoyable no matter where you are driving.

Making a car perform better isn't just a track thing.

sillydrift · 06-22-2008, 04:26 PM

yeah, i had creaks and cracks on my s14, i added braces and strut bars, and replaced my sway bar bushing, the noises are still thier but not as noticable, it took most of the noise away

devnull · 06-22-2008, 05:04 PM

Do you hear it on only slow bumps or all bumps?

Based on what I've experienced a swaybar bushing is more likely to make that kind of noise on slow bumps.

slidingsky · 06-22-2008, 05:15 PM

Base S14 no rear sway bar

misfitsfreak81 · 06-24-2008, 07:32 PM

ive got the stock rear swaybar, urethane subframe spacers, stance gr+pros and battle version rear arms. i hear the creeking and shit over all the bumps. big or small it doesnt matter.

mike

slidingsky · 06-24-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misfitsfreak81

ive got the stock rear swaybar, urethane subframe spacers, stance gr+pros and battle version rear arms. i hear the creeking and shit over all the bumps. big or small it doesnt matter.

mike

I'm 80 percent sure that it is my subframe bushings. They are shot and falling apart. Those spacers put a strain on them.

***S14DB*** · 06-24-2008, 07:39 PM

Yeah, my STB took care of that noise. Also made the steering feel more responsive mid turn

g6civcx · 06-24-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by random person

Why are you doing X? You're not "racing" your car or anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

Making a car perform better isn't just a track thing.

Excellent response. Participation in sanctioned racing is not a prerequisite for better performance. Otherwise, this entire forum should not exist

06-22-2008, 02:33 PM	#1
slidingsky Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: slidingsky Feedback Score: 3 reviews	S14 strut tower area makes creaking noise? Zenki S14 with 155k or so on the chassis. Everytime I take off or basically make the car's back end squat there is a creaking noise like when you walk on an old wooden floor. It happens every time the suspension travels. I noticed the noise about two weeks ago. I thought it was my stock suspension but have since replaced it with cusco coilovers. That didn't help, if anything made it worse. So I'm wondering if this is just chassis old age or something that has worn out?

06-22-2008, 02:38 PM	#2
koukimonster139 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 38 Posts: 1,379 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	bushings and whatnot are probably shot __________________ ho ha ho chi chi

06-22-2008, 03:30 PM	#5
murda-c Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montgomery County, MD Age: 36 Posts: 3,198 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Do you have any urethane bushings? __________________

06-22-2008, 03:57 PM	#11
ThatGuy Admin Asshole Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Retired Age: 45 Posts: 20,394 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ThatGuy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yes, add braces. They always help. __________________ "Speak softly,..." -Pres. Teddy Roosevelt "Be polite, be professional, ..." -Gen. James Mattis

06-22-2008, 04:03 PM	#12
slidingsky Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: slidingsky Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Well I seriously just drive the car, I don't do any motorsports or anything like that so I just saw no real need for anything like that. Last edited by slidingsky; 06-22-2008 at 04:28 PM..

06-22-2008, 03:13 PM	#3
slidingsky Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: slidingsky Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Well, if that is the case then it's a good time to get a bushing kit.

06-22-2008, 03:29 PM	#4
misfitsfreak81 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: northern suck Posts: 354 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I have had the same thing going on with my s14 for about a year now. its more noticeable if you have coilovers for sure. im guessing its more related to age of the chasis, but bushings could be part of it as well. mine has over 200,000 miles on it. if anyone has anything more specific on what is causing the noise please let us know. mike

06-22-2008, 03:32 PM	#6
slidingsky Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: slidingsky Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I don't, it's all stock underneath except for subframe spacers? I didn't put them on there.

06-22-2008, 03:41 PM	#7
EDacIouSX Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles Age: 39 Posts: 4,566 Trader Rating: (53) Rides Gallery: EDacIouSX Feedback Score: 53 reviews	probably your strut towers flexing at the firewall.

06-22-2008, 03:47 PM	#8
slidingsky Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: slidingsky Feedback Score: 3 reviews	That's exactly where the sound is coming from. I'm wondering if a strut bar would help.... I have never been a fan of em.

06-22-2008, 03:56 PM	#10
slidingsky Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: slidingsky Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Cool info, thanks.

06-22-2008, 04:14 PM	#13
ThatGuy Admin Asshole Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Retired Age: 45 Posts: 20,394 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ThatGuy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It makes it more enjoyable no matter where you are driving. Making a car perform better isn't just a track thing. __________________ "Speak softly,..." -Pres. Teddy Roosevelt "Be polite, be professional, ..." -Gen. James Mattis

06-22-2008, 04:26 PM	#14
sillydrift Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood Age: 40 Posts: 454 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	yeah, i had creaks and cracks on my s14, i added braces and strut bars, and replaced my sway bar bushing, the noises are still thier but not as noticable, it took most of the noise away __________________

06-22-2008, 05:04 PM	#15
devnull Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 222 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Do you hear it on only slow bumps or all bumps? Based on what I've experienced a swaybar bushing is more likely to make that kind of noise on slow bumps.

06-22-2008, 05:15 PM	#16
slidingsky Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: slidingsky Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Base S14 no rear sway bar

06-24-2008, 07:32 PM	#17
misfitsfreak81 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: northern suck Posts: 354 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	ive got the stock rear swaybar, urethane subframe spacers, stance gr+pros and battle version rear arms. i hear the creeking and shit over all the bumps. big or small it doesnt matter. mike

06-24-2008, 07:39 PM	#19
*S14DB* AFC #1 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 昨晩あなたのお母さんの家 Posts: 20,181 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Yeah, my STB took care of that noise. Also made the steering feel more responsive mid turn __________________ Comments should be taken as Opinions not as Statements of Fact