[kobalt]

Folks,

I've noticed a faint, high pitched squeak (almost like a mouse) when going over bumps. Not a clunk or thud, but a squeak and seems only audible at slower speeds. Definitely coming from the front area. I don't think it's in the dash either, has to do with the suspension. Any ideas? I tried to rock the car to reproduce the sound but have been unsuccessful thus far, the z does not give much... Any ideas? It's an 05 with 15k miles. Thank you in advance!

 

[mthreat]

Folks,

I've noticed a faint, high pitched squeak (almost like a mouse) when going over bumps. Not a clunk or thud, but a squeak and seems only audible at slower speeds. Definitely coming from the front area. I don't think it's in the dash either, has to do with the suspension. Any ideas? I tried to rock the car to reproduce the sound but have been unsuccessful thus far, the z does not give much... Any ideas? It's an 05 with 15k miles. Thank you in advance!

Is it a "creak"? Try turning your steering wheel all the way from left, as far as it will go, to the right all the way, and back. Does that make it creak? It could be the swaybar endlinks, which are $15 each (2 front, 2 rear). Or you can replace them with the SPL parts ones, which are very strong and high quality (http://www.splparts.com/Parts/Z33/Suspension/Stabilizers/default.asp), but cost $148 per pair.

It could also be that your swaybar bushings need to be lubed. Do you have aftermarket swaybars?

 

[kobalt]

Is it a "creak"? Try turning your steering wheel all the way from left, as far as it will go, to the right all the way, and back. Does that make it creak? It could be the swaybar endlinks, which are $15 each (2 front, 2 rear). Or you can replace them with the SPL parts ones, which are very strong and high quality (http://www.splparts.com/Parts/Z33/Suspension/Stabilizers/default.asp), but cost $148 per pair.

It could also be that your swaybar bushings need to be lubed. Do you have aftermarket swaybars?

Thank you for your insight, but unfortunately the steering wheel does not make the sound. I did find that when I open the door and stand on the sill, I can rock the car hard enough to reproduce the sound. It's a squeak all right, and it originates somewhere from the front end. I find that the squeak goes away for a short while after getting the car washed. Could it be the sway bar bushings?

 

[kobalt]

Dissapointing Update:

The car went in for service - The Nissan guys kept it for two days and said while they could replicate the squeak, two days worth of searching proved fruitless. They told me that the shocks were tested for leaks and that the suspension is tight all around (but who knows for sure). Is that a bunch of bs or what? A qualified Nissan mechanic could not find a squeak in two days worth of work?

Anyhow, I guess I'm on my own in trying to pinpoint this mouse squeak of mine. I'll see what I can find when I get home from work. In the meantime, any, absolutely any ideas would be appreciated. Once again, the noise seems to originate from the front passanger side wheel well. Could a loose bolt somewhere cause the suspension to squeak like a mouse? A shot mount or bushing would likely knock or groan, not squeak, correct? Gentlemen, please pitch in - I am getting desperate

p.s. Someone mentioned in another thread that a cricket type squeak was caused by inadequately lubed axle splines - could this be my issue?

 

[kobalt]

UPDATE: Squeak resolved!

The Nissan tech had to be full of it, with some help from a friend I diagnosed the problem in about 15 minutes. Our strategy was simple: Jacked up the Z , grabbed a rubber mallet and started tapping on just about everything trying to replicate the noise. Turns out it was the passanger side engine mount. Sprayed the base of the mount with some penetrating oil - no more mouse squeaks. It's most intresting that the mount looked fine and was not loose. We'll see how long the lube job lasts, might have to replace the mount if the mouse squeaks come back.

 

[ka5088]

UPDATE: Squeak resolved!

The Nissan tech had to be full of it, with some help from a friend I diagnosed the problem in about 15 minutes. Our strategy was simple: Jacked up the Z , grabbed a rubber mallet and started tapping on just about everything trying to replicate the noise. Turns out it was the passanger side engine mount. Sprayed the base of the mount with some penetrating oil - no more mouse squeaks. It's most intresting that the mount looked fine and was not loose. We'll see how long the lube job lasts, might have to replace the mount if the mouse squeaks come back.

Thanks for the updates. I have been having the same problem with my Z. Well off to lube up my girl. Hopefully I wont have any bad luck and have to replace my mounts..

 

[black z eddie]

Hmmm...interesting. I get squeaks when I go over dips and bumps. My Z sounds like pickup bed sometimes. I'll see if I this method (lubing) works for mine.

 

[smoothz]

Thanks for the updates. I have been having the same problem with my Z. Well off to lube up my girl. Hopefully I wont have any bad luck and have to replace my mounts..

:clap: Bravo! Someone actually did a search and found a thread that helped him. I'm impressed.

 

[JohnHilb]

Thomas Automotive of NY markets a device which helps locate squeaks and rattles without requiring the technician to drive the vehicle, and this tool may have been useful for quickly finding the annoying motor mount squeak that kolbalt was chasing. The tool is called the Rattle Tracker. The car's tire is placed on this equipment, which contains a powerful electric motor that oscillates the suspension to recreate the squeak in the shop. The impulse frequency can be adjusted, by remote control, as the technician moves about the vehicle listening for the problem. Information about the Rattle Tracker is available at Rattle Tracker - The Ultimate Rattle & Squeak Diagnostic Tool or by calling (315)-923-2051.

 

[Clapper]

I think I have narrowed it down to the driver side strut. Either the mounting surface on top or the boot spring area. Took it apart a lubed all and made gasket to go between mounting plate and body. Noise gone for now.

 

[Clapper]

It is not the strut. Replaced the mount and shock no effect. Took the fender and bumper off to eliminate body rub possibility. It is one of the suspension ball joints. I think upper. Ordering all the control arms. We'll see.

 

[Clapper]

Driver side front squeak / chirp noise from ****

It is not the strut. Replaced the mount and shock no effect. Took the fender and bumper off to eliminate body rub possibility. It is one of the suspension ball joints. I think upper. Ordering all the control arms. We'll see.

Well months later still not sure what causes my squeak / chirp noise. If it is the engine mount it sure doesn't seem like it. Lubing the mounts does not effect the noise, however using penetrating oil on everything on the driver side suspension does make the noise much less. Control arms and shock / strut/ spring are all new and no effect on the noise. Now I am looking at the hub and brake assembly and the sway bar bushings. The sway bar links seem fine.

Every time I jack the car up to work on it the noise goes away for a day or two, like it resets then comes back. If I drive through big puddles the noise comes right back, I assume because the lube gets washed away. If the noise was not so loud and distracting I would live with it, but it is just too loud and frequent to ignore. My wife thinks I'm nuts for continuing to try to find it and kill it, but unless I die or the car dies I will eventually find it and get rid of the noise.

 

[dkmura]

Congrats on resurrecting a six year old thread, As for your sound- there are no suspension struts on the Z33. It could be the LF shock absorber, mount or bushing is damaged or deteriorating. Have any of these items ever been replaced before?

 

[Mark Lundegren]

Had the same faint and intermittent front end squeak in my 2006. Asked my mechanic to lube the engine mounts during a recent oil change, and the squeak is gone. Thanks so much for posting! Mark