Rear Axle Clunk (Please Report Here!)
 

Hey everyone,
I know there's a bunch of threads already started about the noises that the rear axles are making when the car starts from a complete stop, but I really think us as owners need to report these things direct to Nissan USA. If Nissan doesnt know these problem exist, then they can't fix them either. At the moment, there is no recall or bulletin for the problem, but I really think there's a design issue here. From what I can tell, the main reason for the noise is simply because there's play or slop in the axle splines causing a clunk when power is applied to the drivetrain (the axles specifically)... so it's obviously not a tight fit. So the dealers solution is just to remove the axles and put grease on the splines and re-assemble. Now to me, that's not a permanent fix, just a temporary solution to "hide" the noise. Think about it, eventually the grease is either going to wear down or sqeeze out and we will be back to square one. Also, how long are these axles going to last if the splines aren't tight? Premature wear and/or failure? This precedure was also done on previous 350z's, but I think its BS! You think Nissan would have figured it out by now. So here I am with a brand new 2009 Z with only 1,800 miles on it and I have to rip apart the whole rear end and do something that's not really even a fix.:rolleyes: I hear this problem is also quite common with the new G37's as well. Nissan really needs to either re-engineer the axles and send out replacements or revamp the entire rear drivetrain assembly. I dont know. Does anyone agree?

So guys, if your experiencing this problem, please dont consider it "normal". It's not! I can go out and buy a cheap Kia for $10,000 and not hear any axles clicking or clunking, ya know?

So please report your issues to Nissan USA...

Nissan Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 685003
Franklin TN 37068-5003
(800) NISSAN-1 (or 800-647-7261)
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern / Central Time / Pacific Time
Monday through Friday

Thanks!

Is this your first car?

Drive line "clunk" on RWD cars is pretty normal... There's always some play between the components. When you apply power the drive train loads (from front to rear, obviously), and as it does you may hear a clunk from the rear end... The same thing happens if you pull out of the throttle rather quickly in a high gear.

This is the reason why, when at the drag strip, experienced drivers tell you to "load" the drive train up when you stage so you don't shock the rear end on launch.

Yup, all normal.

LOL...I taught you well my son....:tup:

No I've had other cars before this, just recently traded in my WRX for the Z. But yes, its my first RWD car. And yes, your right there is going to be some play in the components, but it should be minimal. The clunk that I'm experiencing isn't just a faint clunk. Its quite loud. The techs at my local dealership heard it across the parking lot as I moved the car to go park it. They even said it sounded pretty bad to them. Plus, I have friends with other RWD and AWD cars and I dont hear any noises like this coming from their cars.

So question for everyone that says it's "normal" is... Why does my dealership feel the need to work on my car then? I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ here. Its just obvious to me that something isnt right... otherwise the dealership wouldn't take the time do something about it nor would they admit themselves that it doesnt sound good to them.

Is the noise something like a chatter when load is applied under 3K? Cause I'm experiencing something like that. It sounds like a rattle....kind of like a tin can filled with pebbles. I know it's not a loose cat heat shield because I've experienced that in the past with other car and that is far more noisier. The sound I hear is a bit more subtle but noticeable from the outside.

This is my first RWD car so maybe it's normal. My inspection is up next month and I plan to bring it up to the techs.

Same here.

No, its almost like a series of clunks/clacks... either as I start moving forward or backwards as torque is applied. I didn't notice it when I picked up the car either. I started to notice it at around 1,000 miles or so and its gotten progessively louder.

Is it just me or are a bunch of sports car newbs suddenly buying evo Xs and Zs? The clunk usually means you need to get your rear axle greased - this is covered under warranty @ your local nissan dealer... no need to call consumer affairs - these cars already sell as well as they are going to... and honestly - nissan may loose 2-3% of its customers to the Z if they didnt give an eff about fixing the clunk (they know ppl will buy the car no matter what)... so if i was nissan... i would be more worried about my next set of cars etc etc...

Like I have said before: its a sports car... it will make noise, it will clunk, and it will need attention from the owner a lot more than a corolla... it will also corner at 1g and get to 60 in 5... there is a price you pay for those things... and part of that price is a noisy cabin / clutch and axle..

^^ someone's tired and annoyed.

Yeah, I understand its a sports car and it will be noisier than your everyday civic, corolla whatever... the cabin noise, the clutch & throwout bearing noises dont bother me, but the noise from the rear is different. I seriously doubt other sports cars do the same thing. I've had numerous rides in corvettes, porsche's, etc... and I've never noticed the same thing. Even if the noise was there, it certainly wasnt as loud as my car. Yes, they are more expensive cars, but its the same principle. If the sound was hardly noticable and it did it all the time... fine. But when you can hear it 30ft.. 40ft.. away, that just isn't right.

And I guess the oil temp issues with the 370z is also "normal" because it's a sports car and it happens to all of us. Again, if nissan was smart and installed an oil cooler from the factory, this wouldnt be an issue either. Now to even put one on is a concern because it will probably void the warranty?? I'm sorry, I still disagree with the people that call these types of things "normal".

:iagree: WERRRRRD

where exactly i have to apply the grease? is it covered in the service manual?

Thanks

we, only worry about the oil temps because we have a guage to look at...350s no guage no problem...

Giving the Z extra G's

Non sport .94
Sport .98
Nismo .99

No rounding off in the sports car world....lol.:happydance:

Buddy, you are beating a dead horse. Besides they are real hard on newbs here. Also there's a lot of cliquing between members so if you keep talking about it they are going to gang up on you and eat you alive.
Get the axle greased. Then drive it. Worst case scenario, it will need grease in 3 or 4 years. The Z is one of the most reliable sports cars out there.
I've owned quite a few nissans. They all have quirks. They all have something going on that's alarming compared to other brands. I had a 98 altima with tranny jump. I would put it in gear and it would pop. Took it to 3 mechanics. They couldn't find anything. I had a 240sx that did the same thing. I sold the 240sx before I could even care. But the altima, I was keeping so I checked it out. The mechanic told me some wise words that hold true 3 more nissans later. He said "In all the years I worked on nissans, they have quirks I can't exxplain, weird abnormalities, but they will never break down." Out of 5 nissans, and probably a combined million miles. I had one breakdown on the alternator on the 98 altima. Nothing else. You will get used to your car. I don't have a Z yet, I have a G which shares most components minus some extra peformance parts and short chassis.
I'm sure you will be ok. Just get some grease bro.

Well guys I have this clunk that just developed as well. Before any of the locals try to flame me as a newbie or some turnip wagon ballast let me state the following. One until about 3 years ago I was an L-1 certified ASE autotech, I have built and driven more cars than no doubt 85% of those on this forum, and grew up in a prototype aerospace machine shop.
When it comes to tolerances and proper operation I think I can safely say that I have a pretty damn good grasp on things. This noise is what makes you lean directly to the typical U-joint or ring and pinion slack. Of course our independent suspension gives us the option of CV shafts as well.
Regardless, don't let anyone tell you that this is acceptable. It is a sign of wear and loss of operable tolerances. I have just over 7,000 miles on my Z and don't drive it hard. This is unacceptable and only going to get worse.
Reading here and listening to some of these guys bash others for being concerned and happily driving their cars while destroying parts of them is enough to make me turn a deaf ear.
If some of you want to leave it and sound like your driving on square tires because your car isn't a rolls royce go ahead. I would rather have mine in proper operating order.

P.S. It goes to the dealer in the A.M.

Thanks for your comment ZeeRay. At least there's someone out there that sees my reasoning and understands where I'm coming from. I've pretty much given up on this thread at this point because everyone "knows it all" and just wants to rip your head off for posting a concern.

P.S. I still havent been back to my dealer yet to have the axle greased... as I'm still hesitant of doing it if it's only a temporary fix just to "quiet down" the noise. But if you could please either post back up or even PM me what your dealers says about your car's situation, that would be great!! Thanks

Nissan has the worst customer service, good luck getting them to do anything

Well each drive train will have a little play,but they should not have a clunk - the clunk we are experiencing is not normal IMO. I had the rear axles replaced by the dealer and that helped - car drive train felt tighter - for about 10k miles. Problem has returned however.. I cannot consider this normal, since other RWD cars do not make this clunk.

Sounds like two metal bars being hit together.

Hmm... I never got my axles replaced or greased yet so it's still making the noise. However, seeing that you had this done and it still didnt help the car in the long run then I probably wont even bother unless Nissan actually does a permanent fix through a recall/bulletin. And I agree, this isnt "normal".

1st post. Maybe a shot in the dark.

Try turning off your VDC traction control module and see if the problem, if it truly is one, persists. Some units and some cars like to run quick tests of this modules after coming to a complete stop. Sometimes those tests can be audible.

Worth a try - I know in the manual they state that the car can make a clunk as part of the VDC testing at low speeds, but I'm pretty sure it is not the problem, but nonetheless will give a try.

Hmm I have this issue as well. Did turning off the VDC help?

Hmm.. The beginings of this thread are actually older than the length of time I've had my car (Since September). I bought my car used at about 20k miles. At 24k miles I started to hear clunking on the outside of the rear driver side wheel/axle area, more promenent when going over speed bumps, but also audible on slight accel/decel. I first thought it may have been brakes and not under warrantee, so upon inspection I found the large axle nut which holds the half-axle to the wheel hub had come loose, and backed out all thw way to the cotter pin! I was actually able to slide the whole axle about 1/8" in-and-out from the wheel hub in the state it was found, while the axle nut had been backed out about 4 turns 'natually' over time.

I fixed it myself since I was right there, in the garage, with some tools available. The axle nut is about 1.25" in diameter...

All I did to fix was first clean the area a from some of the grit/grease globs, pack in a bit of greese as best I could, and then re-torque the axle nut with a new locking sleve and cotter pin. The car is now at 33k miles and makes no noise at all.

More notes on this; Nissan did include a cotter pin, but from the looks of it did NOT design the axle nut to be locked in place by a cotter pin. Usually axle nuts have slits ot holes in them, or in other designs I've seen are something like this:

http://www.wholesalemarine.com/mm5/g...-81169_med.jpg

https://imageserv3.team-logic.com/me...er_and_nut.jpg

On my car, a standard cotter pin is in association with a standard nut on the axle; meaning theres no way the axle nut can be kept from loosening up about 4 full turns before finally beig stopped by the cotter pin.


My car's axle nut looked like THIS, without splines for locking with the stock cotter-pin.
http://www.biking.com/files/cache/bb...bc1cbde80d.jpg

Also the natural forward roll and rotation of the assembly could cause the Axle nutt to back out as well, as it is of regular and not reversed thread pattern. I could only speculate, but I bet the passenger side does not have this issue as forward rotation should tend to keep the assembly TIGHT.

Wow! I better check that nut under my car this weekend!

wheres this nut located? got any pics?

I dont have any pics, but here is a pic of a similar axle nut from another vehicle. Basically, you can get access to this nut simply by removing one of the rear wheels. The nut will be right in front of you then, and is about 1.25" in diameter.

This image shows an axle nut WITH a retainer for the cotter pin. My/our cars do not have this retainer.

http://www.clublexus.com/gallery/data/2/Rear_Hub_1.JPG

Part number 43084 in this picture; this is an actual parts layout for the rear of a 370z. Also notice the cotter pin: #3262A

http://www.nissanpartszone.com/diagr...le-430a001.png

Thanks for the pics. This is a safety issue and should be a recall IMO.

Getting a clunk at 17k miles. Ill include this on my checklist for tomorrow.

My car is all torn apart right now so Im going to check this out as well. Rep for you thanks!

wow, interesting... my car actually seemed to (randomly) stop making the clunk sound that I commented about back in post# 1... but I'm definitely going to check on that axle nut/cotter pin situation. Thanks 'unclemeaty' for the info! :tiphat:

Ive been hearing the clunk for the last couple of months but my car is too low for the dealer : (

Just saw this in the manual:

"The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and
is not an indication of a malfunction."

I get that occasionally, usually in the morning as I back out the garage.

i believe this sound which the manual mentions is probably what a lot of people have experienced with the seem-to-be "rear axle clunk"

After reading all this. I still don't know what to make of it. I test drove 2 2011 370z's both with Sports, S-Mode off or on, VDC off or on, didn't make much of a difference. This is my first RWD car and hearing this noise from both cars, my initial reaction was "well the power is transferred to the back, so it would seem natural in a way, as long as it's not too loud, it should be ok."

Right now I own in of the the Z I test drove. Yes the noise is there, is it unbearable? No. I will hold my judgement after I put more mileage on it. I might even go test drive a G37 and hear it myself.

This reminds me of the 2005-2006 Acura RSX Type-S second gear grind and the steering "clicking." Owners on that forum had a petition going and all, trying to get Honda/Acura an answer or fix. Well, after 90,000 miles I put mine, the second gear is it is what it is. My RSX still drives great, and the steering clicking had gone since 30,000 miles.

I am not saying the RSX issues are comparable to those to the 370z's, nor am I saying they will go away or become worse. Like couple other guys on here said, every car has quirks, just like my brother's EVO X, my parents' Volvo and my old Civic SI. Unless you beat on it or drive very hard all the time, I don't think you should worry too much. Of course, there will be a few bad apples out there but we all hope we don't have that bad one.

All I gotta say is, 370z is a good car for the money, drive it, be happy, smile and enjoy! If it bothers you so much, take it to the stealership. If it breaks, fix it.

i've recently started to hear a frequent clunk from the rear end also.
i can hear it when releasing the clutch at idle and higher revs. forward, reverse and while changing gears or letting off the gas pedal.

4 whole turns is ridiculous. i'm going to pop the wheels off tomorrow and have a look myself.
To eliminate the issue of the nut having up to 4 full turns of movement til
it hits the cotter pin, i will find a suitable washer(s) and put it between the nut and the cotter pin.

i wonder why most people are reporting noise from the left side?
The reason i wonder is quite simple:
1. go grab a bottle with a cap
2. hold the cap firmly
3. rotate the bottle clockwise
4. observe the cap as you rotate the bottle.

what you just simulated is the axle rotating clockwise. the cap is the axle nut, which came loose as you rotated the bottle.
the only side that rotates clockwise during forward motion is the right hand side....

unless folks are reversing more enthusiastically than i am?