Attention Owners of 2010 370Z - Clunk Noise from Rear of Vehicle
 

I purchased a 2010 Nissan 370Z new in early 2011. Recently it began making a significant "clunk" sound from the rear of the vehicle when the brakes were applied during low speeds (such as backing up).

I took the vehicle to the dealership to have them fix the issue. They had the car for 2 1/2 weeks. During that time, they replaced several parts, including rear axle shafts and rear differential. The sound did not change.

Eventually they determined that this sound is a "normal characteristic" of this model and year and returned the car to me.

To other owners of 2010 Nissan 370Zs: Do you hear this same sound from the rear of your car? Is this in fact a characteristic of this model/year?

I posted a video of it on youtube: Nissan370z - YouTube

The clunk is actually much louder in person than it appears to be on the video.

Never heard such a noise before on my 40th. If I were you get a second opinion from another dealership or a Nissan Master Mechanic.

uh.... something is wrong with your car. NOT normal.

:iagree:

My 2010 doesn't make that noise. But the noise doesn't sound like anything catastrophic is wrong with it. Any vibrations or anything when brakes are being applied? Does the clunk only happen once when the brakes are applied (not a "cyclical clunk" as the wheel rotates)?

To me it didn't sound like an axle or rear diff sound. It sounds like a braking sound like something loose with the clamping of your caliper on your pad. I wonder if it only happens under load, or if happened off the ground while on the lift as well?

There are no noticeable vibrations, and the sound only happens when brakes are applied.

The dealership had a Regional Technician Specialist come up to look at the problem. They swapped rear rotors and wheels from another 370z, replaced rear axle shafts, rear differential, upper control arm. Sound didn't go away. After all this, they concluded that this is a characteristic of the model/year.

Mine doesn't make that sound ... :icon14:

I agree that it sounds more the brakes. Pull up your parking brake and see if it still makes the sound. If not it is probably somethng with the parking brake adjustment.

My 2011 makes a similar noise, every now and then I think that I got rear ended. But I always assumed it was my transmission acting funny.

Oh I know this sound it comes when when I roll down a hill sometimes and hit the brakes, there is a throwback., but its normal :icon17:

http://www.the370z.com/brakes-suspen...y-stopped.html

But my sound is not as loud as yours. Also I will check if the sound can be heard outside the car. My sound is a small clunk heard from the rear from inside the cabin.

I own a 2010. I have never experienced this sound before. Def not normal.

I've actually been in contact when Nissan Consumer affairs to discuss this issue. I don't buy the idea that this is a normal characteristic of a $30K+ sports car; especially since it wasn't doing it when I first bought the car.

I hope to hear back from them this week; I wanted some other owner's feedback just to make sure I wasn't being unreasonable with my expecting them to fix the problem under warranty...we'll see if they stand by their products or not I guess.

Mine only got "clunk" sound when i shift the drive selector from "D" to "R".

Very odd sound, not normal at all.

Strange, but after watching your video, I feel like I have also heard this before in my 2013. I could be crazy; will verify the crazy tomorrow.

I have a May 2012 built 370Z here in Australia, definitely no clank clank sounds as you've recorded in the video - neither my 350Z from six years ago ever had this noise!

Once you hear the sound, you can't "unhear" it. It does it consistently too. Vicster...I think we all should sanity check now and then.

While we're on the issue of noises, I notice that the 370Z idling noise is not as smooth as the 350Z, it's more like a tractor idling with metallic noises inbetween - especially when the aircon is turned on - I thought of taking it back to the dealer but after a while I started to appreciate the tractor like idling noises!

Subframe bushings?

I had that exact same issue with my Evo IX. The clunk would happen, while backing up and I applied the brakes. The issue was diagnosed as the brake pads "shifting", due to the lack of shims. I replaced the shims and the clunk was gone!

You just have new car anxiety.

My 7AT was doing this for a while and it was driving me nuts, only low speeds, and very loud. I happen to get a nail in one of my rear tires and when getting it patched the tech noticed my TPMS was missing. It was inside the wheel.

My light never came on beacause it was still transmitting LOL! After we took it out no more clunk.

Checked the camber arm bushing? Worth a shot.

:iagree:I had the same problem with my 04 Quest minivan and it was due to shifting brake pads in the carrier when you shift from reverse to drive or sometimes drive to drive. Lubed up back of pads and tab slots with high temp brake lube worked for a period of time...Knowing what the noise was reassured me of no serious problems so when the noise returned some time later didn't do anything till brake change.

Sound like the pads are worn or loose in the caliper or even a loose bolt holding a caliper.

Have they chandelier the pads?

Don't think its a worn/loose pads...they checked the brakes thoroughly.

Looking at the service notes more - they listened to the rear suspension components with chassis ears while braking and found noise most noticeable from the right rear upper control arm. They replaced the arm and noise is still present.

I had the exact same thing in my Benz. Come to think of it... that noise is almost identical.
I had aftermarket pads, went back to OEM and the clunk was gone.
The aftermarket ones didn't fit as well resulting in a clunk.

Same here, I put RB500 pads on my Brembo's. Since they were really thick, couldn't put the shims on. Once the pads wore down a little, they started to "shift" causing the clunk. Put new shims on and the clunk was gone.

I have a 2009 auto and it makes a beautiful sound like yours when I am coming at a complete stop from almost any speed... ESPECIALLY if I am in manual mode, when it shifts down to 1st, I feel/hear a loud clunk

At the three above posters... REALLY? I always have used shims in my past cars and my dad NEVER does (on the same cars), and I have never had an issue either way...

REALLY??? Maybe I'll check that?

If they blow you off and you need someone higher up at corporate in consumer affairs, shoot me a PM... I had a problem with my 09 Maxima's brakes not working and they KINDA sucked, but the guy I finally got too was AMAZING, and I even became friends with him... (Just be amped up when you talk to him, he's a fast talker)

DEpointfiveO, thanks - I'm supposed the hear back from Consumer Affairs by this Thursday, so I'll know more then.

Everybody, I appreciate your feedback. Hopefully this ends on good terms with Nissan. I really love the Z, so it's been quite frustrating.

Not normal at all... Good luck! In for the resulting cause....

Really..... It all depends on the calipers and the type of brake pads used. Mine was the lack of shims and I know that for a fact. Install new thick pads with no shims, no sound. Wear down pads with no shims, got sound. Install shims (no other changes), no more sound.

Update - I heard back from Nissan Consumer Affairs today and was told that there's nothing they can do. Apparently they really do not stand behind their products.

I've seen posts here regarding brake pads/shims. I only have 4500 miles on the car and the brakes/pads are the OEM.

Anybody have any suggestions on how I can proceed?

My car doesnot but used to. What I did was took it to a repair shop, in New York sissions auto body is great but not from other states and they had the car for a few weeks and they took the whole rear end off and replaced it with a newer models rear end. I advise u do this.

i'm also going to vote something with the brakes.

if those are the OEM pads, that's not how the rotor surface should look.
if it's possible, do a full bed-in and see if that helps.
just dont come to a complete stop during or after the procedure. instead, head for the motorway and drive for 5-10mins to cool down the brakes.
You will need to predict the lights and brake very gradually to avoid coming to a stop. if you must stop, use the handbrake to hold the car.

secondly, if i roll (forwards or backwards) and yank the handbrake up, it will make that sound in the video.

thirdly, OEM pads shouldnt vibrate or groan when you let go of the pedal slightly. they release quite smoothly and without noise.
to me, it looks like some material on the rotor surface that is affecting the performance of the brakes. similar to when you wash your car and hose the wheels, create brown rusty deposits on the rotors and back your car out. the brakes are super sensitive for the first couple of light applications, then return to normal.

My 2010 doesn't make that noise.