This is something that has been bugging me for about 3 weeks now and I cannot figure out what it is or what's causing it. It's been pouring down rain here so I can't get out and do a hands on inspection, so I thought I'd throw this out there and see what you guys think. Maybe you can help me narrow it down.

The sound is similar to the clunk you get from your turnstops but mine is hard to replicate and it happens when my wheels are straight. It's my passenger side front wheel. The only way I can reproduce the clunk is when I leave for work in the morning. When I shift to back out of my driveway, I get one clunk after releasing the brake. That is the only time I can duplicate it. It's completely rare and random after that. But it does seem to always coincide with braking.

I'm not having any vibrations, handling issues or other noises so this completely has me baffled. My brakes are working fine as well. I'm hoping to pull the wheel today if it ever stops raining and really get up in there and wiggle some stuff around and check all my bushings.

If you guys/gals have any ideas as to what this could be, I'd sure appreciate it. I haven't listened to my stereo when I'm driving for over 2 weeks because I'm constantly listening to see if I can figure out what it is.

It's probably just the drive-line catching up after you use the clutch, sort of like towing a car with a cable, you go forward, then the car behind you goes forward with a jerk type motion and off you go..


but then a gain... I could be wrong.

It sounds like the beginning of one of your auto locking hubs going bad. Pull the drivers side one apart and inspect for wear/damage (you'll actually hear the clunk in the opposite wheel, so if its clunking on the passenger side, check the driver side).

Most likely, one of the next times you use 4wd, the hub will fail and you'll hear a nice grinding noise, then you'll know for sure what the problem is ;)

Damn that's going to suck! Just now put 50K on it. Maybe I can get the warranty to cover that if that really is the problem. Man that blows:spijt:

Is the sound of a failing hub similar to that of the pop your bearing make if they are bad?

I'm trying to debunk the bad hub theory basically trying to keep my hopes up it's not that serious. hahaha

The sound I'm getting is a solid single thump and that's it. More like the sound your CV will make when it's in a bind and in 4WD.

C'mon guys! Don't burst my bubble yet! I'm about to start adding some new mods and I'm not ready to replace a hub just now. It's wheeling season!

You don't have aftermarket upper control arms do you? If so, then the bushings probably need replaced.

Check the tightness of the brake caliper bolts. Also check your sway bar links and bushings (not just the busings on the links, but also the pivot bushings in the middle of the sway bar).

Insure that the sway bar mounting bolts are also tight. See if your shock mounts have become loose as well.

That sounds more like it. I can handle those problems much better. lol

I did notice today that the outer swaybar mount appears to have a split bushing. I did a little wheeling today and really listened to it and the knock comes with braking and sudden momentum changes and sometimes when the suspension is articulating abruptly. I'd love it to be the shock mount bushings or the shock itself. A perfect excuse to add new Bils to the front end!

Oh and I'm running stock UCA's with lo-pro bumpstops and my clearance is around 5/8" of an inch to 3/4" of an inch on the stops. I'm wanting new UCA's but I'm looking/waiting to score a set of SLR's from somebody. I don't want the added lift but I would like a bit more clearance and droop. I'm happy with the 1.5" lift.

i had a mysterious clunk once....it was my ball joint pushing through my lower control arm....might wanna check that if you havent.....and dont do any more wheelies...thats what caused mine.

I owned a '96 Ford Ranger with auto hubs and I would hear a loud pop when I was in 4wd and trying to either go up a steep hill or get unstuck from something (they always seemed to work but the pop would scare the hell outta me when it would happen). Then one day in a bad snow storm I engaged them and they weren't working at all, they had gone out on me. I only heard the noise in 4wd (and having to use it) so I would doubt it is your hubs.

Man this is really bummin' me out guys. :heul3-big: :traurig-big:

My baby's sick and I can't do anything to fix her. I don't even know what to fix. I haven't had time to get underneath and really figure out what the hell is going on. And when I've had time... it's been raining. This is literally killing me. What's making it worse is I know it's something I did and not some faulty part. I've wheeled my X hard at times and done my best to stay away from mud and water but I know it's the wear and tear that did it. Whatever it is.

It's so weird though. The clunk only happens when I'm creeping and not when I'm at speed (say above 10 mph or so). Like when I'm parking or backing up. It will also clunk (occasionally) when the suspension is active on that wheel. Normally with bad bearings you get a repetitive noise that comes with the rotation but this is just one or two intermittent "clunks". Which makes me think it's a BJ or bushing or something. Maybe it's just me hoping that because it would be the cheapest to fix. If I have to replace a hub, it's gonna kill me.

Sorry yall... just venting out of frustration. I appreciate the tips and I'll keep you guys posted on what I find out which I hope to be really soon.

Can you duplicate it by standing outside and rocking the X side to side, or does it have to be moving to make the noise?

if it does turn out to be one of your hubs get manual hubs buddy

I did rock it a little but nothing happened so it looks like the it has to be moving in order for it to do it. I will try again after work and I will pull the wheel off and do a good visual. I'd like to break it down but I can't be without it during the week so any disassembly will have to wait until this weekend.

And if I do have to replace them, I'm definitely going with manuals.

It sucks because I just scored a great deal on some shrock skids and with this happening too I'm in a tight pinch now.

Thanks guys and I'll keep you updated on what I find if anything.

I have had that same clunk when slowly backing, I have only heard it twice...and I have a 2WD. I have not had it looked at yet.:pfeilimkopf-big:

I'm clueless...

I've pulled off both front wheels, both hub covers and I've twisted and shaken everything I can get my hand on in there and I can't find shit! The hubs look good and full of grease (surprisingly). No metal shavings or anything like that. I don't have time to completely disassemble everything unfortunately but at first glance everything looks normal.

I'm on the verge of either giving up or undoing my PML and taking it back to the dealer and have them figure this shit out under warranty. But I can't go without my X. It's the only vehicle I have. This shit is driving me nuts.

I'd rather pull the hub cover off and have nothing but metal dust come pouring out and see my bearings completely destroyed as to not have a damn clue what's wrong with it.

James! You and Allen grab a plane ticket and bring your asses to Alabama! :mocking:

let me ask you this

can you feel the clunk?

Only a little. It's more loud than anything. I just finished putting it all back together and something happened that may help you guys help me out.

I took both hub assemblies off and looked inside of them for any signs of damage, etc. I compared them and even shook them like fruit (I'm desperate... lol). When I went to put them back on, one of them didn't want to seat all the way. It was like something was pushing it back off the axle which makes me think maybe it's locked in. I tried it on the other wheel and it did the same thing. After poking and pushing, it finally seated on it's own without me having to force it.

Is this a symptom of a bad hub? Visually I could see nothing wrong with it but when it did this I started second guessing it.

Just leave that hub off and see if anything changes.

Just leave that hub off and see if anything changes.

one ?how do you expect him to accomplish this request.. LOL

i had a internally cracked hub and a clunking sound coming from my right whell but if u take it off and there is no damage to the ridges on the inside the hub it is fine just look real hard at it if there is a crack or the ridges look worn in alot like a whole lot then u have normal where n tear that just happens and it will need to be replace.... sux i had to spend 200 dolla to get a brand new hub you could always buy a used one but know that it can have lots of where n tear to it and even though hubs are pretty tough they are super hard to crack like mine they where out usellly around 100,000 miles... this is what a nissan speacilist told me at the dealer.

I didn't disassemble the hub to fully inspect it because I didn't have the proper tools to reassemble nor a clean area to work on it. I just examined the splines and looked for any signs of shavings or junk in it. The only difference in the two hubs was that the "suspect" hub (the one opposite of the noise) had discolored grease. It was blackish whereas the other side still had really clean whitish or cream colored grease.

Not sure if any of this is helping but I really don't want to invest in a replacement hub if it's not the problem. Losing a hub at 50K just seems a little too early but with the way I wheel, it's possible.

one ?how do you expect him to accomplish this request.. LOL
He's talking about a noise in 2wd right? The hub could pretty much only cause the problem by not properly disengaging. So I say, take it out completely. If it's raining bad, duct tape a yogurt container over the hole to keep your wheel bearings dry. Then test drive it for a bit. Try it with one hub at a time, see if you can figure out a pattern.

I'll give that a try tomorrow hopefully. The weather is supposed to get nasty the next couple of days but if it stays dry I will pop them off and make a few laps around my neighborhood. I've noticed they give a solid pop when I'm braking and hit our speed breakers (small trenches in the street basically). When the wheels make that first dip into it, they give a loud pop followed by a lighter pop as the momentum rocks it.

I've also found a member of my NOAS club who is about to install manuals on theirs and said I had first dibs on their autos if I need one.

any update?

It sounds like the beginning of one of your auto locking hubs going bad. Pull the drivers side one apart and inspect for wear/damage (you'll actually hear the clunk in the opposite wheel, so if its clunking on the passenger side, check the driver side).

Most likely, one of the next times you use 4wd, the hub will fail and you'll hear a nice grinding noise, then you'll know for sure what the problem is ;)

This is exactly what I would think it is!...But Check your shock, and brakes as well... Tie rod ends and everything you can for the fault...


GOOD LUCK !!!

The only new symptoms I've picked up on were yesterday when I was working on removing my brushguard. I put it in neutral and just let it roll back out of my driveway to get it out of the water to work on it. When I let off the break to let it roll it made the clunk again. And it will only pop/clunk at very slow speeds. Say maybe around 5 mph at the most.

If I can make it to the NOAS Member Run this weekend in Milledgeville Georgia (6 hours away), a few members said we could use their on-site garage and they would give me a hub and install it for me if that was the problem.

WOW that is some cool stuff...... gladf to hear they will help you out....

That ROCKS !!! See we need more members nation wide that are like this!
We need state chapters of this club!!

Well I believe I can say without a doubt now that it's my hubs. You guys can back me up on this but here's the newest symptom.

Just tonight as I was coming home from dinner, I started hearing a light ticking sound and it was in rhythm with the wheels revolutions (faster I went the faster the ticking). It's still doing all of the other clunks I've talked about before but now this ticking has begun and I'm hoping it's the one sign you guys can use to tell me definitively that it's my hubs.

You guys have no idea how bad this is bumming me out to have my X limping right now. :heul3-big:

im sry too say it but i had that same problem would start my car and rev the engine to 4 rpms and no sound but i would back it out if my drive way and here a clucking/clicking sound coming from my engine.... that waht i thought brought it to dealer and watched them take my hubs off and one was crack one the inside and there was stredded metal all inside of it they thold me my brearing was in alot of danger if i were to keep driving on it :( had my t-case checked and it was okey but got a new auto hub from dealer cost me somwhere around 200 dollars could have bought a used hub for 45 dollars without shipping from some junkyard like place but i ask them if i put it on and there is no change can i send it back they told me no but when i called dealer if i bought a brand new hub that it would come with a 10,000 mile warrentty and they with replace any damage to my hub or related damage to my hub so thats what i end up doin it took away the noises completly and from on im just trying to be carful shifting into 4x4.....

Well I think I've solved at least part of my clunk issue. I was looking (like I do every weekend) at my wheel and front-end trying to figure out what could be causing the problem and saw something I have no idea how I missed before.

The front crossmember where the LCA bolts into is completely smashed on the passenger side at the LCA bracket. There is almost 1/2" clearance on the driver's side but the damaged side is/was touching the LCA. I managed to pry it about 1/16 to maybe an 1/8" gap but it was all I could do without having a torch to heat the metal. And the weather is sketchy here so I don't want to pull the whole wheel assembly, control arms and all to hammer it out.

I'll post some pics tomorrow and show you guys what I'm talking about. It must have taken one hell of a blow on the trails.

yeah take some pics drake i would love to see what you mystery problem has been all this time... LOL

Dang, I wouldn't have expected all that. Nice one.:) Hope you can figure out how to straighten it out.

My passenger side cross member has been smashed into my lca since ECXC 2006, but it never made any noise so I just left it. LOL

Hah! That's exactly where mine is smashed. I'm about to run out and snap a pic or two of it close-up.

I don't think it's the source of my clunk either but it's definitely something I want to straighten back out. Allen told me one more trick to try and if it doesn't cure it then my baby's going to the hospital (dealership).

Here are some shots side-by-side so you can see how it looks and how it should look. You can see where I've managed to pry a small gap but still not anywhere close to what it should be.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/shiyaru/Xterra/CoalCreek001.jpghttp://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/shiyaru/Xterra/CoalCreek004.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/shiyaru/Xterra/CoalCreek002.jpghttp://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/shiyaru/Xterra/CoalCreek003.jpg

Yeah, I think you're gonna have to keep searching if you want to find your clunk.

IT'S FIXED!!!

No more clunky... no more clicky... just rides smooth as glass now. My baby's a healthy dirty girl again! :)

I bought a new set of DD tires yesterday and had them do an alignment as well and when I drove it off the lot... no more clunk, click or anything. I turned back around and went back to the place (Big 10 Tires btw) and asked the mechanic what he did.

I told him what all I had been putting up with and trying to debunk and fix and he said that it seems like I got a piss-poor alignment job after I did my PML. I had a really bad "toe-in" on the passenger side and running high positive camber angles which he said probably had something with the brakes in a bind but couldn't say for sure.

Either way... I feel like an ass because I couldn't figure it out and not to mention the 5 or 6 Saturdays I spent tearing wheel assemblies apart, pulling tires, checking axles, bushings and all sorts of shit only to get a friggin' $50 alignment and it be fixed.

:stupid:

good job.......... bet tat took a huge weight off your shouders lol

glad to hear that its fixed drake....