"Clunk" when turning and accelerating????

QuickOne · 11-20-2005, 09:09 AM

Something Strange is wrong and was wondering if anyone here has had anything like this:
When I start off from a complete stop and I'm turning, I get a clunk sound from underneath. I couldn't quite tell whether its the front or back and I don't want to try to recreate the sound over and over. Its going in for service this Tuesday, but wanted to know if anyone has had anything sound like this...
Thanks
Quick One

Yeti77 · 11-20-2005, 11:49 AM

I've had something "similiar". Ended up the transmission mount bolts were loose. Others have had the same problem. Might be it.

JHOOTITAN · 11-20-2005, 02:15 PM

Look up "axle wrap" or "Drivetrain Clunk". I am just too lazy to look up the link for you right now. I had the same thing... easy, cheap fix.

*Mike Up* · 11-20-2005, 03:20 PM

Clunking and axle wrap are 2 different things. Clunking is a loud clunk noise coming from the rear end. Axle wrap is more of a feel when taking off.

I originally only got clunking when switching from drive to neutral or reverse and from reverse to drive or neutral. I never considered this normal as it's a sign of wear. Service told me it was normal driveline slop which I think they were just guessing or it was a design defect. I've had several rear drive vehicles and none ever clunked when changed gears except when the rear end was definitely old and worn. I did have my rear end go out so that may have been a sign that it was defective from the factory.

A clunk when accelerating isn't normal and a sign of a problems. When my rear end started to go out recently, I started getting several clunks when accelerating from a stop. Never had this prior as it's not normal. It was a sign the rear end was starting to go out.

The axle wrap is a pronounce jerk feel when taking off from a stop. It's the leaf spring unwrapping to it's original shape. On stops, the leaf spring can wrap or bow at it's end. When taking off, the bow straightens out and gives a jerk type of feeling. This is normal on heavier vehicles. I even occasionally felt it on my 2000 Xterra.

I would get your truck in the dealer immediately because if it is a differential problem, you don't want to be stranded especially in the winter months were it could be dangerous.

Good luck and hope everything works out.

Have a good one.

QuickOne · 11-20-2005, 05:47 PM

Thanks for the info...The earliest my dealer will take the truck is Tuesday...Luckily I only work 1.5 miles away, so I won't be driving it much before that. My First service I told them about a strange behavior after I started the truck after sitting for about 4 hours or more, the truck would drag heavily when you let off the accellerator. So a loose tranny mount seems like it would have the same effect.

Has anyone had the spray in bedliner discoloration taken care of at the dealer? They are going to do that too!

DjKamper · 11-21-2005, 07:15 AM

My wifes Armada is also making a clunking noise when making a turn - it is however coming from the front - my guess is suspension/steering components... of course, she says it has been happening for a while now (do ya think she could've said something earlier?)

Anyways - going in for service tomorrow. Any one else have this? I will post the result after we pick it up.

QuickOne · 11-22-2005, 01:32 PM

Well...Guess we were all wrong....Rear end assembly is bad and is being replaced. Don't know exact details yet, but I will try to find more out. Nissan is paying for a rental car...(30/day)

*Mike Up* · 11-22-2005, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickOne

Well...Guess we were all wrong....

What ya mean,

, I said the differential/rear end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickOne

Rear end assembly is bad and is being replaced. Don't know exact details yet, but I will try to find more out. Nissan is paying for a rental car...(30/day)

Sorry for your trouble but unfortunately, welcome to the party.

I hope they get it replaced troublefree for you.

I really hate to say this, and I definitely don't mean misery loves company, but your failure and others that are continueing really help me reaffirm my judgement on getting rid of the Titan. This rear end failure is NOT a small problem, but a large continueing problem that Nissan better get off their @ss and do something about. Even a mag (can't remember if it was 4Wheeler or 4X4) had their long term Titan's rear end fail and we all just assumed it was a fluke, with a low level of fluid in their differential.

Good luck and have a good one.

QuickOne · 11-24-2005, 05:26 AM

Sorry about that Mike....

Do the replacement rear ends hold up any better than the ones that are supposedly "defective" ?

*Mike Up* · 11-24-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickOne

Sorry about that Mike....

Do the replacement rear ends hold up any better than the ones that are supposedly "defective" ?

Only time will tell, but who really knows if modifications were done. Many of the '04 replacements were happening in early '05 with '05 replacement rear ends including the finned cover. However, '05 Titan owners were still having failures which one could conclude that the newly replaced differential will have a good chance of failure again. This is why I ditched my Titan.

I ditched it because the design is so new, I don't have confidence in Nissan to have the knowledge to get this unreliability engineered out. The brake problem took over an entire year. The brake problems were showing up relatively soon, so that gave Nissan time to engineer a fix. The rear end failures seem to be coming much later with a majority of failures in the year 2005. This 'could' mean that the replacement differentials are no different other than a finned cover and synthetic oil (which I switched to at 6000 miles). I have no confidence that the finned cover will do anything since my differential fluid wasn't overheating with original or synthetic. I think it's a bad design that needs a completely new engineered differential.

I gave up because I could afford it finacially and have no tolerance for unreliable vehicles, ZERO TOLERANCE. I also could NOT afford to have another differential fail while pulling my camper. Plus I had other problems with a brake failure "AFTER" the permanent judder fix. This brake failure happened just days after a 1500 mile round trip pulling my camper. If the brakes would had failed while towing, it could had cost me my life and other's lives around me. That added onto severe rattles and squeaks that made driving very irritating. I have no confidence in any Titan after my experiences and reading other's experiences here. Hopefully in the future Nissan can regain their reputation for reliable vehicles and then I may gamble on another Titan, but doubt it.

This is only my opinion and hopefully, the problems will get ironed out immediately, but I'm not and wasn't willing to take another chance. I hate gambling. I've waited for other design flawed product to be re-engineered so that they could provide performance as advertised, only to find that the company had given up on that model. My recourse was to live with the defects or trade up to a product that would deliver reliable performance as advertised. I've been there and found I was better off dumping a defective designed product than waiting for engineering fixes that may never surface. So that's why I didn't stay with the Titan.

Have a good one.

PHOEBISIS · 11-24-2005, 07:42 PM

Sorry for your troubles.Maybe you could post in the failures survey.You will be the 34 reporter.Thanks.Charlie

CHEIF · 11-24-2005, 08:25 PM

If there was a new design (one that didn't fail) they would surely let us know about it. You are getting the '05 design which isn't much different than the '04. Both Fail. Like Mike said, something needs to be done. This is too obvious. Perhaps Nissan will need a kick in the arse and must be forced into action. I'm still waiting for an acceptable change here, but plan on taking group action as time goes on. This is an issue that cannot be overlooked or brushed under the rug.

The issue is embarrassing so far, but gets even more pathetic as time goes on with them not even acknowledging the problem. It aint gonna dissappear, and too many people either know about it and/or have experienced it firsthand.

Cheif

QuickOne · 11-25-2005, 06:41 AM

Not sure if it matters whether its a 2004 or 2005. I have a 2005 with the aluminum fins on the rear diff. Can we start a poll so we know how many people have suffered this failure? Also, if and how many have had multiple failures??

37L1 · 11-25-2005, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickOne

Not sure if it matters whether its a 2004 or 2005. I have a 2005 with the aluminum fins on the rear diff. Can we start a poll so we know how many people have suffered this failure? Also, if and how many have had multiple failures??

Already been done and continuing:

Survey-REAR END FAILURES ONLY

You can thank Charlie aka Phoebisis.

Here's another one where Austin ripped apart a failed diff with excellent commentary and photos:

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/tita...nals-pics.html

You may want to conduct a "search" for additional threads regarding the differential.

QuickOne · 11-25-2005, 02:13 PM

thanks for that link... I know your supposed to do searches, but I like talking to people. I added my info to the pole...
I'm getting a little disappointed with the problems everyone is having. I love the Titan, but I HATE poor build quality. Bad brakes didn't bother me, but rear ends crapping out? Under normal usage? Come on Nissan!!!