[04lss]

Hi all,

I replaced my lower control arms with some Detroit axle ones (I know, i know) Its making a noise from the passenger side suspension when i go over larger bumps with any speed.Sounds like of metal on metal. Everything is tight, i double and triple checked tonight. I thought it was the swaybar endlinks i installed being too small but nope. I fully removed the swaybar to rull that out. The noise sounds almost like a scraping sound.

I have three thoughts, and id like input before i go buying an OEM control arm from nissan.

1. I completley forgot to transfer the bump stop. the new control arms do not have one. Could this be causing the issue?

2. I used these to replace the factory bolts i had to cut: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V55IK6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details perhaps they arent allowing the bushings to move (I think this is the least likely as they were able to align the truck)

3. The ears for the struts were bent, i mostly fixed them, but I am not positive there is enough room for the strut to move without rubbing. WIth that said, it makes no noise when moving slowly.

I am currently thinking it is the bumpstop.
A few notes

1. Leaving the garage which has about a 4 inch drop going 5 mph is enough to trigger the noise.
2. Compressing the suspension with the jack then letting it drop very quickly does NOT trigger the noise.
3. The swaybar was contacting the driver side LCA, but its been removed with no change to the noise.
4. The driver side was replaced as well and is not making noise as far as i can tell.
5. The balljoint on the driverside fought me like crazy to seat all the way.

 

[Kevkno]

Whenever I had new strange sounds or popping noises after suspension changes it was usually because something wasn’t torqued to spec. Sometimes it was the components I replaced or a nearby component that needed to be retorqued.

 

[04lss]

Ive tried re torquing them, I removed the swaybar, checked all the bolts. Tried putting some rags where the bump stop should be. Nothing worked. I am somewhat convinced that the Detroit axle LCA is to blame. That or the moog alignment bots i bought. I have exhausted my patience with the truck. Seems like every time i fix something 2 more issues reveal themselves. I have a moog LCA coming i am going to install next week. If that fixes it, i am probably going to replace the radiator, (since i already have it) and list the thing for sale.

 

[HRTKD]

Do you have a leveling kit? Usually it was the UCA that was making contact when a leveling kit was present.

I would expect the absence of the bump stop cause a bang noise if the suspension was compressing all the way.

A friend of mine replaced the OEM LCA/UCA with OEM on his Armada after about 160,000 miles and had no issues with the new parts.

You said you retorqued everything, but did you do it to the specifications in the Nissan Service Manual?

 

[04lss]

As far as I’m aware there is no leveling kit. I replaced the upper arms a month ago with no issues. Didn’t touch them except the ball joint was removed from the spindle.

 

[04lss]

Alright,
So i replaced the passenger side where most of the noise seemed to come from. Used a moog LCA, Nissan bolts, and used a nissan manual to make sure every single bolt is at torque spec. Seemed to no longer make the noise for all of 30 seconds. Then it came back, seemingly worse than before. Worth noting, i did notice i had to sort of push the strut into position with the LCA mount. The only thing i can thing of at this point is that the Strut bushing failed. It is literally the only part of the suspension on either side that hasnt been replaced. I do hear some noise coming from the driver side, but its much quieter.

I probably wont mess with the titan for a few months. I was really really hoping the new LCA and bolts would fix it. The suspension noise, along with the leaky front diff, the oil leak,the power steering leak, the coolant leak, recently having to replace the hitch and reinforce a hole in the frame and the tailgate handle failing made me less than confident i could get this truck to a point of reliability before my spring / summer plans started. ( I have a trip planned for late april) I bought an old tahoe from marketplace to use. Had my dad who's a master tech and currently works at a chevy dealer to look it over. Only feedback was a lower ball joint and an idler arm. I will be focusing my efforts on that, my atv and my trailer.

Just thought i'd give an update. I still think im going to end up selling this thing. Whoever gets it will probably have a nice truck. (if only because ive replaced half of it with new parts)

 

[Kevkno]

Sounds like it’s wearing you down a bit. I went back and read your posts. You didn’t mention the age/mileage of the truck. What about the front struts? Are they old or leaking at all? You mentioned the strut bearing which got me to thinking.

I’ll just share my experience with my truck. Before I got into replacing parts and dealing with loose new component noise there was my original front suspension noise and clunks when I went over speed humps. The truck had 100K northern miles on it when I bought it. Control arms rusty, shocks were also rusty and leaking. I started with the front struts, bearing/isolator and new springs, rear shocks too. After installing those items I had no more front suspension knocks and clunks. I know all of those parts were bad but I can’t say which one was responsible for the noise.

 

[04lss]

Sounds like it’s wearing you down a bit. I went back and read your posts. You didn’t mention the age/mileage of the truck. What about the front struts? Are they old or leaking at all? You mentioned the strut bearing which got me to thinking.

I’ll just share my experience with my truck. Before I got into replacing parts and dealing with loose new component noise there was my original front suspension noise and clunks when I went over speed humps. The truck had 100K northern miles on it when I bought it. Control arms rusty, shocks were also rusty and leaking. I started with the front struts, bearing/isolator and new springs, rear shocks too. After installing those items I had no more front suspension knocks and clunks. I know all of those parts were bad but I can’t say which one was responsible for the noise.

I appreciate the info. My ball joints were bad upper and lower both sides so the control arms had to be replaced. Because of corrosion and rusty bolts, the swaybar endlinks and tie rods had to replace too.

It really is wearing me down at this point. truck has 180k. I fully figured I’d be putting tires, U joints a radiator, a tune up, and a few other things.
I didn’t expect “ o2 sensor, new drive shaft, ballancing the front shaft, new axles, new upper and lower control arms, new Tie rods, new end links, new pads and rotors, a new hitch becsuse the factory one was rusted almost in half, new power steering reservoir and hoses, new waterpump (this one looks to be leaking) oil seals, (oil cooler leak), a cracked exhaust manifold (or possibly the cat depending on who here you ask) and finally Tpms refusing to work after my new tires.
Some of these parts I was planning to replace as a good preventive measure, but needing to replace them before the truck is mechanically sound is
A different issue. Everything I touch seems to lead to me opening my wallet for something else that needs to be fixed. I’m not knocking titans in general just MY Titan

 

[busemans]

Man, I would be really bummed too. I totally understand putting it off and just getting that Tahoe so you can drive for your trip. Whoever had that titan before you didn't do anything to maintain it, it looks like.

 

[04lss]

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY
Noise solved! It was the struts. two very improtant things. 1 Dont buy the detroit axle controlarms, the position of the lower strut perch does not match the oem style exactly, spring for moog or OEm (100 bucks on nissan parts website)
2. Make sure the bottom bolt for the strut is torqued well. The two ears of the mount should be in conact with the metal of the bushing.

I drove it after putting two struts on it and shes not making noises, put about 40 miles on it so far so good.It DID smell of coolant and look like it sprayed under the hood. I cleaned that, and it seemed to be ok on my last drive. i think its high time I replace that radiator and water pump (along with the upper and lower hoses. )