[Daniel Henderson]

Hey Everyone!

I just recently bought a 2006 Titan SE and everything was good with it from the dealership. A couple days after I bought it, there started a "humming wobble" sound on the right front tire. When I turn, it gets deeper and louder. Also, when I back up and have my wheel turned, it makes this bang noise. It also does it when I hit the brakes. The rotors and brakes look good.

A buddy of mine who is excellent with vehicles looked at it. He thought it was a wheel bearing. He checked the tire and it was very sturdy, almost no play. He got under the truck and noticed oil under each differential casings. There was plenty of oil in them but it looks like splatter above them. The drivers side differential was very loose, which doesn't make sense since the hum is on the passengers side. In addition, the drive shaft has a lot of play in it and also the drivers side differential. Id like to cut down on costs since I have a wedding coming up and the budget it tight.

1. What do you think it is?
2. Can I fix it myself?:nerd:

 

[Steamguy]

To this old wrench-turner, it sounds on the surface like a CV joint is about to fail, big-time. Take it back, take the SM for a ride, and make THEM fix it.

This can be a 'soft' failure, or worst case, it can be a catastrophic one. Don't wait to get this done, don't go anywhere else until you get this fixed.

 

[Mac's Hack Shack]

What steam guy said, I've seen the after math of a cv joint that failed at highway speeds on a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Tore the transmission out of the car. Not something you wanna wait to fail.

 

[Steamguy]

What steam guy said, I've seen the after math of a cv joint that failed at highway speeds on a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Tore the transmission out of the car. Not something you wanna wait to fail.

...didn't want to seem like Scary Mary, but I've seen this happen in person. Early one morning on my old commute I was behind some guy on I-5 in Portland when this happened. A big chunk of the right front of the car went kerbang and disintegrated when his right side driveline seized. Fortunately the wheel assembly and the various pieces now welded to it ended up in the grassy area of an offramp. But I couldn't believe that the guy tried to keep driving the car. Must have been some dopehead... This was before cellphones or I'd have reported the guy.

 

[Daniel Henderson]

Ive got an appointment with a Nissan Dealership close by to me. They seemed to think the same thing especially with the clunking when the wheel turned. Thanks everyone! I got a powertrain warranty when I bought the truck so its covered...except for the $100 deductible!

 

[Daniel Henderson]

...didn't want to seem like Scary Mary, but I've seen this happen in person. Early one morning on my old commute I was behind some guy on I-5 in Portland when this happened. A big chunk of the right front of the car went kerbang and disintegrated when his right side driveline seized. Fortunately the wheel assembly and the various pieces now welded to it ended up in the grassy area of an offramp. But I couldn't believe that the guy tried to keep driving the car. Must have been some dopehead... This was before cellphones or I'd have reported the guy.

The local Nissan dealership found the lower control arms were torn or worn (I couldn't understand the guy) Supposed to get a call back in about an hour to confirm! Does that explain the hum and wobble sound? He said the bearings and CV joint is ok.

 

[Steamguy]

...lower control arms were torn or worn....

Doesn't sound right to this old wrench-turner, from your description of the noise. That's a fixed part of the suspension. What you've been describing sounds like a rotating assembly, like a wheel bearing or a CV joint. In thinking about it, could the suspension have gone 'sloppy' enough that an oversized tire is rubbing on something inside the fenderwell? Not sure.

But let's see what they say. After all, I'm on the other side of country from you, and not standing under the truck with it on the lift.

Either way, you were smart to get it in right away. Stuff like this can go completely south without further warning. Growls and 'objections' from any wheel when rolling or side loading from cornering should always be seen to promptly.

Good example from the old days:
Late one night I had a college kid come in with her nice little '64 Falcon, for me to do an oil change and lube. She told me, "It's making funny noises in front, maybe you can look at that for me while you do the service"? Our shop was always known for our good, and free, inspections. As a normal part of the service, we would always go around under the vehicle and check the suspension, muffler, U-joints, check for loose bolts, and so on. This car had a REALLY bad set of front wheel bearings. The wheel assemblies would move by an inch or so when you shook them. I showed the girl, explained the danger, and said that I was only going to charge for the routine service, but she should drive the car slowly straight home and get $40 from Mom and Dad and then get right back here ASAP for us to change out the bad bearings; they were dangerous, I said again, DON'T drive the car anywhere else. I'll leave a note for the boss, we'll make you a deal because you're in college and you're broke. I wasn't going to open up the wheels (I couldn't), that would make our shop liable if anything happened. I never saw the car again. I heard months later from her friend that she said after she left us, 'oh the car's been like this for a month, it can't be THAT bad', so she chose instead to take the car on the freeway to go shopping in the big city; and a front wheel came off on the highway. She wasn't hurt in the wreck, but that nice little Falcon was ruined beyond reasonable repair.

 

[Daniel Henderson]

Doesn't sound right to this old wrench-turner, from your description of the noise. That's a fixed part of the suspension. What you've been describing sounds like a rotating assembly, like a wheel bearing or a CV joint. In thinking about it, could the suspension have gone 'sloppy' enough that an oversized tire is rubbing on something inside the fenderwell? Not sure.

That is what I was thinking too but they check all that and it looks good.

Either way, you were smart to get it in right away. Stuff like this can go completely south without further warning. Growls and 'objections' from any wheel when rolling or side loading from cornering should always be seen to promptly.

Good news: There was a problem and its getting fixed

Bad News: Dealership I bought it from said it was sold as is and they won't cover it

More Bad News: I got a 3rd party warranty company powertrain warranty and the lower control arm is suspension so.....out of pocket expense. Unless I do it myself! Is that kind of repair difficult?