Need your help auto experts.

I've been chasing a noise that turned into multiple noises on the 350z. 2003 with 90k miles. Purchased last year with 80k miles.

New tires, brakes and rotors were put on almost immediately after purchase.

Then I changed out the front hubs/bearings about a month later due to a "roaring" noise at moderate speeds.

Fast forward to early march of this year. There was a popping noise while stopping/turning that was getting very loud. So I replaced the steering rack thinking that was the problem. The old steering rack was leaking from the inner tie rods, so this fixed 2 problems.

New rack on and the popping moved towards the tire. So I replaced lower control arm, compression rod, new bushings, new ball joints.

That still didnt fix the problem so I put new struts and strut mounts. That fixed the loud popping noise which was the mounts.

At this point, the only thing that hasnt been replaced up front now is the upper control arm and bushings.

However, i still hear a slight popping noise while going from forward to reverse and at slow speeds while stopping/turning. After some googling this morning, it is most likely the brake pads shifting in the caliper.

Is there a way to fix the brake pads from shifting in the calipers? I used Wagner TQ pads and Oreilly house brand rotors.

I'm not sure if those pads come with hardware for the calipers, so the pads fit tight, but maybe they're missing?

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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I'm not sure if those pads come with hardware for the calipers, so the pads fit tight, but maybe they're missing?

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Pretty sure the hardware came with the pads and they are on there.

And its mostly coming from the driver's front wheel. So i will pull that one and confirm again. now that I know what to look for, I will try to turn the wheel and have someone apply brakes and see if that's whats going on.

I have an '03 G35 coupe that also had a popping noise up front (along with some groaning at slow, straight speeds). The control arm bushings were shot and needed to be replaced.

If it is the bushings, you will see inside cupping wear on the tires eventually.

you talking about the upper control arm?

I replaced the lower control arm and compression rod (rearward control arm as they are sometimes called) and all the bushings. I replaced struts and mounts.

At this point, the only remaining factory parts are the coilo spring and upper control arm. I may as well replace the upper control arm since they are cheap.

I checked the brakes today and I can NOT see the pads moving in the caliper and the shims are in place. So I dont think thats it, but it only makes the sound at slow speed and when changing directions with brake applied???

Would bad sway bar end links make this noise? havent changed those out yet.


***EDIT*** I ruled out the sway bar end links. I disconnected them both and it still made the noise. I guess I will replace the upper control arms and bushings and see if that makes it go away.

ARGH. Pulling my hair out.

I had a similar noise on my Equinox start up a few of months ago. I had popping in the front end when my speed dropped below about 10 mph while coming to a stop. The popping was proportional to the wheel speed. After some googling, it was suggested that the calipers were sticking on the guide pins. I pulled the calipers off, cleaned off all of the old grease from the guide pins and cleaned out the old grease in the calipers. I then reinstalled with new, high temp grease. The noise stopped after I did all of that and hasn't come back.

Check for pads installed correctly, not flipped where backing plate touches rotor, or inside and outside are reversed.

Check calipers to make sure they aren't sticking.

Bleed and feed brake lines if you have the milage to support it.

Check to make sure rotor isn't warped.

Check sway bar bushings for intact. If intact, then try greasing the contact area between bushings and sway bar. You could try silicone spraying the bushings to see if it reduces the popping noises. The silicone is not a fix, rather diagnostic.

crockerdan04 said:

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I had a similar noise on my Equinox start up a few of months ago. I had popping in the front end when my speed dropped below about 10 mph while coming to a stop. The popping was proportional to the wheel speed. After some googling, it was suggested that the calipers were sticking on the guide pins. I pulled the calipers off, cleaned off all of the old grease from the guide pins and cleaned out the old grease in the calipers. I then reinstalled with new, high temp grease. The noise stopped after I did all of that and hasn't come back.

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New brakes and I even re-lubed the guide pins a few weeks ago.

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Check for pads installed correctly, not flipped where backing plate touches rotor, or inside and outside are reversed.

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Pads are correct. I even flipped them around yesterday to see if it stopped. Yeah, the wear indicator is really in the wrong position, but on new pads it wont matter. Still made the noise. I will flip them back.

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Check calipers to make sure they aren't sticking.

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See notes above.

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Bleed and feed brake lines if you have the milage to support it.

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All done with the brake job after I bought the car May 2017.

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Check to make sure rotor isn't warped.

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New rotors in May 2017. Seems to rotate fine, no pulsation/vibration when braking at speed.

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Check sway bar bushings for intact. If intact, then try greasing the contact area between bushings and sway bar. You could try silicone spraying the bushings to see if it reduces the popping noises. The silicone is not a fix, rather diagnostic.

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I will check the bushings. Would that make a popping noise or a creaking/squeaking noise if dry?

moore42 said:

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you talking about the upper control arm?

I replaced the lower control arm and compression rod (rearward control arm as they are sometimes called) and all the bushings. I replaced struts and mounts.

At this point, the only remaining factory parts are the coilo spring and upper control arm. I may as well replace the upper control arm since they are cheap.

I checked the brakes today and I can NOT see the pads moving in the caliper and the shims are in place. So I dont think thats it, but it only makes the sound at slow speed and when changing directions with brake applied???

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Yes. The g35 has the same suspension up front. I had to replace mine to get the popping to go away on mine.

I was told that besides the tire wear and noise there wasn't a real safety issue. So I let it go for several months until the popping was almost every day.

After finally doing it, I am pretty sure there was a safety issue in terms of traction and steering response - it made a huge difference that probably would have been an issue in an emergency situation.

The dry bushings grip the bar, rather than allowing it to rotate within. The purpose of a sway bar is to reduce body roll rather than suspension loads.

It appears that the upper control arms were the culprit. The noise has gone away. Wished I had started there instead of ending there...ugh....

I'm gonna replace the anti-roll bar bushings anyway. Now the entire front suspension will have been completely replaced/restored.

Have you put it on a rack/stands and shaked the **** out of everything you can grab?

Duncan Idaho said:

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Have you put it on a rack/stands and shaked the **** out of everything you can grab?

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Not on a rack, but on jacks. Couldnt find anything that made noise then. So then I started replacing the most likely parts after numerous hours reading 350z forums.....and we know now how that turned out.

You probably aren't going to find anything that makes noise. You are just looking for stuff with play that shouldnt have any play.

Collapsed bushings, worn bearings, cracked mounts, lossened bolts, etc.