Nissan Maxima Brake Noise and Tire Vibration
Reader Question I have a 1996 Nissan Maxima. Recently had front brakes replaced, tires rotated and balanced (1 tire was badly worn on inside – replaced with used). About 1 week later while driving approx 60mph I heard what sounded like my muffler falling and dragging on the ground.
It wasn’t. The sound was coming from left front wheel area. Quickly turned into a “metal tumbling in drum” sound. Had it towed back to mechanic. He heard nothing, found nothing. I drove it about 30 miles – no noise – but when going down a hill, slowing down to make a left hand turn, I heard like a “pinging” noise from the same area. I was 5 blocks from home. I parked it and drove it again later in day.
No noise until I was driving down a hill that curved to left, applying brakes for stop sign. I was 3 blocks from home. Parked it. Drove it later. No noise.
Friend with some knowledge removed wheel and brakes – found nothing. The car and steering wheel shook at about 50 – 60 mph prior to brake/tire replacement and continues to do so now.
Appreciate any help!
Polly
Hello Polly,
Hummmmmm… So the noise started after the brake and tire installation, but the steering wheel vibration was there before the repairs and is still there afterwards…correct? I think I would start by removing BOTH front wheels (probably be a good idea to remove and inspect all 4 wheels) and recheck the brake hardware for both front brakes.
There is something called a “backing plate” that is located behind the wheels that act as a shield for the brake parts. This plate is made of thin metal and can sometimes get bent inward during routine brake replacement. Once bent inward this plate will rub against the brake rotor causing a high pitched scratching noise.
Since the noise seems to appear more when you are turning, this plate could be bent just enough that it is coming in contact with the brake rotor. I would have the mechanic or your mechanically inclined friend recheck the backing plates on both front wheels to make sure they are not coming in contact with any moving parts.
Also have them check the RIGHT side brakes for anything that is loose or rubbing. Sometimes noises that sounds like they are coming from the left side are really coming from the right side…so don’t assume anything here.
As far as the vibration you feel in the steering wheel, that is most likely due to an out of balance tire. Rotating and balancing the tires should take care of that issue unless one of the tires is bad and will not “balance”. If your mechanic removes the wheels again to inspect this noise…have him rotate and balance the tires.
The new used tire you installed SHOULD have been balanced when he installed it, so you might only need to balance the remaining 3 tires and if you are on a super tight budget you can probably just balance the right side front tire only. Since the vibration is felt in the steering wheel, the out of balance tire is most likely in the front of the vehicle.
Blessings,
Austin Davis
Category: Front End Problems
About the Author (Author Profile)
Austin Davis is a consumer car repair advocate. "I just like helping people with their car repair problems". I hope this site was helpful to you. Please like me on Facebook and leave a comment or a review of my site. Google+Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Yes, I would go ahead and install the 4 new rotors you bought. I would also double check your caliper mounting hardware and make sure the caliper pins are not seized up or any anti rattle clip hardware is missing or broken.
On the second issue. I would first start by reading the computer codes, then manually check the fuel pressure with a handheld gauge AT the engine. Make sure there are no vacuum leaks under the hood, the air filter housing and the fresh air inlet hose are all put together correctly and not causing a vacuum leak. I would also rule out an engine miss like from a bad spark plug wire.
If all that checks out ok, then I would pull the spark plugs and check engine compression to see if a headgasket has failed (due to overheating) or there is a problem with the valves or other internal components causing a loss of compression.
Hello, me and my dad( my dad is the mechanically experienced one.) recently changed all four brake pads on my 2000 Nissan Maxima. Every thing seemed great but when i went to drive it, My brake pedal made a horrible noise fla dun dun dun dun sound.(sorry about the bad example) and vibrated awfully bad. From the vibration it felt like it was coming from the front left.(almost like how a spider tells where a fly has landed on it web.) Now obviously i had no clue what to do but re look at my brakes. Everything seemed fine though. My dad took a look and after racking his brain he decided to redo the front left boot in case it had gone in crooked. After doing so the noise had been reduced and instead of a fla dun dun dun dun it’s more like a….i don’t know da doin doin doin? He’s not sure but dad thinks i should replace the rotor. I know i had to do the right side. and i didn’t do the left side. But we’re still not sure. to be safe i just went a head and bought 4 brand new rotors. front and back. They have not been installed yet though since i bought them online. I’d like some one else’s opinion though. ON THAT NOTE..Same car different problem. A couple weeks ago i was on my way home from work and stopped at a store. When i tried to crank it back up, it would act like it was going to and just went zzzeerump? I thought it was my battery so i had some one help me jump it off, but apparently it wasn’t. The kind man helped to get it cranked by doing several different pumps to the pedals. Eventually after a few tries the car finally stayed on. He told me to check my fuel pump. The fuel pump on this car though is different from others. I remember trying to go about replacing it one time and it was a no go. I think it’s built in or something i don’t remember. But any ways, the dive home was horrible. It completely lacked power, i had to push the pedal all the way down, I was scared i wouldn’t make it up the tiniest of hills, and the engine just sound wrong all together. When i got home dad took a look, and we discovered the left radiator fan wasn’t working. Dad said the car acted the way it did because it over heated. I’d like to note that specific day was incredibly hot. Any ways, we replaced the fan motor now the car will crank like normal but won’t stay on. It just slowly dies. If i keep trying it will eventually stay on, and drive normal other than the slight lack of power from the o2 sensors. (i don’t think this problem is from the o2 sensors thought they do need to be replaced.) Im hoping i didn’t seriously screw something up driving it home in that condition.
Yes the rack and pinion could be the culprit, but once you install it you will need to have a front end alignment done….so I would recomend you try to get it aligned now and see what if anything is wrong, might just need an alignment.
My friend is having the same issue on a 1998 maxima, but the passenger front wheel is the one that is wearing out in funny ways, I lifted the car and check the play on the passenger wheel and it looked like the inner tie rod was gone, told her to pick the part up, she brought it back with the car, I lifted it again n checked the movement In the wheel at the tie rod but this time bo play, so I sent her home and didn’t install the part, she claims thr vibration is worse now? My dad suggested the steering rack can do this sort of off and on vibration issue, anyone agree with this theory?