Experiencing noises from your vehicle often is never reassuring, so hearing noises on your Nissan Xterra suspensions when you pass a speed bump can be stressful. This warning sign may be a sign of a small trouble as well as a warning of a much larger repair to come. Whatever the case, it is fundamental to check the origin and take the necessary actions to eliminate the trouble, it is with this aim in mind that we wanted to write this document to help you see more clearly. We will first see the possible reasons for a crack when the speed bump passes, after that, what can be the reason of a squeaking noise when a speed bump is being passed and finally what to do if you have another noise when a speed bump is passed.
Suspension cracking noise Nissan Xterra
Check Nissan Xterra suspension
If you notice a suspension noise when you pass a speed bump on your Nissan Xterra, and it is categorized by a “clack” or cracking, it is highly plausible that your suspension block is the cause of it. Indeed, it may be the suspension cups, which, when they are old, have the rubber (silentblock) that acts as a buffer and shock absorber for the upper part of the suspension that no longer fulfils its job during small bumps that compress the suspensions. To examine if this is the trouble that worries you, take a dented road and pay attention to the noise coming from your front axle as you go over holes. If it is indeed the cups, think of changing them quickly or you may affect other parts and have to make more important repairs.
Check the cardan shaft
If you are here because you have searched for “Nissan Xterra suspension noise” and the suspension is not the cause of your problem, it may be that the cardan shaft is responsible. Indeed, when the cardan bellows get outdated and the dirt/dust amasses inside them their working is degraded and it is possible to experience a sound when they are in torsion. To examine this, you can try both types of torsion, first vertical with suspension compressions on the speed bump passages, and horizontal when you are going to make a turn at low speed. If it cracks in these two cases you should consider changing it or them. If you have the feeling that this noise is more like a a loud noise on Nissan Xterra, don’t hesitate to visit this article.
Check steering hinges/stabilizer bar
Finally, when you find out a suspension noise when your Nissan Xterra passes over a speed bumps, it is imaginable that the hinges or the stabilizer bar are responsible. Simply like the gimbals, the steering part is mobilized when you change direction. If this is the situation, the components that may have been destroyed by normal wear and tear or impacts (e. g. sidewalks). The steering hinges, the stabilizer bar hinges. can be the origins of your noises, to examine it, put it under the car and apply twists on each of its elements to examine that there is no special play on one of them, they are expected to resist you quite strongly over their entire travel. Keep in mind to take your vehicle to your technician or change them if they are involved.
squeaky noise speed bump Nissan Xterra
Check the stabilizer bar
If, on the other hand, you have a noise that is more like a squeak when you pass a speed bump with your Nissan Xterra, it is plausible that it is the stabilizer bar itself that is involved. Indeed, abnormal/pronounced wear of the latter can cause unusual friction which can provoke this squeaking noise. Keep in mind to examine by passing under your car the condition of the paint on your bar which will indicate if there is friction. Second plausible point, it may be your stabilizer bar silentblocks that are dried out and cause noise, in which case remove them from the cradle and grease them, this should fix the trouble.
Check engine silentblocks
Finally, last point that we can examine together, it is the engine silentblocks, actually, these silentblocks act as pads/shock absorbers between the engine and the cradle of the vehicle, a obvious weakness of these will make a subsidence and therefore a space between the engine and the silentblocks, it may happen that a squeaking noise occurs when you pass a speed bumps or any holes with your Nissan Xterra. To change them go to your mechanic.
Other speed bump noise Nissan Xterra
If, despite all its assumptions, you still can’t find the origin of the noise your Nissan Xterra makes when you pass a speed bump, we suggest you to read this content on a loud noise on Nissan Xterra or to visit your technician in order to carry an in-depth check on your Nissan Xterra and identify this trouble.