Knocking noise

[JYODER240]

There is a knocking noise coming from the front of my car when driving at parking lot speeds. You can't feel it and it sounds like its coming from the front left. If i'm on the brakes the noise stops and the steering angle doesn't seem to have an affect on it. I'll be calling the Nissan Dealer first thing in the morning. My guess is its the brakes, anyone know what it could be?

[mazda6er]

I have somewhat of a rapid knocking sound because my hood doesn't sit right now. (Take a guess why ). Think it could just be a vibration issue? Hopefully?   

[S204STi]

There is a knocking noise coming from the front of my car when driving at parking lot speeds. You can't feel it and it sounds like its coming from the front left. If i'm on the brakes the noise stops and the steering angle doesn't seem to have an affect on it. I'll be calling the Nissan Dealer first thing in the morning. My guess is its the brakes, anyone know what it could be?

Something in your tire tread would be my first guess.  How old is the car and what model is it?

[JYODER240]

Something in your tire tread would be my first guess.? How old is the car and what model is it?

Its a 05 Z.

[S204STi]

Its a 05 Z.

Huh.  You mentioned it stops when you apply the brakes, so maybe it isn't tire debris...does the car sit a lot?

[The Pirate]

If you wait long enough, another noise will develop, and you will no longer hear that one.  Voila, problem solved!

[JYODER240]

Huh.? You mentioned it stops when you apply the brakes, so maybe it isn't tire debris...does the car sit a lot?

Nope. It sat for about 8 hours while I was at work but its sat for much longer than that with no problem.

[Raza]

Have you ever considered that someone is trying to get in?

Dumbass.

[AutobahnSHO]

Something in your tire tread would be my first guess.? ?

Mebbe- check the tire for stuck rocks...

[etypeJohn]

Have you ever considered that someone is trying to get in?

Dumbass.

Or get out!!!  perhaps a gas station attendant trapped in the engine bay.   


Sounds like brakes or possibly a wheel bearing. 

[JYODER240]

Well I solved the problem. I'm either incredibly lucky or stupid. I drove my moms car to class today and when I got home went to drive mine to see if it was still doing it. I couldn't hear anything so I drove it to work and just assumed it went away. Before I left as I was going through the parking lot I turned off the radio to make a phone call and I could hear a grinding noise. I drove back into the garage and looked at the front left wheel and there was only two lugnuts left on and one was just barely on. I spun it off with my fingers. When I put my winter wheels/tires back last Monday I thought I torqued them all down but must have missed the front passenger wheel. I put the car on a rack and removed the wheel. There's a bolt that comes out of the rotor to serve as a wheel guide. The wheel was hitting against it and thats what was making the knocking and grinding sound. The bolt is slighty bent so tomorrow I'll go to a Nissan dealership and get a new bolt and 3 new lugnuts. If I had drove home tonight or to class this morning the wheel probably would have fallen off and costs thousands in damage.

[ifcar]

Wow.

[Raghavan]

st00pit kid.

[S204STi]

st00pit kid.

You say that, but wait till you do it yourself...I have.

[JYODER240]

You say that, but wait till you do it yourself...I have.

Its allright, anyone who uses 0's instead of o's has the joke on them.

[280Z Turbo]

I've done that before. :P

My car drove a little weird because of that.

[J86]

Wow dude, good thing you caught that!

[footoflead]

wow, i always double check the torque on my lugs, and then check every single wheel again...

Lucky for me both the truck and the mustang have lug covers so what i do after i pretty much triple check the torque is i put the cover on that way i KNOW i have done that wheel and its good to go...no guessing

when in doubt check it again 

[JYODER240]

Yeah, i'll definently get into the habit of double and triple checking now.

[Raza]

Whew.  Disaster averted.