Hello everyone, First time post and I was just wondering if any one has noticed the washer being loose on the upper control arm. I noticed there is only a washer on the cabin side of the arm and is just kind of floating there on both driver and passenger side. This seems unusual to me. I have the "clunking noise" developing and have just recently tried to pinpoint the cause. After inspection i noticed these loose washers on C/A , Upper Ball joint on C/A appears to have a slight space between seat and rubber boot (so may be loose) and now that i think of it the nut was right against the cotter pin which probablly was'nt the case from new. I am just tying to figure out which parts to replace but..... I think i will try tightening first. Any info on the washer would be appreciated...keep ya posted on results.

 

when is the clunking noise happening? can you post a pic or the washer you are talking about? our cars are known to have clunking noise cause by weak endlinks, this maybe the cause of the clunking

 

Thanks for the inquiry, She happens to be a 2004 G35X with 130 KM's. Clunking sound only shows up at slow speeds while going over bumps. It sounds like a loose strut on the passengers side. I have read that someone tightened down the nut on top of the tower under the hood and had some success. This would be a first for me and I am feeling a little uncomfortable torquing down that nut. I have tried to push down on the front of the car to duplicate the sound but with no luck, only slight movement and the strut nut does'nt seem to have any slack. I have read about the compression rod bushing going and would replace the bushings but there does'nt seem to be a replacement for the AWD-X. I have found replacement bushings for the upper control arm but don't want to fix what ain't broke. Upon inspection yesterday everything looked good,thought it might be slack in one of my brake pads (45%) cleaned them up re-installed clunking remains. Tomorrow I will give a thorough inspection and use a prybar to check the balljoints and sway bar ends, tie-rods etc. I will keep ya posted.....CHEERS!

 

Here is apicture of the washer on the Upper Control Arm. It is clearly loose. I took a quick look at another Infiniti I saw in a parking lot.. it was the same. Are they all loose like this or was his bad too. Upon further inspection nothing major located visually. There seems to be some play (give) in most of the bushings. Upper C/A Inner Bushings, Transverse Link (Lower C/A) Inner Bushing and Compression Rod Inner Bushing.

Compression Rod Bushing- $22.95 @ Riverside Infiniti
Front Upper C/A Bushing - $14.95 @ MyNismo
Lower C/A Inner Bushing - $40.95 @ MyNismo

The compression Rod Bushing is for the AWD X Model
Does anyone know if the Upper/Lower Control Arm Bushings are the same for Sedans and Sedan AWD Models, Coupes?

 

Well, Anyone else notice this loose washer?

 

Are you taking about a rubber washer?...if so, yes mine were both dangling. I'm not sure what the significance of these rubber washers were for since I noticed they weren't wedge in there, nor acted like shims in between. I have no clunking noises.

Check for a metal tapered sleeve at the ball joint. If you bought your G used, it's possible that the previous owner forget to put back the tapered sleeve that was borrowed from the OEM arms to use for their camber kit.

Also, to make certain that you speak of the same clunking noise...does it make the noise at bumps? or does it make the clunk going from reverse to forward?

 

I think the washer is metal. Good call on the sleeve but I don't think it has ever been changed with anything but OEM. Clunking noise appears at real low speeds 5-10 MPH when going over cracks in the road. I purchased a used lower C/A and I am going to swap it out and see if this eliminates the noise. I think it is the lower C/A inner bushing because it has some "give". The bushings for this are on backorder until April so I figure I can swap the C/A out, see if it fixes the problem, and then order the bushings when they get in. I don't even know if the bushings will fit the AWD Model so at least I have an extra arm out of the car for measurements and any bushing fit tests. Anyone know if this is the same part # for Sedans and Coupes?

 

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM!!!!....everytime i go up or down a driveway and then turn deep, i hear like this metal on metal LOUUDDDDDD bang. i though the spring was not seated on the strut......

Anyways my mechanic found the problem (i went to infiniti 9 times and they couldn't find the problem..) my mechanic put his hand on the upper link while i was driving up and down a long piece of wood to stimulate the up and down motion...he then confirmed that the noise was coming from there...all we did was tighten the two upper bolts and the noise never came back!