I've read and contributed to many of the past threads on the Compression Rod problem (causing a creaking, crunching sound from the front end).

I'm getting totally annoyed by it again, and my dealer (after replacing the parts once) is now giving me the "cannot replicate" nonsense. Replacing the rods/bushings clearly fixes the problem, but it's only temporary.

Has anyone successfully gotten Infiniti to respond to this problem? I know some of you opened customer service cases. How about getting another dealer in the Wash DC area to be responsive? (my obstinate dealer is Passport).

 

You have to call and open a case with Infiniti corporate. They will schedule a master technician from corporate to meet you at the dealer.

 

yea whatta PITA. Im hoping the nismo sway bays with thicker bushings will solve that problem!!

 

i'm taking mine in for a check of this in 1.5 weeks... having the problem w/ only 10k miles and it probably started @ 6k

 

I got my rear ones replaced under warranty not too long ago. I'm starting to notice some creaking on the front though, so I'll have to go back to the dealer sometime soon. Too bad my warranty is only good until the end of this year

 

Just got my 2nd set of compression rods replaced by the dealer. The creak seems to come back at around 15K. Had the first set changed at 15K, and just had this second pair put in at around 30k (about 2 weeks ago).

Well, I think I have a fail-safe way to reproduce the creak. Everyone! If you haven't heard the the creak yet, and you have over 15K miles on your car, try this and you'll hear the creak...and be disappointed with the rest of us. I've been able to reproduce the creak on ALL the loaners I've gotten...05 or 06.

Contrary to what I even thought before, it doesn't have to be over bumps to be reproduced. It can be reproduced very easily.

Procedure to reproduce the compression rod creak:

1) turn the car on and have the car stopped in "drive"
2) turn the wheel all the way to the left as if you're trying to make a U-turn (but without accelerating or moving)
3) let go off the brake so the car starts moving and let the steering wheel come back to center on its own
4) you should hear the compression rod creak as soon as you start rolling and the wheel starts straightening out.

My 2nd time around, I went with the service advisor and did this with them, and there was no way they could tell me "unable to reproduce"!

Try it out. I've been able to make this same creak on all loaners. If you reproduce it, go to the dealer and show them. We need enough complaints so that Infiniti takes this seriously and hopefully puts out a TSB or something. Let us know if you can reproduce it.

Here are the parts they've replaced:

1) The first time:
ROD COMPL - COMPRESS-54468-AL511
ROD COMPL-TENSION,FR-54469-AL511

2) The second time:
ROD COMPL-COMPRESSIO-54468-AC70F
COMPRESSION ROD, FRO-54469-AC70F
BOLT-STOPPER-40038-AL510

Odd, the part #s are different from the 1st and 2nd time for me...maybe it's an updated part.

 

ive able to reproduce the creeking noise everytime i fully step in and out of my car or just by pressing down on the trunk for the rears

 

I suspect that you have other creaking problems besides the compression rod creak. The compression rod creak has been a headache for most of us, and has been difficult to reproduce for the dealer. Thus the "unable to reproduce" or "lubed suspension" response from them. Most of us have been able to only reproduce it by going over bumps. Not just by sitting in the car or pushing down on the rear. That's why I posted the procedure above where you don't need bumps or anything. Here's a link where Noremac and myself were talking about this same problem a while back:

https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-sedan-v35-2003-06/72740-suspension-creeks-low-speeds-source.html

I think you have other creaks as well. Try my procedure above and show them that as well as your "rear suspension" creak. Good luck!

 

I have the same problem when entering and especially exiting the car.I can also push on the front fender and reproduce the noise.Last time I went to the dealer they said it was beacause my Stillen sways with stock bushings didn't have enough grease on them.After greasing them.The noise returned the same evening.

 

lelg35, great post! i will try your procedure and see if it works even though I have a 6mt. i always get the creaking/crunching sound when i ever i enter/exit my driveway, other driveways, speedbumps, taking particular turns at speed, etc. took it to the dealer for this problem but they told me about not being able to reproduce the sound which is bs. i'm trying to setup another appointment with another dealer and if your procedure works i will defintely use it to demonstrate so they can't give the "unable to reproduce" bs.

 

I was looking at the all the available Nismo suspension bushings and it's too bad there's no replacement for the compression rod. Too bad because it's seems like replacing the part with the same oem bushing will only buy you time. I was thinking a nice harder rubber bushing like the Nismos would be able to withstand whatever forces that are causing the oe bushings to fail.

 

Good luck! Keep trying until you get the hang of the procedure and can reproduce it "on demand"....like I did with my service advisor.

It's pretty fail-safe....even the tech working on my car could reproduce it on demand. That's how they knew they could only fix it by changing the compression rods again. They lubed it first but were still able to reproduce it. They kept it overnight and put in the new rods the next day.

Good luck!

 

bump for good info. gonna use your trick tomorrow lelg35

 

That is my current problem. I'm out of warranty so if you find out the creaking cause for the rear please please please please please please let me know.

 

yes sometimes they can't reproduce it. find a place with speedbumps and go into the bump at 90 degrees and you can replicate it no problem. I've heard from numerous people that it's no big deal and it's not affecting the cars performance nor will screw up the car. It's just some type of sound deflection from something that wasn't designed properly. But no doubt is super annoying and makes u wonder about a 35k car? not impressed with something so shi77y, i mean seriously my lexus with 300k miles didnt make any sound like that, crappy engineering