1993 Villager Front End Noise

[esfd455]

OK Guys I have to pick your minds because mine is shot. I have a 1994 Villager and have a problem with the front end. When I drive and hit any bumps it sounds like the front end is rumbling and the wheels are going to fall off. The right side is the worst. The steering is fine. No shaking or wiggling in the steering. I have had the front axles changed due to the boots being ripped ( A year ago ), the control arm connections replaced due to they fell apart when I drove over a speed bump at 5 MPH ( thank god )( ( Two years ago ), the front struts due to 110K miles ( Last Year) . The ball joints look and feel fine. The only thing I see when I troubleshoot is the back rubber bushings on the rear for the axles that are held up with only a collar with two bolts seem worn. I have turned them around and they seem better but I will have to replace them anyway. I have always had the noise but its getting worse to the point I am really worried. Any suggestions? Could the small play in the steeriing box ( and I mean small ) due this? I am at the end of my rope. Its the wife's van and do not want anything to happen to her while driving. I do not have tons of money so I am trying to fix it myself....HELP!!!

[taillight]

Have you ever replaced the struts ?

[steamplant]

My 1998 did the same thing, sounded like it needed struts, ball joints etc. It turned out to be the front stabilizer bar endlinks. Get them at autozone or whatever around $40 each, what a difference, let us know how you make out. Real easy job to do

[eltigre]

Originally Posted by esfd455

OK Guys I have to pick your minds because mine is shot. I have a 1994 Villager and have a problem with the front end. When I drive and hit any bumps it sounds like the front end is rumbling and the wheels are going to fall off. The right side is the worst. The steering is fine. No shaking or wiggling in the steering. I have had the front axles changed due to the boots being ripped ( A year ago ), the control arm connections replaced due to they fell apart when I drove over a speed bump at 5 MPH ( thank god )( ( Two years ago ), the front struts due to 110K miles ( Last Year) . The ball joints look and feel fine. The only thing I see when I troubleshoot is the back rubber bushings on the rear for the axles that are held up with only a collar with two bolts seem worn. I have turned them around and they seem better but I will have to replace them anyway. I have always had the noise but its getting worse to the point I am really worried. Any suggestions? Could the small play in the steeriing box ( and I mean small ) due this? I am at the end of my rope. Its the wife's van and do not want anything to happen to her while driving. I do not have tons of money so I am trying to fix it myself....HELP!!!

It's your endlinks!

[esfd455]

Thank you both for giving me info on my van front noise problem. I will check them this weekend. I really appreciate the info because I was at a loss on what was wrong. If this fixes my problem I owe you both a beer on me. Maybe a bunch of beers.....LOL. You just have to come to Long Island , NY to get them........Thanks again.....

ESFD455
EMT Gary

[esfd455]

OK Guys I just bought the two front end links and installed them. Took about 2 hours and cost me $40 a piece at NAPA. The right front one was about to come apart. The left front was a little worn. Got back together and drove it........WOW!!!!!!!!!! A whole new front end. Quiet and smooth sailing.......I owe you guys a ton of beer on me if you ever come to Long Island,NY. I just wish I had talked with you guys a while ago. Could have saved some money. I really can not thank you all enough for the help. See when you pick a fresh brain it makes all the difference in the world. I feel better now when the wife drives the van now. Thanks.............

ESFD455
EMT Gary
Holbrook FD, NY

[eltigre]

Originally Posted by esfd455

OK Guys I just bought the two front end links and installed them. Took about 2 hours and cost me $40 a piece at NAPA. The right front one was about to come apart. The left front was a little worn. Got back together and drove it........WOW!!!!!!!!!! A whole new front end. Quiet and smooth sailing.......I owe you guys a ton of beer on me if you ever come to Long Island,NY. I just wish I had talked with you guys a while ago. Could have saved some money. I really can not thank you all enough for the help. See when you pick a fresh brain it makes all the difference in the world. I feel better now when the wife drives the van now. Thanks.............

ESFD455
EMT Gary
Holbrook FD, NY

No prob! Long Island, huh?! I'm actually from Queens but am stationed out in Texas. WHat kind of Beer? maybe worth the trip??? lol...
It's a good thing to help one another on this forum. Every car has it's idiosyncrocies and it should be shared. Makes it cheaper for all of us and keeps those greedy mechanics away. I just have to remember to log on more often. Let us know if you have any other annoying problems with the van. Just keep in mind that the engine on these vans are actually excellent, with a little TLC, it should run a looooong way.

HOOOAH!

[esfd455]

The free ice cold kind of beer (you name the label).....LOL
Thanks again pal........

EMT Gary
esfd455

[JDW]

I too wish I had read this before I took it in for new strutts - guess at 200,000 it needed them. But got it back and still clunking - mechanic told me it was the link pins - you say end links - suppose we are talking about the same thing. See that it was loose on one side - and will try to fix it soon.
My son says it sounds like a Chicago taxi!
Are they hard to put on? I sprayed the loose one with some rust blaster before we took off on vacation and figured I work on it when I got back.
We didn't that that one.

[steamplant]

Easy job, jack up and remove front wheel, remove old end link, 13 mm six point socket. You may have a little hard time getting the new endlinks to crush down far enough to allow you to get the endlink to control arm nut started, I used a large "C" clamp on the stabilizer bar to control arm, this will force the bar down far enough to get the nut started, it worked great.

[tdc1948]

I have a '95 Quest that may have the same problem, so am very happy to see this thread and the answer!

Follow-up question: can the bad end links (or bad stabilizer bar in general) lead to low-speed wobbling? I've been getting a noticeable wobble since having the ball joints replaced (for a fortune -- grrr....).

TIA for any advice.

[steamplant]

I didn't notice any "wobble" with my endlinks being bad, what gives it away is the terrible noise when going over bumps almost sounds like the van is "bottoming out". If you just had your ball joints replaced and now experience a wobble I'd check to make sure, the wheel lugs are tight. While your changing the endlinks, check the tie rod ends for wear this will also cause slop in the wheel. Easy jobs you can knock them both out while your at it. Good luck.

[tdc1948]

Originally Posted by steamplant

I didn't notice any "wobble" with my endlinks being bad, what gives it away is the terrible noise when going over bumps almost sounds like the van is "bottoming out". If you just had your ball joints replaced and now experience a wobble I'd check to make sure, the wheel lugs are tight. While your changing the endlinks, check the tie rod ends for wear this will also cause slop in the wheel. Easy jobs you can knock them both out while your at it. Good luck.

Thanks. Checking the lug nuts is a good idea.

I'm not sure I'd describe the sound that I get as being like bottoming out. Maybe. But more a sort of "skronk", and then return of similar, as though something desperately needs grease. Everything's been greased that can be, though.

[tdc1948]

I've just come across this, which seems to be further corroboration of the stabilizer bar hypothesis. Thanks again to all here for this helpful thread!

Suspension noise: A new stabilizer bar and bushings are needed if there is a crunching or scraping noise from the front end. (1993-95)

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1993-to-1998-nissan-quest-2.htm

Oddly, no similar mention of Villager (!?):

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...villager-2.htm

[tdc1948]

Originally Posted by steamplant

I didn't notice any "wobble" with my endlinks being bad, what gives it away is the terrible noise when going over bumps almost sounds like the van is "bottoming out". If you just had your ball joints replaced and now experience a wobble I'd check to make sure, the wheel lugs are tight. While your changing the endlinks, check the tie rod ends for wear this will also cause slop in the wheel. Easy jobs you can knock them both out while your at it. Good luck.

A follow-up on this...

Turns out that the wobble was due to my front tires being wonky. Not out-of-round as in egg-shaped, but out of plane, i.e. "bent". New tires and all is well! -- Stabilizer bars checked at the same time, with the verdict that nothing is out of order.