Nissan Suspension Popping Noise Fix by  Paul Hagan (It may take a few minutes for the pictures to load)   Symptoms:     The 1984 to 1985 Nissan 720 pickup, 1986.5 to 1997 Nissan Hardbody (D21) pickup and the 1987 to 1995 Nissan Pathfinder (WD21) all share a very similar front suspension design.  In some cases it is possible for under torqued suspension components to move at their contact points which causes a distinct metal popping noise.  The noise most often occurs when the suspension is flexing or when the steering wheel is turned.  The lower link to frame mount is the most common source of this noise.  This mount has a large metal to metal contact area increasing the chance for noises when under torqued.
. Tools needed: Torque wrench or large breaker arm, 19 mm socket .. Amount of time 5-10 minutes . .
Above is a photo of the typical front suspension setup.  The highlighted boxes in yellow show the location of the two bolts which must be checked for proper torque.  Each box contains two bolts.  There are four bolts total which must be checked. Below is a close-up of one highlighted box.   .
Above, the arrows point to the two bolts connecting the lower link to the frame.  You may or may not need an extension to tighten these depending on the socket used.   .
Above is a photocopy of the torque specifications for the bolts.  The green asterisks indicate the name and proper torque for the bolts.  The torque should be from  80 to 108 Ft-lbs.
.. Email questions to:
Back to the Nissan page.
The Off-Road.com Tech Info Page