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Upper Ball Joint making noise?

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Old 01-28-2004, 08:08 AM
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Default Upper Ball Joint making noise?

Ever since late last summer my '02 LX 4cyl has been making a funny metal-on-metal sounding squeak/squeal noise coming from the front left wheel area. The noise would only occur when I turning WHILE going up steep driveways or big speed bumps (when the front suspension is under more load). This all started right after we had about 1 straight week of rain...

When I came back from college, I took it in to the Honda dealer. On the way up there, I was able to reproduce the noise going over a bunch of speed bumps while turning slightly. I picked up the service manager and took her for a test drive, and the noise stopped altogether I left the car there and they took for another test drive, and they were unable to reproduce the noise. They visually inspected the front suspension and couldn't find anything wrong.

Both me and service manager agreed that I should bring it back if the noise gets worse and more noticeable, so they can fix it. The noise is still there, and happens a few time a day...

I posted this on another forum, and one of the replies suggested it could be the upper ball joint. This guy claimed that he had the same problem and had to get both his upper and lower ball joints replaced ($300+). If it is the ball joint, do you think Honda will cover it under warranty? My car is 99% stock (all I have is a K&N Air filter ).

It's going to be a while before I can get back home, put my car up on jackstands, raise the lower LCA with a jack, start the car, and steer with the power steering to see if I can reproduce the noise...
Old 01-28-2004, 08:25 AM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (LX4CYL)

Wow.. you upper ball joint should not have gone out yet..Warranty should definately cover it.. If you dont have a chance to get home but want it fixed maybe call a local honda dealer around the area that you are in now and see if they will warranty you a upper a-arm with ball joint pressed in so you could do it yourself.. I did mine and it only took about 30 min.. good luck
Old 01-28-2004, 09:36 AM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (bagged93accord)

yeah, it's not a serious problem (maybe it is), but I'm pretty sure the car's going to drive fine (just like it is now) until spring break. I just want to find out what else could be causing this noise...
Old 01-28-2004, 09:47 AM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (LX4CYL)

maybe check the CV's too...could have torn a boot..
Old 01-28-2004, 05:52 PM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (LX4CYL)

I have a 98 Honda Accord and I started noticing my car doing the same thing. I thought it was just my poly-urethane bushings on my neuspeed rear sway bar, but the noise sounds like its coming from the front suspension. It makes sort of a squeaking sound. Are you experiencing any steering wheel shake too around 70-80 mph?
Old 01-28-2004, 07:22 PM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (kikko907)

nope, car is solid as a rock all the way up to 125. Never misbehaves at autocrosses either...

(BTW, this all started well bfeore I started autocrossing!)
Old 01-30-2004, 03:06 PM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (LX4CYL)

bump
Old 01-31-2004, 04:02 PM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (LX4CYL)

same thing happened to me in my 95 accord, and it was the upper ball joint, you cant replace the ball joint alone, you have to replace the whole control arm, and its not that bad of a job you would just have to take your car to get it realigned afterwards.
Old 01-31-2004, 04:04 PM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (typertn)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by typertn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">same thing happened to me in my 95 accord, and it was the upper ball joint, you cant replace the ball joint alone, you have to replace the whole control arm, and its not that bad of a job you would just have to take your car to get it realigned afterwards.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, I could definitely do it myself, but in this case, I think the dealer will do all the work under warranty. I'll definitely ask that they do an alignment on their nice laser alignment machine
Old 01-31-2004, 11:32 PM
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Default Re: Upper Ball Joint making noise? (LX4CYL)

Thanks i'll sleep better now
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