sarends

Ive had this 91 accord for about 5-6 months and just recently it started making these popping sounds when I take off or turn to the right. Its not a click click click, its more of a Pow Pop Crack. I looked about these forums and google and said ok its the axles. So ive been planning on replacing them but money was short, and now that ive got the money its been snowing since last Friday. I did some investigation under the car before the snow started and apparently the axles show no sign of wear. The drivers side axle looks as though it was recently replaced and the passenger side shows some age but nothing bad, no cracked boots or leaking grease. I hear the popping from either side, more pronounced on passenger side but drivers side as well. Ive even gotten to where now driving straight down the highway, most of my driving is all highway, I will hear the noise and feel the steering wheel jolt a little. In between shifting gears I feel the jolt, almost like the steering wheel wants to turn right for a second but then doesn't. So I had a mechanic ride with me and tells me he thinks its the wheel hubs. Hubs usually grind or make a constant noise in my experience. Looking under the car the only things that stand out are the sway bar links are shot, ball joints look like they are original but they are still holding together just not very good looking. Im going to order this kit I found on ebay that includes control arms, tie rods, sway bar end links and ball upper ball joints but im not sure that's what is making this noise and making the steering wheel jerk. I need to make a trip about 600 miles round trip here in less than two weeks so I have to get this fixed. Any input greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

sarends

I'm thinking I'll just replace the control arms, lower ball joints, tie rods, sway bar links, wheel hub and bearing assemblies and the right side axle just to eliminate all possibilities and I'll check and tighten the steering rack while I'm at it. I've only got one day to take care of the problem so i can't just guess and replace one thing, if it didn't work then ide have to spend another day tearing it apart again. Snow is supposed to be gone by Friday and i have Sunday to do the work. I'll repost update after

Suma

Sway bar bushings being shot can cause quite a popping metal noise when you turn/hit a bump.

sarends

Thank you, i was aware that could be my whole problem but just not sure. I'm glad I've got some confirmation on that.

sir.rexington

i had ball joint go bad on me, it was squeaky like metal on metal for a few weeks. then one day it gave up on a residential street during a low speed uturn. do u have cheap coilovers? after i set my car down with cheap coilovers, it'd pop until the spring settled. good luck. i hope u figure it out. try going for polyurethane bushings, and use the GREASE.

sarends

No coilovers, stock car all around. I'm fairly sure that with replacing those components it will solve it but I'm really wondering whether or not i should replace hubs and bearings. I don't hear the typical grinding constant sound of bearing going out.

giovannie23

Maybe the wheel bearing.. mine made the same noise and when it made e the noise I would turn my wheel a certaim way and the noise would stop it wasent as bad at first but gradually gets worst if you don't fix it ..also sounds like tue wheels gonna fall off maybe that will help

sarends

The noise has been getting worse but each side has a different noise and progressively gotten louder. My biggest concern is that I'm feeling this jerk in the steering wheel at random times, almost like the cars going to turn to the right suddenly but then it doesn't. I've ordered the parts now i just have to hope they get here before Sunday. I only have one day off and i have to drive the car about 20-25 miles to a friend's shop to do the work. If i don't get it done Sunday then I'll have to leave it with him to finish.

sarends

Update, today when pulling into a gas station the car suddenly made some very loud and sharp popping sounds, almost like something was tying up and fixing tobreak but there was some rotation in the popping if that makes any sense and it was all on the passenger side while turning right. I thought it was done for right there and i gracefully backed into a spot. I drove on home about 7-8 miles and it will stay parked until Sunday when i have to try and brave the trip to buddy's shop, about 25 miles. Does anyone know what would do that? I was thinking it must be axle cause there was definitely some rotation in the noise and loud popping but no noise all the way home... if it doesn't make it to the shop I'll have to rent a dolly and tow it but i don't want to do that if i can help it.

holmesnmanny

Why would you be trying to drive the car when it's doing this ?

The car needs to be jacked up and supported with jack stands and have the tires taken off and visually inspect to see if anything is noticeably wrong and/or if the axle boots are torn.
Even if the axle boots aren't torn if the axle is old enough it is possible for the grease inside to have deteriorated to the point that it is no longer preventing metal to metal contact and allowing the axle to destroy itself.

sarends

I have 5 kids at home who have to eat, my only transportation to the grocery store as well, until today, just got the alternator and battery for the Yukon. I am pretty sure it's the axle I'm just looking for opinions. I think i stated already, if not i am now, had the car jacked up last week and boots aren't torn. If you squeeze them you can feel they are packed with grease but doesn't mean that their not damaged inside. I believe the guy i bought the car from said he replace one of the axles, the drivers side looks new. Passenger side is making the crazy noises and looking closely at the boots you can see age cracks but it's all still intact. I got both hub bearing assemblies today and the other parts should be here Saturday then i have to drive it to the shop to install them, and I've got to pick up the right side axle at orielly on the way. It's all i can do and I'll be taking it real easy and having my buddy follow me just incase but no other option. I'm hoping for the best!

sarends

Just to clarify, i don't have the tools here at home to fix it in the driveway or else i would. I don't even know what exact tools it's gonna take to replace all the front end components to have them brought to me. I recently moved up here and lost my collection of tools back in Texas so I'm at someone else's mercy.

sarends

Post office delayed my parts arrival so I'm going to have to wait another week to get car together. Will update this when i know more.

holmesnmanny

The most important tool you will need is a Pittman Tie-rod puller. You will use that to separate the tie-rod and lower ball joint from the knuckle. You will need a 36mm axle nut socket for the axle nut. This will be the hardest part of the job. You can pick up a set of pry bars(normally they include 4 sizes) and use one of the middle two ones to gently pop the axle out of the tranny. Just give it a good pop while prying against the tranny. It will pop right out no problem. If, for some reason you decide to replace the axle seals, it would be best to go Honda OEM but if you choose to go aftermarket it's imperative to put some grease around the inner lip of the seal to help it break in.

Mishako129

When removing the tie rod ends,ball joints, etc on the suspension parts, don't ever hit the stud that the castle nut screws onto with a hammer, it will mess up the outer threads and will be hard to screw the castle nut back on. I'm sure you know this though. I did it twice this year.

I'd say replace the axle first like you're doing, but that if its not that it maybe your wheel bearings/hubs or possibly your struts making the noise.

BUT, I would really check for LOOSE nuts or bolts in your suspension assembly such as the upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends, struts. There are two nuts for the upper ball joints on each side under the hood which can become loose over time can create a popping noise. I had just spring discovered that this was the cause of a popping noise as I went over pot holes.

Maybe you just have bad ball joints for the upper or lower or maybe they have come loose. Just be sure to check all that out like I said before throwing parts at it. Its strange that the noise is on both sides.

sarends

I've been through this many times on other people's cars but i worked in a shop with all the tools handy so it wasn't like i had to think about what is needed, its just there so it isn't in my memory. For the tie rod puller, an old timer showed me something that works there. Some may argue this but if you remove the castle nut and then thread it back on a short ways you can first hammer the outside of the joint to break loose then pop the castle nut once or twice and the tie rod pops out. If u damage the castle nut you have a new one with the tie rod, tho i haven't damaged one yet. Replacing the axle isn't hard, actually none of the work is hard its just nuts and bolts but i can't just start pulling it apart without even knowing if i have a socket that fit. Also, i don't need to replace the seal, there's no signs of problems there.

sarends

I've looked at everything under the car but it's hard to pinpoint that it's the ball joints or its the axle or sway bar links because they are all bad. I can't say the axle is because it hasn't broke yet but everything else is shot so replacing one thing at a time to see if that fixes it means a lot of time and work pulling things back apart again. While I'm putting the axle in i think it's best to go ahead and fix all at one time so i don't have to pop any joints loose again. Honestly it looks like the only thing that's been touched under the front of this car is the drivers side axle. Everything looks to be 20+ years old so it needs work. The axle is first and the ball joints, tie rods and sway links come second and I'm going ahead with the hubs/bearings to seal the deal so i won't have to mess with this one again for a while. You could be onto something with the struts making the noise, now the drivers side is different than passenger. Passenger side almost definitely feels and sounds like the axle, drivers side however could be struts. Could also be ball joints too, after I'm done if it's still there only thing it could be is struts. I'm not going to replace those until i can get the koni/gc's that i want. It does need them tho.

holmesnmanny

lol okay, sorry for bothering you. My apologies.

sarends

I'm not bothered, I didn't intend to offend you or anyone else. If i did then my apologies to you, I was only trying to reply and no offense was intended.

sarends

My intentions with this thread was to get insight as to some other people's thoughts and experiences with these types of front end problems. I'm fairly certain i know my problems now, however i don't know how to post pictures or ide show u guys. I know what i have to do to fix the car, i just don't have tools here anymore so i have to go to the tools.

sarends

Just my luck, big ice storm came Saturday night and ruined my plans of fixing car today. Gonna have to wait another week but I'll be sure to update when it's done.