SethCivic

Hi, I just became a member of this site but I have visited this site a few times and found helpful information on ball joint and wheel bearing replacement. My dad mainly did all the work considering he knows a lot more than me. I am basically a newb when it comes to most things about cars but I know a little more than the average person.

I drive a 2005 Honda Civic EX

Anyways, I started hearing a clicking sound mainly on low gears (manual transmission) when I either engage or there is torque applied to drivetrain. The clicking sound seems to be coming from the front driver side (which I hit a curb a long time ago thus needing the ball joint, wheel bearing (didn't really need replaced but we did it anyways) replaced. I bought a CV axle after assuming that the clicking sound was associated with it.

The clicking sound happens mainly in 1-3 gear and can happen when engaging the gears (happens in engaging reverse but I don't I've heard it on higher gears). I also hear the click when I have the engine rev around 3-5000 RPMs such as following a slow person in the 30 mph zone and using the rev to slow my car down instead of breaking. It happens when it goes straight also. Sometimes it clicks more than other times at low speed. Usually doesn't click more than once every 5-20 secs at low speeds and sometimes doesn't click at all...

We jacked the car up today and my dad inspected the CV joints and didn't find anything that warranted replacement. He checked the slack in the new part (bought new axle not refurbished) and it had the same amount of slack. He checked the engine mounts and made sure they were tight. I even tried to produce the sound while it was jacked up by engaging the gears but seemed unable to produce the sound. My dad was trying at first and I believe he was able to produce the click maybe once or twice. Anyways, we are stumped and my dad said not to worry about it. I suppose it isn't anything major but I like to have my car not making any clicking sounds.

I decided to join the forums and see if anyone had any suggestions or could help since there seems to be a lot of knowledgeable people on this site. Anyone have any clue what is going on? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

dakota1820

Any vibrations?

SethCivic

No vibrations at low speed or whenever it clicks. The click isn't even that loud but noticeable. I do get wheel vibrations at high speed when braking at high speeds. Link from google says that is due to rotors but I don't think I've seen any rotor damage nor do I get any wheel vibrations while breaking at low speed (can check next time I bring my car to my parent's house. will check front pad and rotor and back wheel drum). Pads should still be fine considering I replaced them about 1 1/2 - 2 years ago. Although I will check both but any other suggestions on that wheel shaking while braking at high speeds would be helpful.

The boot isn't torn but there are probably bearings loose in it that my dad wasn't able to detect. I still have the part and might just get him to help me replace later this week. I talked to coworker that is pretty knowledgeable on cars and he still says it is probably the CV joint. He said that there are bearings loose in the CV joint and my dad might not be able to detect it with a check. My dad swears it is something else but I don't see how it could be anything else but CV joint. I makes sense to me that it is CV joint on driver side considering the ball joint went bad due to the impact against curb along time ago. I am assuming the CV joint is now starting to give out on driver side due to past impact and eventual wear.

SethCivic

Update: After asked if my wheel shakes I started paying more attention to it. I believe there is a slight shake when I start going above 45 mph or so (got 2 new tires on the front and the old 2 on back were recently balanced so tires not being balanced shouldn't be the issue). I just noticed the shaking more when at high speeds (~70 mph) while braking more. We checked the rotors and they aren't warped at all. My brake pads are getting close to needing to be replaced though.

I am taking my car into a trusted mechanic that my friend uses a lot (I dropped my friends name to him when I called up to tell him I was coming in on Monday morning). Hopefully, he will be able to notify me about all my issues with my car. He doesn't charge much for labor per hour either and will only replace what is needed (my friend says). He specializes on Japanese cars so he seems like the best person to tell me what I should do or what is wrong with my car.

New Update - clicking was caused by a loose bolt either on brake caliper or something else on drivers side. Took to trusted mechanic and he tightened everything for me and sound went away. He also tried to find leak in coolant system but didn't find any leak. Not sure what my problem is in coolant system and it shouldn't be thermostat sticking since we replaced that about a year ago. Anyways, going to put new brake pads on my front and take car to shop to get free wheel balance (believe that is what the shaking at high speeds). I'll just have to keep an eye on my temperature gauge while idling because that is when it starts overheating (when it is out of coolant, dad noticed some gunk on cap area for radiator which he said could cause it not to take fluid from the reserve.