99civ

So for a few months, I had some nice tire wobble on the passenger side at high speeds. I considered it 'clanking'... Felt basically like a wheel wobble but at times it seemed to feel metal to metal so I finally took the tire off and realized my tie rod looked like complete ****. Went ahead and changed the inner/outer rod on the passenger side. It felt better, alignment was way off but drove it to work for a couple days to determine it's success.

Here's where it get's quite annoying. It felt much better at "all speeds" and outside of the alignment being whack, I barely felt any shake in the steering wheel. A few days later the wobble/clanking was slowly making its way back. It's hard to explain it but I will make it as detailed as possible even to the point of taking pictures, video, and even drawings if need be and requested.

The steering play came back fully a couple days ago, if not even worse than before. First it was just when the steering wheel was tilted to the passenger(right) side slightly. A full turn does not do anything, just a slight tilt = wobble/clanking. Then it started during stopping but only when the wheel was slightly tilted to the left, which was correcting the alignment, because the car would pull to the right on stops so if I corrected it by holding it to the left'sh position, = wobble/clanking. Both of these proceeded to get worse as the days went on, even on low mph roads to work 45 and below. As this proceeded to get worse, so did the whole scenario as now the car completely is wobbling/clanking again at most speeds and most importantly, on de-acceleration. I have to consider it "steering" play over suspension because of the how the "steering" affects it...

Here are some quick notes...

- When at a stop and I wiggle the steering wheel back and forth slightly/rapidly, it clanks both ways...
- Passenger side tire has a fair amount of wear versus the rest. Even some marks inside the fender wells that looks like the tire has worn(maybe from before the tie rod was replaced..)
- Both front wheels have 10 and 2 oclock place and also at 8 and 4 oclock with the car jacked up in the air.
- I do not see any loss of power steering fluid though.

Any help appreciated guys... This is my DD and it sucks when your project slammed/no interior is a more comfy ride... Thanks again.

99civ

Oh yeah.. Specs....

1997 Honda Civic DX 4dr
110,000 miles
New CV's(last 2 years)
New drivers side tie rods(last 2 years)

99civ

bump

Tyson

lift the car on jack stands.

get underneath and shake everything. find where there is play.

also tighten the steering rack gearbox. it requires a very large wrench to loosen the lock ring, channel lock pliers work.

99civ

Got underneath it and pulled on ****... both CV's had some play. Drivers-side tie rod had a slight give also. Here's my problem, I've been through some CV's in my day and 100% of the time(till now) they have had "bad" symptoms on sharp short slow turns... My 97 makes NO noise on slow turns what-so-ever and only has effects, at a 35mph and above. I'm lost. I mean the CV's are fairly new(last 2 years) and tie rod on the drivers side is the same and passneger side is brand new. Could it be the trans? Are their trans bearing primarily concerned with the cv's? Car shifts fine, automatic. This **** has me and anyone I've talked to in a mind warp.

Tyson

your steering issues are not axle issues. youre focusing on the wrong thing.

go back and figure out the play on the rack itself, and the tie rods.

are the rack boots torn? if they are, its given the rack needs to be rebuilt.

dont ignore what i said about tightening the gearbox either.

99civ

As far as steering mechanisms... The only thing with a "little play" is my drivers side tie rod. Outside of that, I'm not getting any play from anything by my axles...

99civ

http://images.neoriginal.ru/index.ph...119c97c24fa37d


Which is the gearbox nut?

sxysweed

#16 should be the nut. Adjusting tool is Honda Part Number 07916-SA50001 WRENCH (40MM) ($25-40).

99civ

Looking for 10 mins, I cant find #16... I literally see everything but 16.

92civiceg9gsr

^ bottom right hand corner of the pic. Its a large lock nut that locks the steering rack preload adjuster.

99civ

Okay I see it now. I'll get under the car in a little and check it. Can someone touch on why it needs tightened if it hasn't been loosened?

Tyson

gears wear.

99civ

Here's a good write up for anyone in the same question. I haven't done it yet so we'll see if it fixes anything.


http://civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=...a0fe3e76d0ba3c

Tyson

honda tool pr0n!



lol

speedjunkie_g35

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/diy-how-fix-your-loose-steering-problems-3095792/

99civ

Thanks... I'm going to order the wrench plus do my driver side tie rods/ball joints so 'everything' is newer and do the wrench rack adjustment and just hope. I need an alignment, which I know, but I can't and won't have an alignment with this much still wrong. It'd be dumb money because I'd have to have it re-done if anything were "wrong" etc. Thanks again guys.

Tyson

you know channel lock pliers or a large adjustable wrench work just fine for that lock nut...

99civ

Right. I was thinking of that today. My biggest wrench now is a 1" or a 21 mill.

speedjunkie_g35

They were to large to fit in the small space for me in my 94 civic with a manual rack. I wasnt complaining though for 30 bucks because I was almost ready to buy a new rack.

99civ

So, I did the steering nut and it did... tighten my steering up, maybe a little bit at max... Fixed not a whole lot of my issues if any at all. Small points that are getting worse... Car feels to wheel wobble/clank at higher speeds, car feels same wobble/clank when coming to a stop, car particularly does the same on a slight right nudge/turn of the wheel(still), a full turn is fine, and it all seems to be rotational/drivetrain/steering based. It feels to be coming from very close to my feet/my pedals when I'm driving. ... Have play from both wheels in the air anywhere from 10 to 2 oclock and down to the bottom, 8 and 4 also. No play at 12/6. Lost. About to take it to honda and pay the diagnosis fee or whatever they charge.

Tyson

sounds like your tie rod is loose then. replace that.

99civ

Yeah I will replace my driver side one day this week... but... I just replaced my passenger side so I should not have any play at all, which is what is confusing me. Also, this is a question I've never asked, but since tie rods don't necessarily 'rotate' - why would I have rotational play? I understand the tie rod is steering related so that involves some of my issue but if its a 'rotating noise' then I could be looking at more once this tie rod(s) are done? I would rather the bottom end throw a rod then have to deal with this ****. It's starting to making me think to just blow it up and get my money for it, I need a hail storm in Ohio stat.

Edit: And by rotational play, I mean while driving, etc.

Tyson

if you have play when shaking at 3 and 9, its a tie rod.

i dont know what you mean by rotational play.

99civ

It clanks in a rotational pattern, especially when coming to a stop/braking... Almost sounds like a flat tire but more centralized and under my car. Here's an example:

From 20mp to 0mph, if I lightly apply the brake or just slow down with no acceleration, the clanking will also slow down. Does that help the "rotational" make sense? I have some **** to get done tomorrow(main drain in house keeps backing up) but I will attempt to do my drivers side tie rod and go from there.