I have a clunking noise in my 91 CRX Si....it's most prominent when turning to the right and braking. Brakes/rotors are new along with new front axles on the front. Can it be because of these tears in the bushings?:

 

I had a similar issue and it was my upper ball joint. It flopped all over the place with no resistance. Also check your lower ball joint. And of course since that joint has a torn boot pop it and check to make sure it feels stiff..

 

ah yea...boots, not bushings..duh, i had bushings on the brain when i posted this.

 

that sound is definately symptoms of torn boots.

 

while you had the wheel off, and had time to take pictures of a balljoint, didnt you actually try to FEEL for yourself if the balljoint or tie rod had any play???

grab a fistful of that tie rod end and shake it dude. you tell US if its got any play. how the hell can we tell you anything by looking at pictures? if you feel ANY movement, any *click*, then it needs replacement.

if you catch a torn boot fast enough, the balljoint probably isnt in bad shape. it looks like the grease is still pretty fresh, which means it probably hasnt been long enough for alot of wear to occur. you CAN just replace the boot, clean it up and regrease. but thats IF the balljoint is worth reusing. BUT YOU HAVE TO CHECK!

 

yep, i checked it and there's no give on the lowers..i'm going to have the suspension out again tonight and will try again...this time i will focus on the upper
i know more about engines than i do suspension at this point so definitely learning as i go here..thanks for the feedback

 

extend the steering rack by turning the steering wheel all the way to the left, grab the tie rod near the steering rack and push up. see if the rack end bushing is ok too.

to check the top balljoint, grab the knuckle and shake that too.

put the wheel back on, with the wheel raise, push the wheel UP and down.

then shake the wheel holding it at the 3 and 9 o clock position.


remember, any play is bad play.

 

Awesome step by step....will do this in about 5 hours.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">extend the steering rack by turning the steering wheel all the way to the left, grab the tie rod near the steering rack and push up. see if the rack end bushing is ok too.

to check the top balljoint, grab the knuckle and shake that too.

put the wheel back on, with the wheel raise, push the wheel UP and down.

then shake the wheel holding it at the 3 and 9 o clock position.


remember, any play is bad play.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

is this the steering rack bushings everyone is talking about? I have a problem with my crx also. It only happens at low speeds of 10mph or less when turning. It isn't a clicking sound but a louder "thud" or botteming out sound. i'm guessing greese leaking out of the axles causes this? near the boots theres a bunch of greese everywhere.

 

well if your axle boots are torn, then they need to be replaced.

but it doesnt mean your axles are the only thing that could use replacing on your 14-18 year old car.

yes, a bad steering rack bushing causes exactly the sounds and vibrations you described. so would bad balljoints.

 

could also be the rack adjusment.

 

how do you adjust the rack?

Also, on the boots, they look fine but some how greese is leaking around them or something and splatering everywhere.