I have a 90 model Civic Sedan and there is a popping noise coming from the front passenger side of the suspension. It is right where that bolt that bolts the fork on the bottom of the strut to the suspension. The rubber bushing that the bolt goes thru is cracked but doesn't look THAT bad. The car was hit before I bought it right in the wheel and crunched in the top of the fender and I'm assuming that is what has caused it. Guess I don't recall hearing it when I bought it. I've replaced the upper and lower ball joints not too long ago but the rubber boot that is on them both is torn. Can anybody imagine where that pop may be coming from?

 

Theres a few moveing parts there its hard to say.. maybe take a few pics? Under what conditions does it happen? When did it start?

 

It happens most of the time in a left hand turn or like when its been sitting in the driveway and I back out and get ready to go forward. Almost sounds like bolt threads slipping across something and then at times like a ball joint type of pop. I think all of the bolts are tight but it really sounds like one loose and pop, pop, pop, pop across something like one is loose or something. As far as pics, the only thing to tkae a pic of would be the torn rubber boot on the ball joint.

 

Sounds like your half shaft...reach in there and grabahold if the shaft and try to turn it... not push or pull.. turn forward and backwrd twoard the front and rear of the car, there should be ZERO play in that movement..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM Panda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds like your half shaft...reach in there and grabahold if the shaft and try to turn it... not push or pull.. turn forward and backwrd twoard the front and rear of the car, there should be ZERO play in that movement..</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't believe stock civics have half shafts... Anyways, it could also be that your radius rod is loose on your lower control arm. That's what mine was and it similar symptoms...

 

I've replaced both cv axles, upper and lower ball joints, struts, calipers and discs on both sides. I had someone else mention it could be the bushings in those rods but the mechanic said they were tight. Maybe they're broken internally? He used one of the stethoscopes like doctor's use and he said is was most promanent when he put it on that bolt that bolts the fork on the bottom of the stut to the suspension.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've replaced both cv axles, upper and lower ball joints, struts, calipers and discs on both sides. I had someone else mention it could be the bushings in those rods but the mechanic said they were tight. Maybe they're broken internally? He used one of the stethoscopes like doctor's use and he said is was most promanent when he put it on that bolt that bolts the fork on the bottom of the stut to the suspension. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Odd... Have you taken that bolt out to make sure it's not broken? You could possibly have that bolt too tight causing the fork to put too much pressure on the bushing and causing it to bind and it can't flex like it needs to...

 

my crx is doing the same thing but can't find the problem i have replaced the lower control arm bushings cause they were bad but notin. i had 15's on at the time and when i went to my 14s the noise still was there just not as bad. like it didn't pop when making a right turn but left it did also hitting bumps it did it some time. my camber is off really bad but thats do to the b16a swap. i figure its my ball joints but i have shocks and spring issues as well so i'm goin to replace everything at once. it wierd it sounds like a cv axle but its not i replaced them 3 time on both sides whether it need it or not. which it didn't. i wish i could help but im in the same boat.

 

Hmmmmm. Well if I stumble upon the problem I'll report it. That was a good idea about the bolt but I swear it was popping before I replaced the struts. I'll have the mechanic that I use take that bolt out and check it when I have him replace the lower ball joint. The boot it torn and he says that shouldn't be an issue but my position is that if it shouldn't cause an issue why did they put rubber boots on them in the first place.

 

Im assummimng you have coilovers, My buddy has some cheap no name brand of coilovers and his car pops also. Not saying it is your coilovers just putting in my two cents.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmmmmm. Well if I stumble upon the problem I'll report it. That was a good idea about the bolt but I swear it was popping before I replaced the struts. I'll have the mechanic that I use take that bolt out and check it when I have him replace the lower ball joint. The boot it torn and he says that shouldn't be an issue but my position is that if it shouldn't cause an issue why did they put rubber boots on them in the first place. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, like I said, also make sure he doesn't tighten it too much. They are not supposed to be tight, just snug.

 

No coilovers. It's just a sedan that I put some 17s on and 40 series tires and a catback system. That's about it. He certainly may have tightened the bolt too tight though! Thanks.

 

steering rack end bushing. https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1117870

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">steering rack end bushing. https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1117870</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dang, I didn't even think about that. I'd bet that's it for sure.

 

I printed all of the thread on the rack and am taking it to the guy that found the noise coming from the bolt. When I called him he said it wasn't the bolt that goes thru the fork on the bottom of the strut. He said it goes through the cradle into the body. Where ever bolt that is! I'm headed over there now so he can show me. He didn't think though that the popping sound he heard on that bolt would reverberate from the rack to that bolt though. If you guys know what bolt he is referring to please chime in. Remember it was hit right in the wheel and crunched in the top of the fender above the wheel before I bought it. I was thinking this popping may very well be the result of that but I don't recall hearing it until I went from the stock 70 series tires and 13" wheels to the 17s and 40 series tires. Not that that would matter.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> He said it goes through the cradle into the body. </TD></TR></TABLE>

loose subframe bolt?

thats what it sounds like he's trying to say. have you even looked under the car?

do you have the capability to raise the car on jackstands and take off a wheel to do your own troubleshooting?


Modified by Tyson at 12:52 PM 7/10/2006

 

I'm freakin stumped...

 

Yeah I've looked under it and tried to tighten most everything I could get a wrench on. Several of them were kinda loose but not too bad. Just got back from the guy that put the ball joints and struts in and he pointed out the bolt he heard the majority of the sound coming from and it is the one that is kinda right in front of the boot on the rack and bolts right into the body of the car. The bolt goes in like from the bottom towards the top of the engine kind of direction. I'm going to get under it and make sure it is tight but it looks like it was one of the ones that I checked before. He said if it were broken or cracked it would fall out. Many times it sounds just like the threads on a bolt popping one at a time on the edge of something if you can imagine what that would sound like then sometimes its just one or two pops.

 

ohhhh that was a good call on the rack!!:Thumb up:

 

So just so I understand. The bushing on the end of the rack can cause a popping noise like a bad ball joint?

 

does the popping noise go away if u hit the gas hard when turn or if u coast throw a turn do the noise stop. on my crx pops only when u have ur foot on the gas to make the turn. but if u hit the gas, or just let off the gas, it stops the noise

just woundering

 

It actually pops either way. One guy suggested when it got hit that somewhere where the body is welded together it broke loose at a weld. I'll be damned if I can find a place where that happened! I'm just hoping its not the flippin rack! I don't have the time or guts to try what was previously recommended to get to that bushing on the end of it if that it what is causing it. I understand you almost have to pull the engine to replace the rack in a sedan. I do know for sure that the sound is coming from the bolt that bolts the cradle to the body.

 

my poping noise never happened in tell i put the b16a so i figure that something is under stress. i mean the motor weighs 200lb more than a d-series. plus my steering is so bad like if u let go of the wheel i throws the car to the right hardcore. i figure i need new ball joints and i looked at my rack about 2 weeks ago and i had a bolt misssing i though i would have fixxed the problem but know. when i put the different wheels and tires on every thing change. the popong doesn't accure when i turn left but right it does. plus when i m driving and i hit a bump the wheel jerks left or right. i have to hold the wheel steady if i drive it. the min i shift and lets off the gas the car want to straighten out and and jerk bac and forth. if i punch it, the car get so loose its scary. its like a snake i have to make sure that there is no cars beside me cause it wants to jump into the other lane or off the road. i know the alignment is off bad but the popings no from the alignment so i figure my ball joints and may be rack bushings but i dought it. i have helped with 5 swaps 4 of them where 88-91 crx and civics but never seen any thing like it. i did pull the wheel off and i could see where the spendel had beeen rubbing on the spring but i don't know whats alllowing it the rub. i just figure i need new upper and lower ball joints and will i'm doing that i might as well replace struts and spring and get and camber kit and have it aligned. i hope u can figure out what it is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So just so I understand. The bushing on the end of the rack can cause a popping noise like a bad ball joint? </TD></TR></TABLE>


to check for a bad steering reck bushing just jack the car up lock the steering wheel and shake each wheel and if there is a knocking noise that is the problem...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b16crexster &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


to check for a bad steering reck bushing just jack the car up lock the steering wheel and shake each wheel and if there is a knocking noise that is the problem... </TD></TR></TABLE>

i don't think thats going to make the knocking noise just by shaking the wheel. its a loud noise the car want to jerk when it does it. i put my car on jack stand and started it up and put it in 1st and let the wheel spin and i turned the wheel and there was no noise its like there some thing under stress. i'm not saying ur wrong but its like there some thing keeping it from turning but if u force it to turn its fine. but u never know u could be dead on. its just why would the rack mess up after u do a swap. even tho the op didn't do a swap but my car was fine before i would say balljoints or some things. but u could be dead on. it is something worth checking out!