All,
I replaced my front struts today with KYB cheapies. The look identical to the OEMs. The the OEM still move smooth and they seem to be ok.

But I install the KYB being that I bought them and I already took everything apart.

So I still have this clunking noise, even after I was told by a mechanic it was the struts.

So any ideas what it could be? The bushings were replaced fairly recently by the last owner.

I'm wondering if the strut top hats are installed correctly. The pattern on the shock tower prevents the top hat from being installed incorrectly right? I used white out to mark the spring to the top hat so they would line up the way they came off. But now I believe they might have been aligned incorrectly, being the OEM struts seem OK.

Whats your take? The clunking sounds only come when you run over bumps. The car sounds like a **** box. I hope to God this isn't normal. I know Honda has gone down hill over the years but this is pathetic.

What the hell was wrong with the double wishbone setup that worked so well?

Thanks all

 

What bushings? It is a common problem that the lower control arm front compliance bushing tear and cause a clunk noise. Check those again.

 

Yeah the LCA bushings were replaced recently. I'm going to look over this again today.

Bump..

 

bump skiddy bump skiddy bump

 

No bumping.

Also, it is probably the tophats that are installed incorrectly. You need to make sure they are lubed properly and they are facing the correct direction.

Just because they will fit one way does not mean you have them correct.

 

The bolt pattern on the top-hat/strut tower only allows for the struts to be installed one way. The arrows stamped on the hats are pointing in. The "Bearings" are good and lubed, and all the bolts are torqued to spec. Is there something special you have to do with the bearings?

There is a rubber liner that fits into the top hat that the spring is seated in. That looked to be in good shape.

The dealer installed the last set of shocks and I marked with whiteout the position of the spring relative to the top-hat, so I don't think they are installed incorrectly.

Keep in mind the noise existed before I replaced the struts.

I beginning to think that there might be something wrong with the LCA. Are there wear points (bushings?) on the rear two mounting positions?

If so can they be replaced easily? Can I do the old burn them out and vice them in?

TIA

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fiveten &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What bushings? It is a common problem that the lower control arm front compliance bushing tear and cause a clunk noise. Check those again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How easy/hard is it to replace those comliance bushings? and which's bushings are they?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LatinEM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

How easy/hard is it to replace those comliance bushings? and which's bushings are they? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Part 12. I've never replaced them but I know there is a TSB out there for them I think the book rate is 1.5 hours. Not sure though.
http://www.slhondaparts.com/br...=true

 

improperly indexed

 

Just wondering if you have found out yet what the problem was. I just changed my struts and it's making the noise too, but not as bad.

 

I have the same sound but it's coming from the rears. With stock blown front struts only 40k miles on them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LatinEM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

How easy/hard is it to replace those comliance bushings? and which's bushings are they? </TD></TR></TABLE>

anyone have a walk through for this? where these bushings ever recalled?

 

So I disconnected the endlinks on the front sway bar.. no noise! finally!! but there wasn't any play in the links that i could detect. I am going to replace the links and look over the mounting bushings on the sway.

I wish they still used the Stack-o-Bushings type of endlinks so you can actually see the wear more so than the boot style mounts.

to replace the front compliance bushings it looks like you at least need a vice or a good ball joint press. it looks like you can rig something up to press in the bushings, like a large socket or something.

i'll post an update once i install the endlinks to see if that is really indeed the problem.. Hope this helps someone out there.

 

When you do it...you wanna take some pics and post a DIY? Looks like there is a couple of us with the same problem. Or you can just come do mine...haha.

 

I changed the endlinks and no noise. You don't need a DIY write up. just look at it and its pretty obvious what you have to do. Just need a 5mm allen key and a 14mm open end wrench.

Good Luck!

 

i have a clunking too, drivers side front, not too worried about it. but when i drive in the rain and turn the wheel sitting or slighty moving it pops. otherwise is clunks everynow and then with a big bump. weird how water can make it pop