GF's car... 97 Civic LX, equipped with automatic transmission (HondaMatic sounds cooler, the name used in their automatic motorcycles) sends that Honda D16 power to the front wheels. 14x,xxx miles.

She's had a clicking or ticking sound coming from the front end of the car on turns.

I took it (with her riding along) to a local big empty parking lot and went in some tight circles, and sure enough tick tick tick/click click click.

The sound is a 'light' sound, kind of metallic, and I'm thinking the CV shafts are worn and the internals (***** and bearing cage/'bagels'/races) have excess clearance.

Her dad isn't sure but thinks it could be ball joints. I don't want this to be a 'told ya so' thread, but ball joints don't constantly move on a turn- only when the steering wheel turns. Any way to check these out?
-Matt

 

Very common description of a bad axle. Are the CV boots ruptured?

 

I had that same problem. it was the crown on the tie rod end was loose so when i turned it would click

 

They were... she got the CV boots replaced last year. $80.

 

problem fixed?

 

just replace axles, it cost me $120 for both - much better than replacing boots. jack the wheel up and wobble the wheel horizontally and vertically, does it move?

 

it sounds like the axles are bad. does it do it when turning both ways or just one way?

 

thats what my cv's did when they went out. on turns only...

 

both ways, clicks only on turns and while in motion.

the CV boots were replaced about a year ago.

 

you get it taken care of man? My hatch is having the same trouble, replaced my 6 month old axle with a new one, warranty ftw!, but it still clicks. Now i'm stumped, going to try to check the crown on the tie rod today as Yonick90 suggested.

 

dirt/moisture may have already gotten in the joints and started the wearing process. I had cracks in the outer boots on both axles and the honda dealer kept telling me to replace them which I kept on driving for at least another 75k miles then the driver's side finally busted and threw that crap everywhere. I had bought a set of oem axles w/ 50k miles off here from a guy who did a swap so that should at least give me another 100k if they last like the original ones did.

but +1 more on the axles... mileage wise she is right in there with the cv joints going bad. If I remember correctly mine had 150k or so when I swapped out my axles.