Alright so upfront I am very new to this and need suggestions on what to replace or repair next. I have a 91 civic si with a b18 swap, I tore the inner cv boot and changed it two days later because it would knock and pull the car to the right REALLY hard (like almost off the road or into a semi... fun). I know initially from what I looked up it didn't seem like a inner cv boot could cause anything more than the knocking with how short I think it was torn. So that was my first plan of attack, I got out the Google and my Haynes manual (...I'm not growing fond of that book, hardly helpful) and changed my first cv boot. Axle and cv joint, everything looked visually fine. Went to drive today and it still knocks, not quite as bad but very little difference. So I am hoping someone will for the love of Honda's offer me some places to look.

A few notes...

-When I pulled the axle out, no fluid at all came out, didn't seem right. Does this mean fluid is empty or low or are the LS trannies different somehow? (still shifts perfectly fine)

-When I am driving over like 40mph, the car will start to jerk to the right, like it turns the steering wheel in my hands and jerks repeatedly to where I have had to muscle it back on the road, it happened three or four times and I haven't had the guts to hit the interstate since! It also knocks really bad.

-I am quite possibly the newest EF owner out there, feel free to explain things like I'm 5 ha ha ha! No offense taken, I just want to know what to look for. New axles? Something specific in the steering or alignment?


Thanks a ton, I honestly would have lit my first hatch on fire without this forum!!!

 

Haha, No worries bro. Everybody is new at one point or another.
From what it sounds like:
-The clicking is your Axle, Just put in a new.
-The pulling/Jerking is alignment, have it looked at. check your tires and see how they are wearing.
Dont worry about no fluid comming out, ive never had any either. Doesnt mean you shouldnt check it out, but its probably fine
Good luck with the 18 man. They can be sooo much fun.

 

How are your brakes? Once on my old Bronco a little clip on a pad broke and it kept rubbing and long story short, check your brakes. Maybe that's causing it to grab and jerk, it's exactly what my truck did.

 

there should be some fluid coming out. Mine always have. Not a huge amount, but there should be some that dribbles out.

 

Thanks a ton man, I was kind of worried about the fluid. I wish I could afford to just swap axles, maybe a few weeks. I'll check alignment and see what comes up there.

 

I didn't even think about the brakes, I guess it makes sense, grabbing = brakes. I'll check.

 

Something could be loose or worn in the suspension otherwise. Just another thing to check. I wouldn't drive that car around in that shape...

 

Okay so I think it is to do with the brakes. Is it possible for the rotor to get bent or something? When it jerks it's like it jerks on the same spot during rotation, and of course gets faster and slower as I speed up and slow down.

 

Check the Wheel Bearing they commonly go out between 90,000-130,000 miles. It's like clock work. All 4 cars at the same mileage.

Might be worth a look before you start buying axles. Wheel bearings will set you back ~$55

 

Thats just the cost of the bearings them selfs. then you need to press them in

 

i just had the same problem 3 days ago, i ended up breaking my driver side axle completely off the shaft that fits into the tranny cuz i kept diving with those noises...so STOP! just replace the axle/s and be on your way. if its the wheelbearing, you can jack up the front, have someone give it gas and change thru gears getting the speed up, and if its the wheelbearing it will whine or groan as the wheel turns, or might wobble just a bit. if it doesnt, check your outer tie rod ends, rack end bushing, all that good stuff. usually when axles bust the cv boot, something is causing it. they are binding up by the description u gave...

 

Thanks for the input, I'm on the road until the 2nd when I will be digging into this, I want to to be able to drive my car when I have home time ha ha! I don't think it is the wheel bearing, I've heard those going out before and it is not grinding or whining. It's definately a very loud knock that speeds up and slows down obviously with the car. Would low tranny fluid cause any of these things? Just wondering because of the lack of fluid running out.

 

My Both wheel bearings when out darn near the same time, one at 115K and the other at 120K go figure!

It made no real noise. I felt it in the steering wheel (like "warped rotors") and definitely pulled the car to one side above 40mph.

I'm not saying it's definitely the wheel bearing, it could very well be the axle. But it happened to me and it ended up being the wheel bearing. Just add the wheel bearing to the list of things to check.