My wife has a bone stock 2009 civic si coupe that has begun making an odd noise from the right rear. The noise does not change with speed or gear. It seems to come and go at random though it will sometimes stop with turns. At first I thought it was something rattling inside the car, but it is very loud outside of the car and is occurring more and more frequently. What can I check to narrow this down/are there any known issues...

on a side note.. I am a huge fan of all things Honda and have constantly told her that her civic will outlast both of us though she has her doubts... and this is causing her to be a little nervous. I hope to prove to her that it is nothing and that my faith in Honda's inability to break is well founded.


Thanks!

 

Wheel bearing or brakes?

 

I checked brakes and everything looked kosher. The noise also does not come and go with brake application. I have been thinking wheel bearing, but would that vary with speed?

 

Yeah a wheel bearing will vary at speed, sometimes you can feel a bad bearing by swerving and putting all the weight of the car on that wheel.

I take my cars with suspected bearing problems on the interstate and listen carefully while doing swerving motions.

Find a nice smooth highway and try it.

 

It wouldn't be a wheel bearing if it happens random. Maybe a pebble is stuck between the rotor and dust shield. Or rust from the rotors may be rubbing on something.

 

camber? you check the tire wear?

 

06-10 civics are terrible for diagonal sweeping(chopping) on the inside edges of the tires. it's an issue with the upper link arm and the degree of camber it has. Even with the countermeasured arms offered through honda, it still happens. best advise would be to keep up on rotation/alignment checks etc. or get adjustable links and go that route.