Hey guys, I took my EF7 for its first test run a few days ago since buying it and just now again since buying it recently.

I noticed the car runs and drives very well STRAIGHT, no noises, bumps etc, drives great like a new car. But when I make a turn (Ive only done 10-15mph turns since Im just driving around my block) it makes a clicking/ticking noise coming from the front end. It only starts making the noise when you turn the wheel maybe a quarter turn, makes the noise constantly while you are turning, and stop instantly when the wheel comes almost back to center.

It makes the noise turning both left and right. To my ear it sounds like an axle noise and definetely from the front of the car.

I had the entire front end apart, changed most of everything, new upper and lower control arms, lower ball joint, outer tie rods, springs and struts, calipers, rotors, pads, rack end bushing. But I never touched the axles, they seemed in fine shape. And I never removed them from the transmission.

Is there a chance I maybe pulled them out of place while doing all of this front end work and didnt set them right upon reassembly? I did go for a short test drive in the car when I bought it 2 months or so ago, and I dont recall this noise. So I am thinking it is something I have done.

Any help on diagnosis would be greatly appreciated! From what I searched, new axles for an EF7 with dohc zc are SPENDY

 

I have the same problem. it has to be the axle cuz i replaced the passenger(short axle) side but kept driver's(long axle) side and now it only makes noise while turning on the driver's side. new axles should fix it.

 

outer CV joint on the axle. This is the common symptom when they start to go. Replacing the axle will fix it.

 

Im pretty sure its your axles, I had a similar issue.

 

100% sure its your axles. It maybe look fine but its your outer cv joint.
Easy to replace

 

Not cheap on a JDM Ef7 car though, the dohc zc uses different axles and they are brutally expensive.

I dont even see any for sale online right now

 

If I was to get a shop to rebuild them, would that fix it? Or is something broken/worn inside the axle

I dont know what rebuilding an axle actually entails

 

If they use new parts it should fix it.

 

its just that one part of the axle thats making the noise.
Its the bearing/ball thats in side that part.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...mLcKt6IoFWHw3Q

look at the link should give you the answer.
no need for a shop to do it.
much cheaper if you do it.

 

Well its not like I lost grease or anything my boots are perfect, I think it had to do with dropping the car 3"

 

Found this pic, do you guys think this is legit?? I didnt notice any rings on my ef7 knuckles when replacing my balljoints, but I wasnt really looking either

 

I had to remove the dust rings when I did a B series swap in my EF because they rubbed, (but I don't remember doing anything with the green rings) so yes, that pic seems accurate to me. And if you can use the 90-93 DA axles, the replacements should be pretty cheap.

 

Ya Im just looking for clarification that they actually work trouble free, I read a thread were a guy said his teg axles popped out when he made full lock turns. Id obviously like to avoid that