Within a day of each other, my 94 civic developed two symptoms:

1. When I back up, especially when cold, there is a strange groaning, almost hydraulic-sounding noise coming from somewhere around the front driver's side wheel. Sometimes it doesn't do it once the car has warmed up.

2. A metallic rattling/maybe grinding sound also sometimes comes from the same general area when driving. Sometimes going over a bump will start it, sometimes it starts on its own, but so far it has only done it while I'm moving.

Yesterday jacked the front end up, checked for back-and-forth movement of the wheel, there was none. The hub nut is not getting hot and is not loose. I took apart the brake, the pads are a little worn, but nowhere near causing problems and the disk looks fine.

I found rear hub bearing assemblies, but it looks like they don't make one for the front, so I would rather get some additional thoughts before resorting to taking it to a mechanic.

 

Is it making a clicking noise when you turn corners? There is a bearing in the front pressed into the knuckle. Usually a bad bearing makes a hell of a growl sound. Any video that you can post?

 

1. Maybe the power steering pump?

2. possibly a wheel bearing, does it shake, esp when accelerating?

 

It makes a sound every now and then when I turn sharply to the left, but I would describe it as more of a chunk. I'll post videos either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Edit: It's shook for a while when I get up to 80 mph, but I haven't noticed any shaking other than that. My power steering fluid was pretty low the other day and I filled it up. I'll check and see if it's getting lower again.

 

Clunking on corners is a shot CV axle/joint... cheaper to replace the entire axle. Is the CV boot ripped or grease leaking out?

 

I hope you're using honda-spec powersteering fluid. Honda uses organic seals and other p/s fluid is not compatible. Using atf is even worse than non honda spec fluid. These other fluid will destroy all your rack seals in no time.

 

Here is a video with both noises, plus a squeal from a belt I need to tighten.

I used Honda PS fluid, but these noises started before then so that wouldn't be the problem anyway. The CV joint is not ripped or leaking.

 

It's a little hard to hear from the video, but there is the constant groan when backing up, a belt squeal (not part of this problem), then a quieter noise once I start driving almost like ball bearings rolling around the bottom of a glass jar.