Ok so I just got a 1994 honda civic coupe dx a few weeks ago and it has a knock or rattle from the passenger side even going over bumps. But I can also get it to make the sound at a stop if I just move the steering wheel back and forth. And yesterday for the hell of it parked the car left it running E-break off and grabbed one wheel at the time to try and turn them. The drivers side did not turn the the passenger side did a slight bit and made the knocking sound. I would like to figure out what it is and get it fixed. Because it also seems to me that when I've been driving in the snow the car will sway back and forth I have a feeling it's because the passengers side has the play in it.
So is or ball joins or tie rod ends? What do y'all think?
It has new struts on it from PO put on back in August.
Thanks for the help!

 

135 views and no one has any ideas? Lol

 

Could be CV joints, could be broken sway bar linkage rattling on bumps, could be any number of things.

I think your "Play" you experienced might have to do with not having a limited slip differential.

To see what your issue is, you will need to lift the front of the car onto stands and inspect your front suspension. Everything from control arms, to tie rods to sway bar linkage. If all of that is tight, then do the 12 o'clock 6 o'clock and the 3 o'clock 9 o'clock test for your wheel bearings. If that's tight then your knocking could very well be worn CV joints that need replacing.

 

tierod ends or the inners

no that "play" is cause of worn out tierods..

 

After re-reading I see where I went astray.... Mental image of spinning the wheel, misconstrued "turning" the wheel.

In my defense, I did suggest lifting the car and checking the tightness of everything, the loose tie rod should be pretty apparent during the shake down inspection.

Thanks for the correction.

 

my civic sounded like it was going to fall apart going over bumps when I first go it turned out to be the inn tie-rods.

 

Thanks for the replies!
I did a little looking with it on the ground it looks like tier or ends you can see where they come together it's bowing if that makes sense. So going to replace the passenger side tie rods then do the drivers at a later date along with sway bar links and bushings.
Is there anything else I should go ahead and do when I do the other stuff?

 

I just went though the same thing with my DX, I would go ahead and replace the inner while your there, they don't cost that much and the front end will fill a lot tighter.

 

Well it turns out that the steering rack is what's making the sound. So I need a new steering rack will a hatch back or 4 door manual rack work?
And I wanna stay manual rack I don't want power steering. No point I'd probably delete it with an engine swap down the road.

 

Also to post pics so y'all can see what's going on do I just put them on photobucket and then attach the link here like other forums.

 

post on photobucket, click the little "picture" icon on this post, and use the direct link.

 

[IMG]fgbfmcgbswappediscool[/IMG] like that

 

This, and it reminds me that I have to change mine one of these days too.

OP- Now would a be a good time to do anything you would normally do with the wheel off, and since it's a good idea to get an alignment you could consider replacing all of your bushings if they are worn. Not like you won't already be under the fender where they are at anyways....

 

Lol...yeah, replace your bushings since youre under the fender. When you do an oil change, you might as well port the head and do a full bottom end build...the hood is already open anyway.

Bushings are difficult and extremely time consuming. I would recommend burning the car to the ground before doing bushings. That's how much work it is.

Anyway, OP, make sure you replace whatever NEEDs replacement. You ideally only want to get an alignment once (unless you have unlimited alignments).

 

I'm going to do drivers side tie rods this week then get the alignment. And have the shop look at the rack and pinion which is part of the knock tie rods are part of it too.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m634/shorty2tall/0223D66C-99D5-4D57-B4E2-5D81B73E4DAA.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m634/shorty2tall/B6C9720E-9A67-4B99-985E-429E186C3B4E.jpg

You can see I'm the pics the shaft that's going in the to the steering rack I'm not sure what that shaft is called but it's where the inner tie rod connects has like 1/4 inch play up and down is there a seal or anything that goes there? Or do I need a new rack?

 

Hello?!?!? Anyone have anything for me on the rack play?