1991 CRX EE8 vti (euro)
B16a1 turbo
Insane Shafts
Megan Racing 32-way
15x7 Drag DR21's 205/15/50

So I finally get around to lowering my car and I run into what I thought was a bad PS CV. It's been a couple months at least so I can't recall if it was making noise/vibration in a straight line, however, I know it was in a right turn. I raised it back up to roughly stock and it gave me some knuckle grief on right turns only for sure. I ordered and installed a set of Insane Shafts and at the same roughly/just below stock height, I had a very small vibration coming from underneath the car, seemingly center/trans area. I lowered the car and holy hell I thought I was gonna break something! The vibration and noise was very noticeable in both a straight line and in a turn.. Not a wobble, the steering wheel wasn't doing the shimmy, just felt like I was driving over raised ridges in the road even at an almost idle speed.

I popped the axles out and re-installed them, checked the trans fluid, didn't see any damage with the trans hub (although I'm not a trans guy, just no obvious damage), so a friend suggested the diff. But after speaking with synchrotech, they don't believe it's the diff either :/

I'm at a loss.. The closer to stock it gets the less of a problem. My only other idea is that the CV is sitting at an odd angle and putting pressure on the spline in the trans (maybe? idk). The car was aligned right after the problem initially began just to rule it out and drove straight as an arrow. I don't recall any play in the wheel as if it were a wheel bearing, but I'm gonna be back with the car tomorrow and will check again.

Sorry for the novel, just wanted to make sure and put all the info I had on it so far. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

I have the extended ball joints and they help align the cv shafts. For the price it's worth a shot for you to install and see if it solves the problem.

 

Thanks redline, I'll keep it in mind. I just got another lead to check out before I start buying parts.

 

The vibration is axle angles. What engine mounts are in it? They need to be stiff.
The radius rod bushings could be shot too allowing the wheels to flex forward in the wheel wells (caster change) on acceleration making the axle angle issue worse.

Innovative Mounts makes replacement mounts for your factory B16 car part number 19152. They also make urethane radius rod bushings part number 59103.

Hope this helps.

 

I was told that it could also be my rack and pinion bearings going bad, but haven't had a chance to look at it. I'll take another look at the engine mounts but the radius bushings are good. Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

 

I agree that the axle angles are not agreeing with the lowered setup. It sounds like Redline has some good insight on it.

 

You mention that when the ride height is returned to near stock, the vibration diminishes. If increasing the drop increases the vibration, it sounds like the axle angle is too great.

Have you found the solution (like the extended ball joints mentioned earlier) since you last posted?

 

No, I haven't resolved the issue as of yet. The problem is just time and space. Ordering parts takes 2-3 weeks to get here, not including the issues I had ordering from innovative, but doing everything on the floor is not happening right now due to an injury. So I had to take it to a shop and rack it, needs more stuff done so I ordered parts and just having them do it so I can get it rolling again.

The PS axle is just a hair too long, which I didn't catch the difference when I checked before installing. It installed fine and locked in place, just didn't have any play in the shaft once the hub was on. As soon as I got under it on the rack I was like.. damnit. But I got a new one, new boots and bushings, replacing the linkage while I'm at it, replacing the seal, and also putting in new motor mounts (innovative with stiffer bushings), and new brake lines. Once the parts are all on I'll lower and try again.

 

PS axle shaft too long? You mean it wasn't seating against the shaft seal properly? That will do it. I had a similar issue and replace with mfactory race axles. The input shaft was 2-3mm too long and the c-clip on the end seated but kept coming loose from the vibration. It's not your motor mounts. And definitely get the extended ball joints because that will realign your axle shaft angle.

 

Just drove it, not lowered, handled fine. The mounts don't even fit the car, glad I wasted so much time getting them. The linkage doesnt work either, this edm stuff is for the birds.. the spline was too long by the same. We'll see how it acts when I lower it.

 

If the axle shaft is too long it won't affect it as much until you lower it and the angle changes. Then the noise will come back. Change your axle shaft and you'll be fine.

 

Interesting while searching i came across this thread.

I just installed a set of insane shaft axles on my jdm itr 36mm setup and i too am experiencing the same vibration upon acceleration.. never had a single issue before

OP, any updates on your issue?

 

My bad, thought I came back and updated it.. the resolution was that the shafts were too long by about 3mm. Mine is an EDM b16a1 in an ee8 crx. Apparently you have the same issue on your jdm b18c. The way to verify this is the case is to remove the axles and measure them both while compressing them, and measure your stock ones. You'll probably notice a small difference. If they match and you're sure the length isn't the problem, then the extended ball joints mentioned above may be an option to consider to resolve it. Hope that helps!