Ok long story short i picked up a 96 civic cx hatchback. It came with no power steering as i believe they did not come with power steering. It had the same squeel when you turn the steering wheel with the maual rack. So i went down to the local junk yard and had a 99 civic power steering conversion put on. I left with the steering sound pretty much fixed besides a bad alighnment but the sound was gone. A few days later the sound comes back. I looked at the power steering resivour and the hose from the pump to the resivour had a small tear and was leaking. So since the tear was right at the end of the hose i pulled it out and cut that portion of the hose off and put it back on the pump. I tried to bleed the air out by turning the wheel left to right all way to lock about 20 times and it seems bled cause theres no real bubling or foaming going on in the resivour but the stupid sound is there when i turn the steering wheel. It sounds like metal grinding on metal its real loud and annoying. One note i took is when its on my driveway and i turn the steering wheel with the motor running the sound is not nearly as much as when the car is level. It might squeak just a lil bit here and there as im turning the wheel but when its level its a night mare. I still have good power assistance and the power steering seems to be working but i think i narrowed the sound to the new power stearing rack. I hope its not bad but it did come from the junk yard. If anyone has any input on what i should try or check lmk thanks.

 

Is it a squeal or a squeak? If it's a squeak and the noise was present with the manual steering rack, I would look towards your ball joints.

For a squeal, I don't know.

 

bushings probably.

 

Its more a loud squeak! between the sound of old rubber/ metal grinding.

Another note io took is that even going straight and going over little bumps here and there on the road the squeak is there ! so it does it when the suspension goes up and down and when i turn the steering wheel. Im starting to think could it be lower ball joints? i tried stepping on the side of the door jam and using my weight to bounce the car up and down but i don't hear the squeak its when i turn the wheel whether if its at a full stop or rolling.

 

You probably have a rock stuck between your rotor and it's backing plate, or the rotor is contacting the backing plate when you turn.

The lug nuts on your wheel are probably loose.

 

Ok I'm pretty sure its the lower ball joints now from more research on the symptoms of bad ball joints, i found this video that has the same exact sound and issue as my car so every one says it is his lower ball joints!

 

So i jacked up the car and i poked a hole in the rubber boot of the ball joint and inserted a straw and sprayed wd40 inside and pulled out the garage and the sound is gone so the ball joints need to be replaced even worse whoever put them on diddnt put the coder pin in smh!



Also my left head light likes to not come on and i have to keep flicking the head lights on and off for it to come on, Im thinking its the cheap *** hid lights i got on but idk.

 

I seriously hope you understand you need to park the car until the ball joint is repaired.

If not for your own safety, for the safety of everyone else you encounter on the road.

 

Cool, glad you got it figured out.

 

I under stand it can give but at this point i have no choice i need to drive to work till i can get to it next weak.

 

A pickle fork, a gear puller, and a hammer (all of which can be purchased extremely cheap) makes that a 20 minute job, and the part costs $5-$10.

No excuses.

 

Well I just ended up buying a set of snap ring pliers and the part and used a hammer to knock it out and knocked the new one in with a big socket. I could of rented the tool but i diddnt have $100 to rent it so it was fine. Now i just need to figure out why it burns so much fuel, a tune up is much needed with this beet up engine.

 

snap ring pliers arent necessary for that little guy, picks/cotter pin tool always work.

 

Yes I know im bumping an old thread, but im 99% sure this is my issue. Thank you for finding and posting this vid!

Joined the site today just so I could search around and possibly find an answer.
(Ive got a 99 Civic EX)

 

FYI^ - A bent wheel splash guard that rubs on the brake rotor is another common cause.

 

Don't you have a mechanic that lives with you?

 

Yes I read that too, it is another thing to check, but I doubt that's it. Mine sounds almost identical to the YT video I quoted. While driving or at a dead stop.

Thanks

 

Hahahahaha what's up John!

I thought about hitting you up to pick your brain since I knew you were/big in Hondas. Just saw your updates with the current car on FB. You still in/around Pville?

Yup, brandon is still with me! I'll only bother him if I need to since he works on cars all day lol. Did you hear he sold the rsti?

 

My guess would be a wheel bearing.

Did he get tired of breaking axles?

 

Gunna shoot ya a txt tonight, im not so sure its ball joints anymore

Haha, naw he only broke em that once. He told it to a friend, and ordered a Ford Focus RS :D