Hey guys, I've got a 1993 CB7 Sedan that's recently started making some new noises and I've got a shake at highway speeds but not consistently the same speed.

Doing some research on the issues in isolation it seems like it could be the CV Axle or tie rods, but I can't seem to find an identical issue to what I'm having all at once so I was hoping to get some advice.

When I first got the car I noticed the Drivers side CV Axle knocking pretty bad when turning and accelerating and the boot had been opened up and leaked all of it's grease out so I replaced it. I've done both upper control arms/ball joints but the whole time I've owned the car it's never had any play in the front end so I haven't ever messed with tie rods. I also had a pretty good shake at exactly 68 mph so I had the wheels balanced.

About a week ago I noticed the same type of shake feeling returned but it's not consistent like a wheel balance issue, it will happen between 60 and 75 but will stop and start at the same speed and won't get better or worse consistently when I change speeds. Basically I could be going 64 mph and it may start shaking, and it may eventually stop shaking, I could speed up and it could either keep shaking exactly the same or it may stop, I may find a speed where it stops shaking but a mile or two later it just starts again, it doesn't happen exactly when I hit one speed every time like before.

I've also noticed the whole time I've owned the car when pulling into my garage and easing forward to the block I have on the floor that the combination of braking while moving forward and turning the wheel resulted in a light tapping/knocking sound coming from the Left front of the car. I noticed that sound was a bit louder when I parked it last.

I read that the CV axle could be causing the highway shake, but the sound I'm getting doesn't sound EXACTLY like any videos I can find of bad CV Axles, and the fact the noise happens when I'm on the brakes and turning the wheel small amounts to enter my garage or pulling up to a stop light makes me think it has to be something in the steering related.

Could I have another bad Drivers side CV Axle, or do these issues point to something else?

Note:
I did pull all 4 wheels and deep cleaned them and rotated them about a month ago, but I didn't immediately notice the shake right after that and like I said it's inconsistent so I don't think it's a balance issue.

 

As you stated that you already did so, i was going to suggest that you rotate the tires from front to back, but as you already did this.

In the hundreds of thousands of miles i have driven Accords, i have never had an issue with a CV axle being the culprit of shaking/balance, though I can't say that this is not the issue.

What i would look into:
1. Check the tires to be sure that there is not some sort of separation of the trad from the belt. When the tires are balanced in a shop, they are covered with a shroud, so they might not even notice. This is what i suspect to be the issue.
2. Check the bushings holding the sway bar to the lower A arm. This should not cause an issue, but it is easily overlooked and can cause some odd noises. Like pulling into your garage.
3. With each corner of the vehicle/tire raised off the ground (on jack stands and all that safety stuff). Wiggle the tire from bottom/top and side to side to ensure that there is not a wheel bearing issue. *A tie rod end will show up immediately here. Also check to make sure that the upper A arm is bolted to the inner fender well and you can use a large screwdriver or pry bar to ensure that the bushings are okay on the upper A arm/ no or very little play.
4. Double check that all of the lug nuts are torqued down. I have had them come loose after changing tires and have had an odd noise from that as well.