Hey guys, well first I have to say that I'm glad you guys could help me with the last problem...I now know why the car is idling low and just have to get around to adjusting the idle speed and / or replacing the IAC valve.

Anyways though, got another problem which has been plaguing the car. The front end has a mild vibration on it that happens at pretty much any speed above say 30 mph or 60 km/h. When you're on the highway, it only has a vibration if you turn the wheel slightly to the left, not the right (don't ask me why).

Here's the background info:

Car has been like this for awhile. Take it to my mechanic and he tells me that the springs are cracked and need to be replaced and shows me. Sure enough. Get the springs replaced and since the struts were the OEM ones, got those replaced at the same time. He also checks the ball joints and says the lower front left one needs replacing, which is done at the same time. He balances and rotates the tires too just to be sure.

Now the car STILL has a vibration but it only happens at 110 km/h or about 65 mph. Take it back, looks like a bent right front rim. Get the rim replaced.

Now I'm back to square one with the vibration on the highway etc. I know my tires are probably shot but could it be that and a rim that's still causing this problem???

ON TOP OF ALL THAT...

Now whenever I go over a bump or take a right turn, I get this kind of metallic creaking sound, kind of like the sound a rusty spring might make. Took there yesterday and he was mystified, couldn't figure out why it was creaking like that.

Do I need to get new upper and lower control arm bushings or something??? Is the spring rubbing on the strut somehow? Is it a strut bearing? I'm lost too.

Please help guys...thanks!

 

Since the vibration only occurs at speed I'd have to think something is unbalanced on your driveline. You might want to find a shop that can balance your wheels/tires while they are on the car.

As for your other problems, I've had the same symptoms for years now (creaking, groaning, etc from the front suspension). I've had a dozen mechanics try to find out what's wrong to no avail. I'm going to replace my front wheel bearings and all front suspension bushings... hopefully that'll take care of it. I've got a polyurethane bushing kit from Energy Suspension. I'm going to take the front suspension apart myself, then take the parts to a shop to have the old bushings pressed out and new ones pressed in, then I'll reassemble it myself again.

 

sounds like a bushing creaking or your suspension is metal on metal
vibration sounds exactly like what Dave said, an unbalanced tire

 

I would have thought it was a bent rim, but since you changed it, it might be another bent rim or a dimple in your old tires. Replace the tires.

About the second problem, join the club. All 4th gen accords over 50k have this problem. Bushings need replacing. I got used to the sound already. It doesnt bother me anymore.

 

Okay...confirmed that the bushings are at fault today at lunch time with my mechanic...he said that Honda only sells bushings with the entire upper control arm!! What's that about?!?

So where can I get a set of aftermarket bushings? They don't have to be poly, rubber is just fine thanks...maybe a UAP/NAPA store or something similar like a Pep Boys or whatever?

I was planning on replacing the tires anyways. I just had the 'new' rim removed and replaced with the original one and then moved the 'old' rim and tire to the back, problem solved for now. Still has a slight vibration which is most likely a tire or the rim / tire is unbalanced.

Question - how do you do wheel balancing ON the car? This is something I've NEVER seen before...someone please enlighten me.

 

You need a new mechanic. Honda does sell just the bushings. I would've used Honda rubber bushings (www.hondaautomotiveparts.com, but they're expensive, so I got an aftermarket polyurethane kit (www.nipponpower.com).

As for balancing, the more sophisticated shops have a machine that actually spins/measures/balances the tire while it's on the car. This way they can trace any unbalanced harmonics south of your wheel/tire.

 

Thanks for the link...but that's not the part where it's supposedly squeaking where I need the bushings...it's the UPPER arm, which I found here:

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...tcgry5=KNUCKLE

I guess it's the upper wishbone part??

Looks like it's one piece...

 

your upper control arm bushings should be replaceable as well... I don't know for sure though