I'm not very technical when it comes to my car so bear w/ me.

Long story short, my car was put in a ditch last summer to avoid hitting a deer and I had it repaired at a local body shop. Well, they ripped my floor mats, didn't fix a dent on the roof and put a bubble in one of the Type-R stickers. I let all that go because they had the car for so long I just wanted it back.

Starting about four months ago I began to notice a vibration coming from my left front tire. I attributed it to the snow tires. It worsened. When I go straight it vibrates and is very loud, when I turn left it gets louder, when I turn right it stop completely and is very silent.

When you look at the wheel from the front (with the wheel straightened) you can see that it sticks out in the bottom, but goes in at the top. I'm getting unusual tire wear too.

I took it back to the body shop and neither them nor my insurance company want to cover it saying that I can't prove it was from the accident. I'm still straightening things out about that, but needless to say I was pissed.

Anyways, I was told that it could be caused by a bent control arm. Is there anything you guys can think of that could be wrong from what I have described? I'd appreciate any input.

 

Get an alignment and see what's up with that.
Put it on a frame rack and make sure the car is straight.
The loudness stuff sounds like a wheel bearing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkyeC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Get an alignment and see what's up with that.
Put it on a frame rack and make sure the car is straight.
The loudness stuff sounds like a wheel bearing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Alignment will be a diagnostic tool - i.e. you will get measurements of toe, camber and caster.

If your control arm is bent - then it will show up in the alignment.

As to the noise - you might want to read this under the "DRIVE IT" section:

http://www.autosite.com/garage...e.asp

then get another opinion

 

Could be wheel bearing or the hub is so far out of wack that the CV joints are over stressed. Check the motor mounts, make sure they are not damaged. I'd pay out of my own pocket to get another collision measure the frame, if it's not in spec. you have the amunition to get it fixed proper.

 

could possibly be a bearing
is there any play ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IVI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could possibly be a bearing
is there any play ?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

There's very little play. The car pulls to the right when I let go of the wheel and while I'm driving straight I have to slightly tilt the wheel to the left.

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it. I'm starting w/ the alignment tomorrow and I'll go from there.

 

Update:

The culprit was the left front wheel bearing. They recommended that I buy the whole wheel hub assembly. I still haven't came to an agreement w/ my insurance company, but if they aren't going to reimburse me then I'm gonna just order the part and install it w/ a friends help.

 

Install pictures are here.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=720159

 

not for the faint of heart, that install.

 

Kinda sounds like your left front wheel is toed in, but you already figured out the problem .

 

Sounds like you have a bit extra camber on that side as well. (when you described the tire sticking out and going 'in' as you look 'up' the tire)

Possible reasons - bent control arm, bent upper A-arm, or tweaked frame rail. (ask me how I know about the last one )

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds like you have a bit extra camber on that side as well. (when you described the tire sticking out and going 'in' as you look 'up' the tire)

Possible reasons - bent control arm, bent upper A-arm, or tweaked frame rail. (ask me how I know about the last one )</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I'm due for an alignment. Hopefully there isn't a bent control arm for tweaked frame rail. How did you tweak yours?

UPDATE - My insurance company is gonna pay to have my car sent to Cinci to replace my wheel bearing and inspect for other damage.

Thanks for posting the link to the install Willard, but thank god I don't have to do it myself now

 

WHEEL BEARING!!!...same thing happened to my brothers car EXACTLY. we culdnt figure it out untl we pulled the hub off, and pulled the axel, then everything just fell apart. wheel bearings are cheap. have it checked out at a dealer.

 

First thing - check that your lug nuts are torqued.

Second - wheel bearings - push in hard at the top of the wheel with two hands. You will be able to feel a click or some movement (usually in two steps) if the bearings bad

Third - cv joints

Good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First thing - check that your lug nuts are torqued.

Second - wheel bearings - push in hard at the top of the wheel with two hands. You will be able to feel a click or some movement (usually in two steps) if the bearings bad

Third - cv joints

Good luck

</TD></TR></TABLE>

if you are able to rock the wheel with the axle nut on...power to you.