Ok I need a little help here. I have a rattle noise in the front end of my 91 CRX Si. It started out when I hit bumps, especially ones that did not really compress the suspension. It has gotten worse, now I hear it quite often driving at highway speeds. it also seems to be messing with the tracking of the front wheels. I have jacked the car up and shaken all of the parts. They all are solid. It sounds like rattle a ball joint would make when going bad. I checked them, going so far as to pop several of them just to be sure they are fine.

My other thought is possibly a bushing going bad, but considering the extent of the noise, I would expect that it would be obvious. The car does have 130k miles on it, and I know the bushings are getting tired, but they all still look well intact. There is barely even any surface wear cracks in them.

Wheel bearing maybe, but I have shaken the wheel and there is no play that would indicate this. It also does not make the noise that a bad bearing normally makes. They are usually constant or when you are in a turn. This noise ocurs as a rattle over bumps.

My next thought is the steering rack...I have a hard time believing it is this though. I woulds suspect it more if it made a noise when I turned the wheel slightly. which it does not.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

do you feel anything in the steering wheel - like vibration that might indicate that something in the steering/suspension is bad? or is something just making noise? if there is nothing in the steering wheel, then maybe something is just hanging down - like a broken clamp or something that was holding something in and now it is loose. i would say to just open the hood and look at everything to make sure nothing came loose or broke. if there is nothing like that, then maybe you should just bring it to a mechanic and have him/her check it out.

sorry that is much help, but it gives you something to check. good luck.

 

Ya mine is doing this also. Everything feels tight on inspection but somthing must be worn. I think the noise is coming from the rack & pinion being a bit worn and having too much play in it. That is my best guess.