So I originally noticed a vibration under acceleration at lower speeds. If I let off the gas or took the car out of gear it would stop. On Saturday I had to drive 3 hours a way at a cruise of 70mph. The car had a little wobble to it synonymous with the need to buy a set of matching tires which I was saving up for. Typically the car only goes 30 miles a day under 55mph. As soon as I got off the highway and to my first light. I immediately notice click,click, click sounding like a CV joint and the steering wheel being violently jerked to the left. After playing with it I noticed a few behaviors.

-1996 Accord Couple 4 cylinder non vtech

-It only does it when I take it out of gear or apply brakes.

-It immediately stops upon acceleration or putting it back in gear.

-At very low speeds It almost sounds like two pieces of metal hitting together.

-When backing out of my driveway, going over speed bump or hitting an Afghanistan sized pot hole I hear a clunk sound on that side.

-It 100% is coming from and only on my Driver side.

-If I let go of the steering wheel it will literally jerk the car off the road hard left.

-I bought the car with a non functional power steering pump and had planned to replace.

I'll shut up and pay attention now and thank you in advance.

 

Check the anti-sway bar bushings (connect sway bar to wheel knuckle). They become worn and prevent anti-sway bar action and deliver clunks under acceleration and going over bumps.

CV axles may be going also, but check anti-sway bar first.

good luck

 

Put it on a lift and the cv's, axles look good. Forgot to check the anti sway bar bushings. But I doubt thats the issue because the clunking happens when I take my foot off the gas. It stops when I put my foot on the gas. The tie rod ends both have torn open boots with nothing in them. Also when I grab the front of my drivers side tire and the back and rock it I can hear it duplicate that metal clunking.

 

If you've never changed sway bar bushings, they are likely worn out.

Inspect all ball jts for looseness and upper/lower arm bushings.

A worn-out motor mount can cause clunking when engine load changes; drop in gear, apply throttle, let off throttle.

good luck

 

I took it to Sears Auto and they came back with
-Bad Driver CV Half Axle, said the passenger side had been changed.
-Bad Driver side Tie Rod
-Alignment
$490.00

My buddy is a mobile mechanic and he'll stop by tonight. I'll have him point out the ball joints, upper lower arm bushings and check the motor mounts per your advice Tex.

 

Going to change out the CV Axle as thats the only thing I can afford right now to do, cross your fingers.

 

Problem solved for $45 and 2 hours of time. It was 100% the CV Axle. I live in Myrtle Beach and the kid at the Oreiley's counter had a Honda tattoo. I asked him and he said, "yep its the cv axle 100%". The car has 214k on it and both drive axles were aftermarket so should I assume I'll be doing this again if it makes it to 300k?