Struts and front end noises
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 9
From: KS
Struts and front end noises
Hi,
This spring I bought my daughter her first car -- an '02 Accord w/147k. Of the 8 or 10 cars I looked at it seemed by far the most mechanically sound, and the interior is excellent for a car this age.
She's put around 3k on it and we've had no major issues.
There's some brake pulsation, but my guess is that's mainly her riding the brakes too much and causing some deposits. The more brake force you give it, the smoother it feels. Pads are in good condition.
There is some knocking up front over bumps. My first check was the sway bar bushings. They look good, but I'm not ruling them out. They are probably old and rigid which might allow them to knock. The end links feel solid.
I slid the dust cover up the strut shaft and found the passenger's side isolator (I think it's called?) is torn into 2 pieces. So I'm replacing front struts this weekend. I found a video and this appears to be about as easy a strut replacement as there could be.
I'll try to get a read on the wheel bearings and ball joints.
Anything else I'm not thinking of that could be causing the knocking I'm hearing?
This spring I bought my daughter her first car -- an '02 Accord w/147k. Of the 8 or 10 cars I looked at it seemed by far the most mechanically sound, and the interior is excellent for a car this age.
She's put around 3k on it and we've had no major issues.
There's some brake pulsation, but my guess is that's mainly her riding the brakes too much and causing some deposits. The more brake force you give it, the smoother it feels. Pads are in good condition.
There is some knocking up front over bumps. My first check was the sway bar bushings. They look good, but I'm not ruling them out. They are probably old and rigid which might allow them to knock. The end links feel solid.
I slid the dust cover up the strut shaft and found the passenger's side isolator (I think it's called?) is torn into 2 pieces. So I'm replacing front struts this weekend. I found a video and this appears to be about as easy a strut replacement as there could be.
I'll try to get a read on the wheel bearings and ball joints.
Anything else I'm not thinking of that could be causing the knocking I'm hearing?
Super Moderator : And A Texan
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,652
From: Katy, TX
Suggest checking the ball joints (lower, upper, and tie-rod) for play. Almost any play indicates replacement but may not be cause of noise. Noise woiuld likely require a very loose ball joint.
There are two BJ's on each tie rod; an outer (easy to see) and an inner (behind boot). Both can develop play and can be replaced.
good luck
There are two BJ's on each tie rod; an outer (easy to see) and an inner (behind boot). Both can develop play and can be replaced.
good luck
Been Around A Long Time Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 908
From: Washington State, USA
I have the same knocking over slow speed / sharp bumps in my '92 EX; hope you post up whether new struts fixed your problem. Thanks!
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 9
From: KS
Got the struts done and the oil changed.
As expected, easiest strut replacement I could imagine. Other than the effort required in pushing the lower control arm down enough to wiggle the old one out and new one in this could not have been easier.
Unfortunately, I'm still hearing similar knocks in the suspension. I'm still suspecting sway bar bushings. There may also be some noises coming from the steering system so I'm penciling in tie rod ends and swb's for the next wrench session.
As expected, easiest strut replacement I could imagine. Other than the effort required in pushing the lower control arm down enough to wiggle the old one out and new one in this could not have been easier.
Unfortunately, I'm still hearing similar knocks in the suspension. I'm still suspecting sway bar bushings. There may also be some noises coming from the steering system so I'm penciling in tie rod ends and swb's for the next wrench session.
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ranst20
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Apr 6, 2006 02:17 AM