Just bought a 1996 Accord with 132,000 miles, had a used car inspection done on it and they said that the ball joints need to be replaced, so I might as well just replace the entire upper control arms. They also said that the outter tie rod is lose and needs to be replaced. As a side note there is really no noise coming from the front suspension, only a slight "creek" when going over large/long speed bumps.

My question is:

• What other front suspension components should I replace while I am doing the upper control arms?

I will be doing some extensive traveling in the near future (NE > WI > VA) and would like to get all the major stuff out of the way before I get on the road. So any recomendations on parts and brands would be awesome.

Thanks guys.

 

I have been hunting down a squeek for some time. There are a few bushings that squeek I have been told. Mine is wretched on cold days only otherwise no noise.. greased the lower stabilizer bar bushings and seems to be from the top of the strut? I use trw parts from advance auto due to lifetime warranty. And most parts can be greased.

 

Well don't forget that there is also the upper control arm bushings and ball joint.

If you press and lift on the fender.....can you get the noise to happen?

 

[QUOTE=poorman212;315421]Well don't forget that there is also the upper control arm bushings and ball joint.

If you press and lift on the fender.....can you get the noise to happen?[/QUOTE

Sometimes. But my weight alone don't do much. The load of the car will. New ball joints and upper control arms. Lower control arms are good. Sway bar bushings greased with Honda stuff. Those lower stabilizer bars have new bushings. I'm attributing it to old age lol since its a 96 coupe.

 

Well if you can get the noise to happen "sometimes" when you lift or press on the fender.....get a helper to do the press/lift as you put your hands on different things.....arms, joints ect.....at some point you should feel the noise.

 

"Feel the force" ok I will check on it. Sometimesif I spray that strut tower bushing it shuts up tho. I don't know if you have to grease those when they are new? Or even at all. I wondered if the shop who put the in didn't tighten them right? There's a lot of bushings on this car but nothing hard to get at.

 

Well, if you spray there and it goes away.....sounds like you might have found the source.

 

WheelBrokerAng agrees with poorman..

 

Ok. So would it ne a tightening or a greasing issue? Its not a bad issue bit the squeek is preety darn audible when Its cold.

 

Well, you could try both...I'm thinking/guessing that it is coming where the upper strut mount contacts the body.