View Full Version : snap/knock sound from right front side...
wonderin if some of u can help diagnose a weird sound i'm getting...
i have aftermarket shocks/springs. when i am at stop, and i sorta accelerate hard (well not THAT hard), i hear a snapping/knocking sound from the front right side of the car. i can reproduce this consistently.
it sounds like it might be coming from my suspension area but i'm not 100% sure. anyone have a starting point? i've visually checked things and it seems ok.. but its kinda cold outside so i'm not in the mood to uninstall stuff to check.
on another note: is it normal that when u brake hard and come to a stop, then AFTER you've already stopped, you get this weird sound from the front (kinda sounds like your rubbing sticky hands on an inflated balloon and it makes that abrasive sound)
XxXPreludeXxX
02-10-2002, 09:53 AM
hm, did this noise come after the aftermarket springs/shocks?
Also, when turning do u notice/hear anything that shouldnt be there?
when ii'm going down steep ramp and i turn right, yeah i hear the same noise
Grant
02-10-2002, 11:45 AM
My guess is the pillowballs are dry and the "snap/knock" sound is the spring twisting under compression and back when it rebounds...
The only fix I know of is to remove the shock assembly and lube the upper spring mounts.
The squeeky balloon sound could be the oil in the dampers moving through valves...check to see if your dampers are leaking... but that's only a guess...
oh you might also check to see if your damper assembly nuts and wheel bolts are tight as well...
Check all of your ball joints. I know that sound too.
Todd
uhm whats a ball joint hehe i dont know the terminology... i've installed the springs/shocks myself but i dont know what each part is called heheh..
also, is this a fatal issue? could i wait until spring to fix it?
its just too damn cold outside!
Ball joints are used to allow the suspension to pivot where needed. In the front there are two of them, the upper and the lower. The upper ball joint is pressed into the upper control arm assembly, it is worth $215. The lower is replaceable by itself, no idea on the cost.
If you "snap" a ball joint you will have a mess on your hands. It usually doesnt happen unless you drive a Ford or a Chevy, Honda is pretty strong.
To check the ball joint, you must lift the car off the ground and "wiggle" the tire while carefully watching the joints to see if there is any play in them. There should be none, these parts are made to very tight tolerances.
Easiest way is to take it to a shop and have them do a free inspection. Then have them show you the play so you know what it looks like.
Bad ball joints are an easy fix, get a puller, some cotter pins and go to it.
Later,
Todd
meth0d
02-14-2002, 03:46 PM
I have the same abrasive sound when coming to a full stop. Sometimes I get the problem when I let OFF the brakes and start accelerating too. But usually it's when I come to a complete stop. I had the same problem last year in the winter and it went away when the weather got warmer. :confused:
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