Help me diagnose a noise...

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
04/22/2014 at 19:08 • Filed to: None

So earlier this morning I heard a rather nasty noise as I was pulling into a parking spot. (Details here). After I got home from school I put the Civic up on jack stands and had my wife crank it from full lock to full lock. I noticed that my passenger side was making a bit of noise, so I recorded a clip of it. (The noise is right at the beginning of the clip. Sorry for the wind noise):

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Any thoughts on what it might be? Is it time to replace my tie rod ends? I did notice that my driver's side lower control arm bushing is almost shot. I'm thinking that it might be best to replace both the lower control arm bushings and tie rod ends before going on a road trip this summer.

Here's a few pics as well:

DISCUSSION (13)

Dunnik > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 19:09

I don't know precisely what that's coming from, but I did cringe when I heard it.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 19:11

Sounds like the bushing to me, replace it when you can.

Nibbles > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 19:13

Haven't watched the video yet but from your pictures, yes. You need to replace those components. Preferably soon.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Nibbles
04/22/2014 at 19:15

Good to know. They've got 220,000 km on them, so yeah, it's probably time.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Dunnik
04/22/2014 at 19:18

It really is quite strange. I noticed a strange noise last week or so when backing out of my parking spot at home. I'm not quite sure how to explain it - sort of a popping noise, like I had run over some plastic or something. I could have sworn it was on my driver's side, but after getting it up on the jack stands and having a poke around, it was definitely coming from the passenger side.

Either way, it looks like new control arm bushings and tie rod ends are in store...

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
04/22/2014 at 19:19

I think you are right. Time to start pricing out parts...

Nibbles > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 19:19

When I did the front suspension on the Dakota at 180k miles, the components were entirely shot. Ball joints were rocking in their mounts, the driver lower control arm being held on by prayer and a layer of dirt

It's probably time

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 19:25

Still seems like ball joints and tire rod ends to me. My tie rods are buggered every 75000k, Sonoma problems.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
04/22/2014 at 19:48

That frequently, eh?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Nibbles
04/22/2014 at 19:49

Yikes.

I'm thinking it's time as well. A bit of a shame about my lower ball joints though, as they were replaced two years ago when I was trying to diagnose a different issue. (It ended up being part of the upper strut mount that was made of plastic, and had disintegrated). I'm guessing because of how hard they are to remove that it'll be easier to replace them as well, rather than trying to save my current ones.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 19:56

Ya, they just don't seem to be robust enough for the truck, its a pretty well known problem with them. Easy as hell vehicle to work on though.

Nibbles > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 20:15

Depending on the vehicle, yeah. Mine had screw in uppers and press fit lowers, and the press fits are definitely easier to knock out. But if you're gonna do the uppers, best to do the lowers at the same time. Also check your idler arm and/or pitman arm, depending on what vehicle you have. Since you'll be down there and in the muck it makes sense to replace all the joints in one fell swoop

BaconSandwich is tasty. > BaconSandwich is tasty.
04/22/2014 at 20:40

Well, parts have been ordered. I've ordered new lower control arms (complete with bushings), new lower ball joints (which I hopefully won't need to use - I'm hoping to keep my current ones, which are 2 years old), and new tie rod ends.