Ball Joint Problem or Steering Rack????? Wobble & Noise???

[h22avid]

When I get to high speeds or am decelerating from high speeds I get a wicked wobble feel from my front end. Also when just cruising at high or low speeds, if I hit a bump, I can hear a dull clunking sound from my drivers side only. Or if I jerk the steering wheel back and forth while sitting still I can hear the same sound. What couls this be? The sound comes from the drivers side but can be produced even when only my passenger side front wheel hits a bump. Do you guys think this is related to ball joints or my steering rack? The only reason that I think it could have something to do with the steering rack is because the sound only comes from the drivers side and can be produced even when only the passenger side hits a bump. I haven't had a chance to get the wheels off the ground to see if there is any looseness or wobble in the wheel so just hunting for possible causes right now.

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[toanhung]

camber kits

[h22avid]

You really think that a camber kit would resolve the issue... I dunno about that. The camber isn't even noticeably off since I didn't slam it on the ground... just a good sporty low.

It probably wouldn't hurt to have a camber kit but I don't think that is my problem.

[YeaItsAFourDoor]

I dunno...might wanna check it out yourself...could probably be a joint problem somewhere...

Considered the CV joints, axle shafts or the wheel balance?

[h22avid]

Originally posted by YeaItsAFourDoor
I dunno...might wanna check it out yourself...could probably be a joint problem somewhere...

Considered the CV joints, axle shafts or the wheel balance?

It's not like a wobble you would experience from mis-balanced wheels...

I'm convinced though that it is probably my steering rack because while the car is sitting still, I can jerk the wheel back and forth and here the same sound. But I'm not sure if all that noise that I'm hearing from the rack could cause a wobble?

[YeaItsAFourDoor]

Yea, that wobbling thing you talk about has me wondering too..

Could it be more than just the rack?

[h22avid]

I dunno because that is the only thing that makes noise when the car is stationary. I can bounce it up and down hard as hell and it doesn;t make a noise.... but when I jerk the steering wheel, I hear the same sound that I hear when I'm driving and go over bumps etc.

With that said, I think the only thing bad is the rack.

I've had the front end up and grasped the wheels real good and pulled them side to side and top to bottom to see if there were bad ball joints and there was no play in the wheel so the ball joints seem fine.

What's got me confused and I could be wrong... but I didn't think the steering rack would have any effect on the ride as far as wobbling etc is concerned.

Some times when I hit a good bump though it sounds like my front end is going to just fall off and that can only be attributed to the rack... same sound as when I jerk the wheel just much louder when I'm in motion and hit something.

[YeaItsAFourDoor]

You're probably right...
I was just thinking how loose/worn/damaged tie-rod ends could cause it to shimmy or nibble..

Lol i dunno it's like 12:30 at night and my brain is dead.

[ToFu]

sounds like the CV joint and axles worn. Had the same problem on my 4th gen accord and had those replaced and bam, sound and wobble problem gone

[YeaItsAFourDoor]

Originally posted by YeaItsAFourDoor
I dunno...might wanna check it out yourself...could probably be a joint problem somewhere...

Considered the CV joints, axle shafts or the wheel balance?

[h22avid]

Originally posted by ToFu
sounds like the CV joint and axles worn. Had the same problem on my 4th gen accord and had those replaced and bam, sound and wobble problem gone

So your axles made a clunking sound? I've heard of axles making a clicking sound but not a clunking sound. Just curious, I've never actually had a bad axle so I'll have to take your word on that.

Thanks

[ToFu]

the CV joint if it goes bad, ruins the axle side its on so basically, if they replace the CV joint, they have to replace the axle on that side ^_^

[bensk8erm30]

i had the same problem
it was my control arms and one of them was loose. 260 bucks...

can you feel vibrations on the floor when it happens?

[h22avid]

Originally posted by bensk8erm30
i had the same problem
it was my control arms and one of them was loose. 260 bucks...

can you feel vibrations on the floor when it happens?

Upper or Lower Control Arm? I was thinking about getting the skunk2 Camber kit which is an adjustable upper control arm... maybe that will fix the problem.

I can't recall if there is a vibration in the floor because the vibration I feel is pretty wicked.. the whole front end just kind a shimmys and wobbles at high speeds and I feel it in the steering mainly besides the whole front end thing.

I'm gonna have my buddy at the honda shop take a look at it today to see if he can tell what it is... if he can't I know somebody there in the shop can so hopefully I'll have an answer before the days out.

[bensk8erm30]

good luck!

[h22avid]

Alright, I had a couple guys at the dealership looking it over and it's definitely the tie rods that come out of the steering rack... could possibly be a bad steering rack too but the tie rods are definitely shot.

My buddy can get both left and right tie rods at cost for $80 so I'm hoping to get them and put them in this week some time... I'll keep everyone posted how it rides after I put the tie rods in... thanks everybody for trying to help

[h22avid]

I replaced both tie rod ends and rebooted the rack because both boots were torn... the wobble is almost completely gone.

I still have a slight wobble feel and some noise which I'm now convinced is coming from my upper control arms... I plan to get the skunk2 camber kit that comes with the control arms so hoefully that will fully rectify my noise problem... if not when I replace all the suspension bushings that should do it.

[YeaItsAFourDoor]

Do what you gotta do.