Hi, I'm a newbie on this forum and need some help.

I have a stock 97 honda accord EX that is making a knocking noise
coming from the front of the car starting at 60 MPH and up only under load going uphill.

The noise sounds like a jack hammer being used down the street
and there is a heavy vibration inside the car.

I had a local mechanic take it for a test drive and he could not
tell me what it is.

It is barely noticeable driving in town but on the freeway going uphill it is very noticeable and the car shakes like the front tire is coming loose.

I have seached the forum and came up with some possible ideas.

1. CV joint and/or axle bad
2. Motor mount bad

Anyone had a similar problem?

Any help appreciated.

 

It was the axle.

Sure sounded like it would be something worse.

Guess I'm lucky.

 

Glad you got it looked after.

I'm wondering if Honda may have a small issue with axles. I had one snap in half on the highway cruising in 5th gear. And I've heard of others too .. more than you would think would be normal for these little, 1.6L 'torque monsters'.

 

Honda most likely doesn't build their own axles. They may have tried to save some money by going with a different supplier who builds a cheaper part. I get my axles through WorldWide Auto Parts. 62 bucks each, warrantied for a year. Never had one fail.

 

After searching, this is the closest thread I could find to my question...My daughter's '95-ish Del Sol has a bad vibration under acceleration starting real serious around 50 MPH. The shop I go to (more used to dealing with domestic pick-em-ups than foreign cars) believes it to be either the motor mounts ("they look old and dry-rotted") or the axles.

Could somebody please give me some hints on what to look for to tell one possible problem from the other?

Old V8 guy that I am, I was thinking of "Break-torquing" the car (it's an auto) and seeing if the motor moves, but I'm a little leary of trying it on something I'm not used to...

DREW

 

yea, hold the brake and give it gas, see if the motor shakes. If so, replace the mounts, otherwise it's an axle. Good thinking.

 

Hmmm, from your description i was thinking the car is detonating under a load. Does it sound like engine noise or susp noise? It sounded like you were describing pre ign detonation. This happens when the engine has carbon buildup and/or wrong ign timing. Sometimes this also happens with a Honda/acura that takes prem. gas and someone runs regular. I would find out what type of noise it's making, engine or susp.

 

Yep. Sounds like an axle to me.