Well, was driving home from the lake today, when I noticed a funky sound comming from the front end. Not sure if it's drivers side or not, but it seems to be comming from the drivers side.

When I make a dead stop, and turn left or right, as I accelerate forward I hear a kind of slipping or popping noise, not grinding so much as a strange pop. It will pop a few times, sometimes close together sometimes further apart, until i reach about 20-30mph, or complete the turn. I looked under the car, and don't see any funkyness happening, but I do know that I need new axles, and have for a while. The grease boots have long since been cut and dry-rotted and the grease is notstaying in them. I was told it would be fine to drive on them, but needed them repaired sometime soon.

Could it be an axle? It sounds rather strange, it might not be an axle, but I can't think of what else it could be. All my bushings and what not seem to be pretty solid, and the metal items don't show signs of strain or stress, all bolts are where they should be and tight, etc...

Any ideas?

 

I have that same problem. I initially thought it was the driver's side CV joint b/c that makes a metal on metal click (pop) noise. But after further inspection the joint was fine, it was the differential (where the axels meet the tranny) that was messed. I decided to upgrade to a y8 tranny instead of fixing the differential. From your description, it sounds like you have the same problem.

To see if it's the diff. Lift the car and wiggle where the axles meet the tranny. If it wiggles (other than rotating like it should) it's probably bad.

Also, I suggest fixing your CV joint boots asap.

 

Ok, an update.. I went out in a parking lot a few ago, and rode around in circles. driving the car slowly cutting a pretty hard circle, not totaly cranked over, but fairly small, produces this pop, pop, pop type sound, until i straighten the car up again.

My first thought was the geared part of the axle might be slipping where it connects to the tranny or otherwise.

Thanks for the info thus far, I will probably have it in a shop in the next few weeks, if its safe to get me to and from work at least.

I wonder if it is safe, and if so how long. I don't want to do any extremely expensive upgrading if I don't have to, new axles I already know I need, if I am gonna have to spend an arm and a leg I don't know what I will do.

 

sounds like a cv joint to me...

 

Differential bearings are $47 each (need 2)

 

Thanks guys, I have to make it to work this week, but maybe next monday I can take it in and drop it off, at least I will have a few ideas to give my mechanic, although he will probably figure it out before I can mention it, he's got one hell of an ear.

Anyway, I will post an update when i hear the news.!

 

This sounds like a problem I'm having also. But in addition to the "poppin" or "clicking" noise my tranny slips from 1st to 2nd gear, the steering wheel moves left and right while driving but more so when at slower speeds than high speeds, and when my mechanic took it for a test drive last year after replacing a CAT sensor he "felt" that it reved to high before switching gears. Anyone have any ideas? I think the gear slipping and noise started after I replaced the tranny fluid, and didn't use Honda ATF

'98 Honda Civic 4dr LX Automatic
~115,000 miles