Problem with squeak + grinding. - Honda Prelude Forum

Mr.Badguy · 07-12-2007, 06:29 PM

I replaced my passenger side axle 2 days ago and since then, that side of my car has a faint little squeaking noise from time to time and when i turn left at about 5-15 mph i hear a kachunk kachunk almost like my wheel is loose or something.

At first I thought somehow I effed up my bearing or something but I did a search and it sounds like it COULD be my lower ball joint. Later in the day that I changed out my axle I heard a loud pop come from that side but thought I hit this little pothole that is around the area I was driving. I jacked up my car and theres some play in the wheel without loosening anything, so I instantly thought "Oh no the bearing is shot" but like I said, I read somewhere that a lower ball joint can also cause this? Is this true? I can try to get a pic of my ball joint if it helps.

Oh yeah and to replace the cv axle, we tried to separate the ball joint with one of those forks for like 30 mins and couldnt get it off so we just took everything else apart. Could I have dammaged or loosened it that way?

Edit: pic

DOES THIS LOOK NORMAL?!?!? Oh yeah i need a cotter pin also...

Prelude_RCR · 07-12-2007, 08:43 PM

Looks like your boot is torn.

To loosen that balljoint, hit the lower control arm with a BFH (big f*cking hammer) on the little dent there right about the castle nut. A few whacks should pop it right out. Never use a fork since it'll tear your boot (which it looks like you did).

You're probably better off replace the entire balljoint now.

spin_r_g · 07-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Where did the damage to the dust shield come from?

Mr.Badguy · 07-13-2007, 02:17 AM

damned if I know... I slid and bounced that side off a tree a couple years back. But all I wanted to know was could that ball joint cause my wheel to seem loose? I mean, even with my wheel off, I could grab the rotor and wiggle it around.

spin_r_g · 07-13-2007, 02:48 AM

When you have the wheel off try to look at the balljoint while you wiggle it. If you can see that the knuckle is moving around then the ball joint is probably shot. If there isn't any movement in the ball joint it maybe be your bearing. Did you remove the tie rod end when you changed the axle?

Mr.Badguy · 07-13-2007, 12:30 PM

no, we removed the fork bolt then unbolted the upper control arm and the brake caliper so we could move everything around well enough to get the axle out.

Mr.Badguy · 07-13-2007, 06:12 PM

Oh great, now I seem to be leaking tranny fluid... Ummm ok I MAY have left the snap ring off the axle. but would that cause me to leak tranny fluid? I thought all it did was keep the axle in?

G_Loc · 07-13-2007, 07:29 PM

Speaking from experience, get a cotter pin on there ASAP! Hell, a nice thick paperclip works too