A popping sound from front passenger when turning wheel.

[SonicK20Z]

Hey all, the only aftermarket suspension work I have done is I am lowered on Comptech springs. The springs ride good, no issues, had them on for a few months... about 2 weeks ago I noticed as I was backing out of my drive and turning the wheel I heard a real light, "pop, pop, pop, pop, pop" coming from the passenger front wheel. sound got a little louder, and now it's always.

It's only that wheel, and it's only when the wheels are turning back and forth (pulling into a parking spot, making a low speed turn, etc.) The springs are silent (I drive somewhat rough roads and they don't squeak or make noise) so I'm wondering what is causing this sound. Any ideas? Thanks!

Rob

[SonicK20Z]

I got outta the car and had my girlfriend turn the wheels while the car was sitting still (I know, bad for tires) and it is definately louder on outside of car, and is only the one corner wheel.

the closest thing I can think of to mimic the sound, take a bottle of water and lightly flick the side of it with your finger a few times. that's exactly this sound, and about as loud.

[atruhondagrl]

Huh. Thats strange considering its so new. Have you hit an potholes? It only happens when you're turning and it always comes from the right wheel? The sort of sound you're explaining could be the CV Joint. I've just never heard of it happening on a newer car but it's a moving component so it's always possible.

[SonicK20Z]

yea it's ONLY that front right, and it's ONLY when turning the wheels. like, if I turn the wheel and hold that position and drive in circles it won't make the sound. similarly it won't make the sound if I'm driving straight and I have zero other noises. it's just a popping sound while actually turning the steering wheel and only front passenger.

pot holes... anyone who has ever been to Lexington, KY will vouch we have some of the worst roads ever... I've managed to miss 'em all I believe, but there have been one or two times where I've hit a rough/sharp edge on uneven pavement during road work. So it's possible.

The car drives straight as an arrow. So I'm stumped. I'm nervous about bringing it in (I hate going to the dealer), not to mention I have aftermarket springs, race header, reflash, etc. Don't really feel like hearing a bunch of mumbo jumbo about any of those items.

[CameronJr9]

I vouch for Lexington roads. Know any good mechanics that could take a look at it? That'll save you the hassle from the dealership.

[atruhondagrl]

I'm convinced that Kentucky is taking over this site. Dang there's a lot of you on here. If you have a cool dealership that you can trust don't worry about your mods. I'm lucky, I do. But, if you had a shop install anything I would recommend taking it back there.

You don't have any loose plastic bits in your wheel well do you? That's weird. I'm still going to lean towards the CV though.

[SonicK20Z]

UPDATE! Here's a video... I'm sitting still in my garage. You can hear the popping sound... it's comign from the passenger front area. I don't know if it's the spring, strut, CV, what... but it's pissing me off.

Listen. (right click save as).

http://sweb.uky.edu/~rjnahr2/si/steerpop.mpg

[radiocontrolhead]

that sounds nasty. i'd be pissed. take it in! waht r u waiting for.

[poopsi]

I got the same pops after using "crash" bolts to gain a tiny bit of negative camber. I had a friend who got the same pops after replacing the stock suspension in his RSX-S with Megan coilovers. His ended up being the spring twisting slightly in its seat, which was fixed by tightening it fairly often.

It's probably just some component of the suspension moving slightly after changes were made. It'd be a good idea to figure out what it is and tighten it up so that nothing is getting worn.

[sickyute]

i have the same pop....but it's 1 pop...only at the end of my turn when i'm almost at full lock and sitting still. if it doesn't do it when turning the wheel, it does it right when the car begins to move if i have the steering turned in a lot...it's from that one side only, front passenger side....but it's only 1 pop.

someone else has it on his lowered car too...not sure if it's many pops like u or if it's 1 pop like me....

i'll go check it out soon.

[fa1]

Did you torque the bolts down under a load?

[sickyute]

never did it before....

but now that u mention about torque under load...i think that is the problem.

my car was on a lift...and i had noticed thay had a bungy cord or something holding this side up with the wheels etc out....i guess when they put everything back together, they torqed it with the bungy cord thingy holding it under some load...that i think is the issue...

i'll be taking it in to get redone...i think this is infact the issue...cuz the other side wasn't touched and it's fine.....this is the only side that was touched....

thanks...i'll let u know the outcome.

[SonicK20Z]

update: so it does it while on the ground, while turning the wheel sitting still or while turning the wheel at low speeds... it does not do it during normal driving speeds (turning onto another road).

got it up on jackstands, doesn't do it anymore... there is still a slight tick, but it is so quiet it doesn't exist for all practical purposes.

we remove the strut/spring assembly, completely take it apart, reassemble it, and use lithium grease the hell out of it (the spring seat, the top, even the upper coils... anywhere anything could rub). put it back together, get it back on the ground... problem still exists. no boots appeared to be torn. I'm clueless... I don't know if I should ignore it or get it in for service.

[sickyute]

took my in for the 1 pop i get..
too it to an authorized tein dealer....
the moment i turned the wheel while sitting still the car did it....turned in the other direction...it did it again.
just on that one side.
"obviously something is loose" was what the guy said.
i have to take it in tomorrow morning at 10 so they can take everything on that side off and check them etc etc....couldn't get it done today...they were too busy boosting g35s and skylines etc etc and doing other installs.
i'll let u know how it goes.
i think i have a different problem than u...urs sound serious...mine is just 1 pop almost at full lock...u just pop all over the place...dat's messed up.

[SonicK20Z]

Took it in to Honda, and the top hat wasn't sitting right, they said it could be a result of anything from nailing a pothole too hard (lots of road construction in my area)... to a few other things. Anyhow, it was causing the bearings in the top hat to not move and do their job... that's the sound I was apparently hearing.

Basically they disassembled it, and noticed the problem with the top hat (which I didn't see when I was greasing the thing thinking that the spring was binding), they fixed it, and no more noise. Charged one hour labor (wasn't warranty because aftermarket springs). Still, not bad.

[Storm]

It sounds like whoever did the install didn't seat the spring into the mount properly. It is actually a common problem when people install new springs improperly to have a "popping" sound.

[BLU BY U]

i have your exact same problem, ill check it out when i get a chance.

[Mikey6p]

Mine pops at full lock, but only one pop. BTW, how are you supposed to torque the bolts under a load? the wheel kinda makes that impossible.

[BLU BY U]

Originally Posted by Mikey6p

Mine pops at full lock, but only one pop. BTW, how are you supposed to torque the bolts under a load? the wheel kinda makes that impossible.

just lower it back down on teh brake rotor

[Mikey6p]

Originally Posted by BLU BY U

just lower it back down on teh brake rotor

SWEET. ITS GONNA BE SLAMMED.