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From: janeann@ut-ngp.UUCP (Carlotta Lamour)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: honda turning problem...
Message-ID: <3001@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Feb-86 10:08:50 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.3001
Posted: Wed Feb 26 10:08:50 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 03:16:37 EST
References: <12035@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: UTexas Computation Center, Austin, Texas
Lines: 44


>I have an 83 Honda Accord  that has been exihibiting unusual
>behavior.  When turning, the car sometimes makes this clunking sound
>that comes from somewhere around the front wheels.  It occurs
>mostly when beginning a turn from a dead stop.  I don't accelerate
>real fast or anything.  It is also more evident turning right than
>turning left, or when turning to go up a hill.  Someone said to me
>that it sounds like a CV joint, whatever that is, and that it is
>not serious yet (but that it would be serious if the car was clunking
>while going straight), and that the only solution is to replace the
>front axle.  Does this sound reasonable?  I can't even tell from
>the service manual where this CV joint is.
>
>Any opinions or suggestions will be appreciated.
>kevin@ucbvax.berkeley.edu

Yes, indeed, it *does* sound like your CV joint.  The CV (constant
velocity) joint is located between your axle and your wheel.  There
is a "boot" (rubber cone-shaped object, easily found behind your
wheel) which surrounds the CV joint; this boot is very susceptible
to getting a crack in it (a major design flaw in Hondas, I believe),
in which case dirt and shit gets into the joint and lubrication gets
out.  The result is a bad CV joint, which apparently cannot be fixed
without replacing the axle.  I have a 1976 Honda Civic, and this noise
had been going on for SIX years before I finally decided to fix it.
The reason I waited this long is that someone told me that it was safe
as long as the noise only occurred when turning; if the noise persists
when going straight, this is a bad sign.  (Actually, the noise
never persisted when going straight for me; I just finally had the
money to fix it.)

Now, I have heard that there is a way to replace the CV joint
without changing the axle out too.  You may want to contact a Honda
mechanic out there (not the dealer!) and find out if they have
heard of this.  Of course, if you wait as long as I did, you'll
want to replace the axle too because it's been without lubrication
too for a while.  Finally, in Austin a year and a half ago it cost
me $180.00 to get this fixed.  How much do they want for the job in
California?


charles s. cgeiger
economics
(send e-mail to cgeiger, not janeann)