Once again, need expert opinion.

[Jett]

Scrunching noise in right rear wheel well.

My car has been making a "scrunching" noise from the right rear wheel well. It only makes the noise when the suspension is loaded or unloaded in turns or going over bumps. It is quiet going 70 down a smooth road.

I took it into the dealer, thinking maybe it was a loose strut or something similar. So, they call me back and say that "um, we think the noise is coming from the ball joint, but we're not sure, but everything looks okay and everything, so we think it is okay to drive it so can you come and pick it up?" WTF? This dealership blows. I need to find somewhere with more NSX expertise.

Anyway, the ball joint idea seems reasonable, but the part about it being "okay to drive" doesn't. Anyone else have any experience with this? This particular service department is so weak that I am exceeding reluctant to allow them to replace the ball joint (they quoted me $2400) and have it turn out NOT to be the problem. Of course I wouldn't mind it as much if it WAS the problem.

Any thoughts?

 

[NSX-Racer]

As always in such cases I suspect a bad wheel bearing (happens more often than a bad ball joint and is much cheaper to replace).

 

[Daedalus]

Uh, which rear ball joint costs $2400 to replace? Someone has a $2100 boat payment to make.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

It does seem a bit high, but you cannot purchase the ball joint, you must purchase the entire suspension arm.

I am not infering that the ball joint is the issue, i would get a second opinion. NSX ball joints are pretty tough, unless you track w/track tires all the time, or maybe an accident.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[zahntech]

Yeah ball joints usualy squeak or rattle over bumps...the sound you discribe sounds more like rubber is involved..I would be looking at the suspension bushings and the upper strut mount...JZ

 

[Jett]

I will have a look at the wheel bearing, but the scrunching noise leads me to think ball joint or another suspension component. I just want to be sure to have the right thing replaced the first time.

To be more specific, the sound is like an irregular tap or rattle when the suspension is loaded and unloaded lightly, or a scrunching noise over a larger bump under "heavier" loading.

The cost for the part (suspension arm with ball joint) was quoted to me as $2100 plus $300 for labor including alignment.

I will get a second opinion. Maybe Charley's (?) in Northern Virginia or Tischer Acura in Laurel, MD.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to reply so far.

Any other input?

 

[apapada]

if you are running with the rear anti-roll bar, take it off and try to see if that makes a difference. I had a similar noise in the front that drove me crazy for months. It was the bushing of the front anti-sway bar. The sound it was doing was crazy: The best I can describe it is like if you hang a rachet from a string and let it loose hitting the suspension parts ?!?

 

[LJSB]

Wheel bearings don't make the sound you are describing when they go bad.
They make a steady low hum that gets raises in pitch as you go faster and get louder as they progressively degenerate. They don't scrunch when you go over a bump.

By all means check your ball joints .Make sure your struts are in good shape and still holding pressure.Check that they are tight at the top.


From what you describe I think that your problem is most likely worn stabilizer link or links .
They make scrunching, crunching, pops and rattles when they start to go.
They also can be very hard to detect and diagnose. You grab them with a load on and they can feel tight.
Unload the stabilizer bar and check the top and bottom on each link on each side for excessive play. I think that's where you will find your problem, in the stabilizer links.
Click on the attached file below and you'll see the part that needs inspecting.
Good luck.

 

[Jett]

I agree that it doesnt seem like a wheel bearing. As I recall, they chirp then hum or "sing", as my dad used to say, when they start going bad.

The comments on the stabilizer links are much appreciated, and especially the attached diagram. I will print it out and take it with me on my next expedition to the service department.

Thanks to all for input so far...any further comments are appreciated.

 

[cpmoran]

NO expert here, but. My wheel bearing went bad 2hours after I bought my nsx 4 years ago and it sounded like crunching it would come and go. First on the highway over bumps then during cornering. It first started 2hours into a 14 hour drive back from Chicago were I bought it. The mech used a stethiscope to find out the exact location of the crunching. John Vasos paid for the part since he inspected it for me a few days earlier. I only paid 75bucks.

 

[Jett]

Thanks for the input on the wheel bearing. I will make that number one on the list of things to check, just to be sure.

 

[NSX-Racer]

Any news, Jett?

 

[nsxtasy]

If I were in your situation, I would take it up to Bernie at Davis Acura, north of Philly...

(...and, FWIW, I've replaced one wheel bearing and one ball joint on my NSX, on separate occasions.)

 

[OLDMNSX]

I have found that with my other Hondas/Acura that I have had this occur. I have found that the front/rear sway bars rubber bushings have gotten dirty/dry and make the noise that you have noted. I take loose the two clamps that hold the bushings, remove the bushings, clean the sway bar with fine emery cloth, wash the bushings with mild soap and water, dry and apply a thin coat of Dow Corning DC4 Silicone Grease to the inside surface of the rubber bushing. I find this silicone grease at Kaman Bearing for about $6 OR $7. Usually once a year does the job. If you have a small floor jack, jack stands and some metric tools you can do it yourself.
Brad

 

[Jett]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. No news, yet. I am going to try the "Car Doctor" in Falls Church, VA as one of the techs there has an excellent NSX reputation on the Southeast regional board. I have been staying in Maryland for a week but expect to be in Virginia in a couple of days and will drop it off there to have it checked out.

Some survey company called me with an Acura questionnaire. I was frank in telling them that I just don't have any confidence in the dealer's service department, based on prior and recent experience. One of their repairs on the flywheel was absolute genius, but their troubleshooting skills are poor. I just don't want to pay $2400 and have it NOT be the problem.

 

[nsxtasy]

Some survey company called me with an Acura questionnaire.

Following non-warranty dealer service a couple of weeks ago on our Integra, I got a quick telephone survey followed by a more in-depth website survey (conducted by JDPower, based on the website address). The web survey started with a video intro by Dick Colliver, one of American Honda's top execs. I can only conclude that they are surveying their dealer service customers (or some subset thereof) nationwide...

 

[Jett]

Took the car in to the Car Doctor yesterday (they represent themselves as "the Honda Specialist") and Charlie had a preliminary look. He drove the car to listen to it, then put it on a jack and jacked the right rear suspension up and down while listening with a stethoscope. He said the noise appears to be emanating from the lower control arm. I have an appointment with them this week to take the car in and Charlie will disassemble the affected area to pinpoint the exact problem.

Pbassjo, your posting of the appropriate pdf link was very helpful. Thank you for the extra effort.

I will update this post upon resolution so that it may be helpful to someone with a similar problem in the future.

 

[Jett]

Problem solved!

I took the car into the Car Doctor in Falls Church, Virginia for the second appointment. Charlie wanted to do some disassembly in the right rear suspension to pinpoint exactly where the noise was coming from.

Although Charlie normally handles all NSX repairs personally, he asked if it was okay if he had another tech do the disassembly, as he was going out of town. I agreed to this on his assurance that the other tech was qualified.

So they called me back that afternoon to say that the car was done. I thought they meant done until they ordered some parts, but they said no, done done. While examining the rear suspension for disassembly they discovered a loose bolt (nut?), which they retorqued along with anything else in that area of the car. I inquired as to exactly which one, but the guy who mans the desk didn't know, as he just mans the desk and doesn't do the repair work himself. They reported that they thought retorquing it would cure the problem. They might be referring to the stabilizer link, but I am not certain.

I have put about 100 miles on the car now and the noise is completely gone. They charged me $80, an obvious bargain.

The dealer charged me $120 to have a look, and they didn't find the problem. I am certainly glad I got a second opinion. I don't intend to use that particular dealership anymore, based on this and previous experiences.

I can now personally recommend the Car Doctor in Falls Church, Virginia for NSX repairs.

 

[Nihilation]

Great! I'll definitely keep them in mind! Good trust worthy shops to service the NSX to are few and far between.

 

[NSX-Racer]

Good to hear that, I'm glad it turned out that cheap for you. In this case it's okay that I predicted something wrong:wink:

 

[nsx2tall]

Now you can spend the $2200 dollars you saved on something nice for your NSX.:biggrin: Patience and research seem to be your key to making this a successful and inexpensive fix. Nice work.