<jqoutlaw@gmail.com> wrote
>I posted last week about a 1994 Accord EX with 235K+ miles
>that needed
> suspension/alignment/steering work. It is tugging and
> jerking the wheel
> up to around 40Mph, then a had vibration around 50-55,
> then a constant
> vibration to about 80Mph. Any transition in speed will
> cause a
> vibrationa as well. Oddly, if you go into a corner the
> vibration stops
> while turning at speed, but resumes when you get straight.
> The
> condition is getting worse, and I'm afraid it is getting
> pretty
> dangerous to drive.
>
> With the mileage, I'm guessing its the ball joints. The
> car is showing
> its in alignment, but its wearing the inside of both front
> tires.

I don't think you should guess. It could be so many things.
For example:
-- Needs alignment
-- tire pressure incorrect
-- wheels in need of balancing
-- worn ____ suspension part

More importantly, the problem is becoming serious. Maybe it
is a ball joint about to fail completely. A good report on a
failed ball joint appears at
http://tegger.com/hondafaq/lowerballjoint/index.html.

You're right to be careful. I agree you should //strongly//
consider not driving the car further.

You're probably capable of doing at least a cursory check of
the ball joints by yourself. For one thing, you want to
check their boots. If torn, the possibility is higher that
the ball joint is about to fail. Checking for excessive BJ
play is described at

http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker...3d800d1b9e.jsp

On the other hand, if you need this car functioning right
away, I recommend calling an alignment shop and asking
whether they check the ball joints and for general wear
during the alignment. If so, have an alignment done, but
especially note what the shop says is worn.


If you really do have the time, google for {"ball joints"
"tire wear" pattern inner} and a lot of fine articles come
up. Read more, so you know how broad this subject is.

> I figure a lot of bushings are worn out up front as well,
> and found
> this auction on ebay:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-97...QQcmdZViewItem
>
> For around 160$ shipped this looks like a steal, but
> wanted to see if
> anyone had any input on it. Wouldn't it be easier to just
> replace all
> these parts at one time while the front end is apart?

Contrary to the assertion of this ebay advertisement, these
items are not //all// of the usual wear items. There are
others. For example, the lower control arm bushings may be
easily examined with the car on jackstands or ramps. Cracks
in these bushings are common and will be obvious.

Whether this ebay item is OEM ( = genuine Honda) is also not
clear. it looks like an aftermarket parts dealer, like
Autozone. From my reading and some experience, non-OEM
rubber anything is not worth what you pay. I note that I am
frugal and learned this the hard way. Now I pay more
upfront, but the parts last longer. I sleep better. :-)

> Do you think it would be a tough job for a DIY'er. I have
> access to a
> lot of tools, impact wrenchs, etc... , but not a lift.

I have been replacing a lot of my suspension components
recently on my 91 Civic. These include the stabilizer links
(easy job; mine were very badly corroded on one side); lower
control arm bushings (have done bushings on 3 of four arms
now); front coil springs. Freeing frozen bolts on the
control arms, and removing old bushings and installing new
ones, all by one's self, is an adventure. That is, they're
only for a person with a lot of time and interest.

I have done all of it on jack stands and rhino ramps. A
lift would be nice, but if you're not too large a person and
can easily get under the car with it on ramps and
jackstands, the suspension work is quite manageable.

I am spending a lot of money on tools (or fabricating my
own). Still, the cost is far below what I would pay a shop.
Plus I will know that, for example, the trailing arm
bushings (in the rear) were correctly installed (orientation
of them is a bit tricky; shops have been known to mess it
up).

What kind of auto repair experience have you, anyway? If
you've never done, say, a timing belt and brake pads, then I
don't think you're ready to tackle suspension renovation.

Also, has the car been driven in a snowy, wet climate for
much of its life? That will indicate somewhat how difficult
the bolts will be to free.

Lastly, has the car (driven perhaps by a teenage son) hit
anything since the problem started occurring?