Hi Elle,

Thanks for the quick reply, Elle.

I forgot to add to the original thread that I already replaced the
stabilizer bar bushings (which you mentioned)... You are right, they
tend to self-destruct for no good reason at all after 15 years or so
(smile). They were making noise (before repair), but it was their own
noise, unrelated to the problem noise discussed here.

I'll take your advice and look as closely as I can at the front
suspension springs, radius rod bushings, and lower control arm
bushings. I've pried like crazy on all those things with a crow bar,
but can never get a peep out of them while the car is sitting still.
.... But they are still under suspect. Everything is "guilty until
proven innocent". ;-) I suspect the radius rod bushing are not the
culprit, as "heavy breaking" is not necessary to produce the sound...
Just gentle acceleration/deceleration will do it.

In particular, I'll look closely at the front suspension springs, as
the sound has a real "under tension" kind of "snap" to it when it
happens. That is, it sounds like a lot of pressure is involved when
the part slips. One thing which makes me think it might not be the
springs is that going over a speed bump (at any speed) does not seem to
trigger the sound. There generally has to be some slight acceleration
or deceleration to trigger it.

One last thought which I didn't mention is that the engine does not
have to be running, nor does the car need to be in gear for the sound
to happen... I can create the sound just by coasting and applying the
brakes (with the engine off.)

I'm willing to entertain any one else's ideas as well... So keep those
cards and letters coming. ;-)

Thanks again, Elle...

RJ (Guangzhou)


Elle wrote:
> Oh man this is a good one. I am not the most experienced
> bird here but having recently rebuilt one heckuva lot of my
> own 91 Civic's suspension, I'd go prowling around and poking
> at the following, in no particular order:
>
> --Broken front suspension springs. They tend to break at the
> top or bottom, and it won't be obvious. IIRC the rubber
> molded cap at the bottom can become worn with age, too.
>
> -- Stabilizer bar links (they rust away really well after 15
> years! Fortunately, they are easy to replace). They have a
> lot of little bushings associated with them.
>
> -- Radius rod bushings too old and fatigued to take load
> properly (never heard of those causing problems, but they do
> take a lot of force upon braking)
>
> -- Lower control arm bushings. Get under the car (without it
> jacked up and then with it jacked up) and inspect for
> cracks, how the car sits with them. You can also measure the
> height of the upper wheel well on both sides and possibly
> get more ideas on the condition of these bushings.
>
> "Guangzhou" <rjtrede@gmail.com> wrote
> > Here's the weird "kicker"... The sound disappears as cold
> > and rainy
> > weather rolls in during the fall and early winter! After
> > a few days of
> > cold rainy weather, the sound gets quieter and quieter....
> > and finally
> > completely disappears until Spring! Just for the record,
> > the car is
> > parked every night in my garage, with is always a few
> > degress above
> > freezing.
> >
> > The car is still making noise this Autumn, because we have
> > had
> > beautiful warm 75 degree days so far... But just like the
> > past 4
> > years, I am certain the noise will go away and make no
> > more noise until
> > Spring, once we get a few cold rainy/snowy days... Then
> > it will
> > reappear in the Spring.
> >
> > The seasonal "appearance" and "disappearance" of the sound
> > makes me
> > think it could have something to do with the viscosity of
> > a lubricant
> > in some part (lubricant gets thick in winter and thins out
> > again in the
> > spring.) ... Or it could be a rubber bushing at fault
> > which gets
> > "stiff" in the winter and "spoungy" again when the warmer
> > weather of
> > the spring returns.
> >
> > Any ideas? Has anyone experienced the same thing? The
> > sound is not
> > only very irritating, but gives me "safefy concerns" as
> > well.
> >
> > The car has "only" 140k miles on it and is otherwise in
> > above average
> > condition.
>
> Yabut it has a lot of winter driving on it, no?