Honda Car Forum

Ok, it's a 2002 base rsx. All stock, no mods. The passenger side wheel
has been making a speed related thumping noise for a while, more
pronounced while turning left than right - I think it started when I
replaced the tires about 3 weeks ago, but it may have been doing it
before then - the old tires were pretty bad, and I may have dismissed
odd sounds.

So I took the car back to the place that replaced the tires, and had
them rebalance everything, and check it out, and rotate the tires, and
they said they thought the wheel bearing was bad. The sound is still
coming from the same place after rotating the tires. They couldn't
replace it right away, but guesstimated a price around 300$.

Does this all sound right? Is 300$ (US) about right? Should I have this
sort of thing done by the acura dealership, or can anyone do it? For
that matter, is it something I could do - any special tools required?
(No bearing pullers here, but otherwise I'm pretty well equipped) How
long do I dare drive this thing before getting it done - money is a bit
tight, but if it needs to be done pronto, I can find a way?

Thanks for any info!
--
-----------------------------
I only talk like that in the movies

"Yoda" <yoda@Dagobah.net> wrote in message
news:2007061511431416807-yoda@Dagobahnet...
> Ok, it's a 2002 base rsx. All stock, no mods. The passenger side wheel has
> been making a speed related thumping noise for a while, more pronounced
> while turning left than right - I think it started when I replaced the
> tires about 3 weeks ago, but it may have been doing it before then - the
> old tires were pretty bad, and I may have dismissed odd sounds.
>
> So I took the car back to the place that replaced the tires, and had them
> rebalance everything, and check it out, and rotate the tires, and they
> said they thought the wheel bearing was bad. The sound is still coming
> from the same place after rotating the tires. They couldn't replace it
> right away, but guesstimated a price around 300$.
>
> Does this all sound right? Is 300$ (US) about right? Should I have this
> sort of thing done by the acura dealership, or can anyone do it? For that
> matter, is it something I could do - any special tools required? (No
> bearing pullers here, but otherwise I'm pretty well equipped) How long do
> I dare drive this thing before getting it done - money is a bit tight, but
> if it needs to be done pronto, I can find a way?
>
> Thanks for any info!
> --
> -----------------------------
> I only talk like that in the movies
>
>
I'm guessing it is like the bearings in my son's '94 Integra and my own 2002
Toyota. If so, it involves removing the steering knuckle (removing the drive
axle and a bit more work after that) and then changing the bearings in the
knuckle. That part requires a good press - we ended up taking the knuckle
and parts to a machine shop and paid about $25.

A second opinion on the bearings is in order, though - they aren't high on
my list of suspects for thumping noises.

Mike

Yoda <yoda@Dagobah.net> wrote in
news:2007061511431416807-yoda@Dagobahnet:

> Ok, it's a 2002 base rsx. All stock, no mods. The passenger side wheel
> has been making a speed related thumping noise for a while, more
> pronounced while turning left than right - I think it started when I
> replaced the tires about 3 weeks ago, but it may have been doing it
> before then - the old tires were pretty bad, and I may have dismissed
> odd sounds.
>
> So I took the car back to the place that replaced the tires, and had
> them rebalance everything, and check it out, and rotate the tires, and
> they said they thought the wheel bearing was bad. The sound is still
> coming from the same place after rotating the tires. They couldn't
> replace it right away, but guesstimated a price around 300$.
>
> Does this all sound right? Is 300$ (US) about right? Should I have
> this sort of thing done by the acura dealership, or can anyone do it?
> For that matter, is it something I could do - any special tools
> required? (No bearing pullers here, but otherwise I'm pretty well
> equipped) How long do I dare drive this thing before getting it done -
> money is a bit tight, but if it needs to be done pronto, I can find a
> way?
>
> Thanks for any info!



A wheel bearing is normally a loud howling noise. It often shows up on a
gentle curve in one direction but not in the other.

Thumping noises are usually tires. Any vibration in the steering wheel?
Did they load up the tire with weights because they couldn't get it
mounted true?

If they moved the tires and the noise is unchanged, that would seem to
place the noise at that corner. But a"thumping" from wheel bearings? I
don't think so...

Are your wheels and/or tires aftermarket or aftermarket sizes?


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Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/