Honda Car Forum

I have a 1998 Honda Civic that sat undriven (except for spins around the block) for several years. Last year when it started being driven regularly again, it started making a clunking noise when I went over small bumps or dips. The noise is clearly coming from the front right end of the car. I took it to a shop and they told me they "greased it up" and the noise went away. Now the noise is back. The Honda dealership said they couldn't hear anything, although I am positive it's there since I turn left and go over a dip several times a day to get to my house and always hear it. Is there a safety concern that I need to be aware of or should I just take it back to the neighborhood garage and have it greased up again?Thank you for all the quick and thorough responses. Just a couple of details--it's a 1998 but only has 32,000 miles on it since it was sitting for so long. Obviously I will have the CV boot checked out, but this problem has been going on for more than a year. It went away and now came back. It doesn't get any worse. Thank you again and if you have any further details (like a rough estimate of how much it might cost to repair), please let me know.

Sounds like you need a new CV joint to me. If you don't replace the CV joint it will get progressively worse. The classic sign of a bad CV joint is a CONSTANT "ticking" or as you say "clunking" as you drive. The sound may get louder or even decrease only as you turn corners.A bad CV joint can be potentially dangerous while driving since it is there to stablize each wheel. Each side has a CV joint. The worst case scenario is that without that stabilization, your wheel will eventually start to wobble and DISPLACE while driving. Not good. Dangerous.

i had the same problen with a 1996 civic....it turned out to be the axel was going bad ( it was expensive to replace too ).i also agree with the person above!

Sounds to me that the 98 Civic klunker is wearing out... Sure take it back to the shop tell them to grease the klunker like they did last time.....Look and see if the axle needs to be changed...

i too am leaning towards bad cv. run your hands over the rubber boots and see if any cracks or grease being sprayed all over the place. try this, go to a parking lot and drive in a circle to the left and listen. if cv is bad on left side it will clunk while turning left. then do the same going right. etc. if this doesnt work, take it to repair shop and take them for a ride over small bumps and dips and see what they say. i dont know what u could grease up to make a clunk go away. good luck, rob

Has to be the cv boot. Get it replaced before you have to replace the whole axle. That is when it gets pricey!!