CV joint, wheel bearing, or something else?

[llmercll]

Hello everyone, I've had some noise coming from the front left of my car the past few days. It's a springy/squishy/squeaky/thudding sound, and kind of reminds me of wet sneakers on a polished floor. I think it's a CV joint or wheel bearing but am not sure.

Here are the symptoms

It happens when going straight
Doesn't make noise on acceleration
Noise stops when braking
Turning right doesn't alter noise, though turning left slightly reduces it
It happens about once per tire rotation

My car is a 2001 Honda Civic HX w/ Manual transaxle. Here are some pics and recordings

outer boot

http://i.imgur.com/7uvUN2r.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2NRzU1r.jpg

axle kinda rusty

http://i.imgur.com/iYUOAss.jpg

inner boot

http://i.imgur.com/ForyJLP.jpg

wheel bearing?

http://i.imgur.com/nXC1kqr.jpg

Here is an audio clip of the noise it's making. Sorry there is some wind so turn down your speakers if they are loud or you're wearing headphones.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8HzKQ9FFQpjMjBLX3lENVNRaGc/edit?usp=sharing

During the clip I basically accelerate a bit and then coast. The noise is only present when coasting and I'm going slow here. Each noise is about 1 rotation.

I go back to school in a few weeks and need to get this taken care of asap. I'd like to avoid shop fees if possible. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[CHARLIEBRONSON21]

Could have sworn I saw this on reddit earlier...

 

[Olas]

get the car up on axle stands and have someone put it in gear and drive...look for abnormal movement.
If you can't see anything have them stop the wheels then get a prybar and start checking for play in bushes/joints. check brakes aren't binding. CVs usually click, moreso with lock applied than without. bearings are usually speed dependent, not accel/decel dependant.
could a wheel weight be catching a brake line/damper/track rod end etc?

on that corner you have drive, suspension, stering and braking, only four systems and all pretty simple ones. I bet it'll be obvious as soon as you get under there and have a look

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

If that were a mopar I would say a cv joint, likely the inner. For a Honda ???

You might want to check the tire really closely. I had something like that when a belt started to come loose.

Good luck,

Wayne

 

[spackard]

Noise stops when braking?
Maybe it's just the brake pad wear indicator.
The noise sounds a little high-pitched for a wheel bearing.

If it's the wheel bearing it's probably not worth doing this yourself. They are pressed in.
When you take it in you can have the shop do a diagnosis; most waive the diagnostic fee or incorporate it into the repair.

If they diagnose the wheel bearing, consider having both front wheels done at the same time. They're both just as old and have gone the same mileage, and, the right side on my car ('92 Vigor) was the first to go (I suspect crowned roads, more gutter water baths, and a tendency to load up the right side more often than the left).

BTW, don't be too disappointed if it's misdiagnosed. I know money's tight for you, but occasionally noises are misdiagnosed and you pay for a repair that's not currently needed.

 

[llmercll]

I don't think it's a belt, the noise only happens when the car is rolling and is unaffected by engine rpm or anything else.

Wouldn't brakes make the noise when I brake, not remove it?

Can anyone tell by the clip?

thanks!

 

[yonyon]

Brakes can make many noises that go away when applied.

 

[llmercll]

Bump. Anyone?

 

[artificialist]

That lower ball joint looks like it is worn out. There shouldn't be any grease out of that boot. I wouldn't be surprised if the car needed ball joints, suspension bushings, and swaybar links.

 

[llmercll]

Nice catch. I will look into that further. It's just been so darned cold.

 

[dave180]

It happens when going straight, Noise stops when braking, It happens about once per tire rotation

These are brake symptoms. Take a look at the brake pads and specifically the inner pad sensor.

Let us know what you find.