I currently have two customers with Hondas, an '06 Odyssey and '12 Pilot, that have a noise in the front suspension that I can't find. The Odyssey got new KYB struts (jjust the damper, not quick struts) last fall, and the Pilot just got one (left hand side - was banging even on smooth road, all the oil was now grease on the outside of it and the rod was bent from being hit before they bought it) today. The Pilot has 88K on it and I assume the active motor mounts haven't been serviced, and the Odyssey has 212K and I replaced all the mounts (Beck Arnley, I think - owner wanted to chance it instead of going broke buying OEM's) at the same time I did the struts.
While both noises are similar, the Pilot is most pronounced - worst when at fairly low speed, turning right, when the driver's front tire goes over a pavement seam (entering a parking lot, etc.) or a rough portion of a gravel road. Doesn't do it when going down the road, even when I run it on the buzzer strip between lanes. But if the wheel is turned slightly to the right, even a stick the size of my thumb laying in my driveway can cause it. And I wouldn't describe it as a "clunk" or even a rattle - it's a mild "bang" that feels like it's directly under and in front of the driver's feet. I've inspected both rigs as best I know how and can't find anything I feel confident telling them to spend the money replacing to fix it - honestly, nothing looks or feels bad.
Ball joints? I've done the usual drill to inspect them and can't get any slop, but with one being wrecked and the other being fairly high mileage I wouldn't say they wore out prematurely.
Subframe bushings? That's right where the noise feels like it originates from and that assembly moving could cause the type of noise I hear, but once again I can't manifest any obvious signs of wear and that's not a small or cheap job to do as a guess.
Any ideas?
While both noises are similar, the Pilot is most pronounced - worst when at fairly low speed, turning right, when the driver's front tire goes over a pavement seam (entering a parking lot, etc.) or a rough portion of a gravel road. Doesn't do it when going down the road, even when I run it on the buzzer strip between lanes. But if the wheel is turned slightly to the right, even a stick the size of my thumb laying in my driveway can cause it. And I wouldn't describe it as a "clunk" or even a rattle - it's a mild "bang" that feels like it's directly under and in front of the driver's feet. I've inspected both rigs as best I know how and can't find anything I feel confident telling them to spend the money replacing to fix it - honestly, nothing looks or feels bad.
Ball joints? I've done the usual drill to inspect them and can't get any slop, but with one being wrecked and the other being fairly high mileage I wouldn't say they wore out prematurely.
Subframe bushings? That's right where the noise feels like it originates from and that assembly moving could cause the type of noise I hear, but once again I can't manifest any obvious signs of wear and that's not a small or cheap job to do as a guess.
Any ideas?
