Tore a caliper pin boot.

[JTK]

It's amazing how one job can turn into several. I started by investigating a horrible clunk coming from what sounds like the right rear suspension when going over bumps. 2008 Honda Odyssey LX @ 45Kmi. First I jacked up the arse-end. Checked for any play or undue noise from the wheels and what I could grab hold of on the suspension. Nothing. All looks well, so I pulled the right rear wheel. Nothing obvious causing the clunking, but hmmm.. Brake pads have about 30% left on them. Jeez I better change them before the snow flies. I ran to CarQuest and purchased new ceramic pads for front & rear. ~$75 out the door.

I got home, started on the job only to tear a caliper pin boot in half on the right rear about 3min into the job! !@##$% I didn't try the dealer, but Carquest is supposedly going to have a boot kit for me this morning. Why do it with one trip to the store when you can with two..or more.

This would be the third time I've disassembled, cleaned and lubed the brakes on my Odyssey, yet almost all those boots are stuck in the calipers. The pins come out no problem for cleaning/greasing. I normally like to pull the boots right out for cleaning. I got half of the first! Good times.

Joel

 

[The Critic]

Isn't the lease for this van up soon?

Clunking is probably due to the hardware itsrllf. Check for TSBs.

 

[JTK]

I bought the van out in November 2010. I had a few months left in the lease, the buyout was decent @ ~$15K and decent interest rates at the time.

The metal on metal clunking sounds almost like a loose shock mount, bad bushing or the exhaust hitting somewhere around that corner. I can't find anything obvious?! It's a multi-link control arm setup back there. No sway bar. Can't find anything online where anyone else with a 2005-2010 had this issue.

On a positive note, CarQuest had my "bushing" kit this AM. $9.96. One kit per axle.

I've got to say, my local CarQuest has always been able to bail me out by sourcing me (somewhat obscure) parts very quickly. My local NAPA and others.. not so much. Not even close.

Joel

 

[mechtech2]

Sounds like you did a good job, and saved money by doing it yourself.
What's another 1/2 hour? You should get years of trouble free life, now.

 

[JTK]

So much for the CarQuest kit.

The darn boots don't fit in the bores on the calipers. They're a tiny bit too big. Just enough that they bunch up and won't lock in. I tried for better than an hour w/ various 'techniques' and wound-up poking a hole in one in the process.

I said some combinations of words that even the dog stayed away.

I ordered a Honda kit from my closest Honda dealer parts counter. Of course they didn't have it in stock either. The Honda kit comes with a seal kit for the calipers too. Just under $15 I'm told. Dunno if it's one side or per axle. They'll call when it's in.

Also made an appt for the clunking since it's still under 5/60 powertrain warranty.

In the meantime I buttoned it back up with that lower pin glopped-up with Sil-Glyde and a new boot that won't lock in the caliper. Can't live w/out the Ody unfortunately.

Back to the drawing board!

Joel

 

[Hounds]

JTK, when your pin boots come in, if you don't mine, would you post the Honda part number? Thanks.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Hounds
JTK, when your pin boots come in, if you don't mine, would you post the Honda part number? Thanks.


Sure will.

I've got to drop the van off tonight for tomorrow AM's service appt. I'll be curious to see of the Tech notices the ill fitting aftermarket slide pin boot when they investigate the clunking I've got going on.

Joel

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: Hounds
JTK, when your pin boots come in, if you don't mine, would you post the Honda part number? Thanks.


Sure will.

I've got to drop the van off tonight for tomorrow AM's service appt. I'll be curious to see of the Tech notices the ill fitting aftermarket slide pin boot when they investigate the clunking I've got going on.

Joel

You do realize that there's a good chance that clunk-type noises will not be reproduced and you will be billed the $120 for 1 hr labor, right? Once the car is out of the 3/36 they are going to charge you for diagnostic.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
[
You do realize that there's a good chance that clunk-type noises will not be reproduced and you will be billed the $120 for 1 hr labor, right? Once the car is out of the 3/36 they are going to charge you for diagnostic.


My luck lately, it will be $500.

You know it's obvious when my wife and kids ask "why is the van making that noise?!?" Over any bump it clunks from the right rear. I checked everything back there, even trying to wiggle suspension parts with a pry bar. Can't find where it's coming from.

I'm hoping it's easy for them. I was also hoping if it is anything major, the 5yr/60Kmi powertrain warranty will cover it. This is the first repair this van has required.

Joel

 

[The Critic]

Have you checked the rear sway bar end links? There isn't much that can cause a clunk on that corner.

 

[JTK]

Like I said above, there's no conventional 'sway bar' on the back with this particular design. There is one on the front. I have replaced end-links on other vehicles (front), so I'm pretty familiar.

There are a bunch of control arm type bushings on the back suspension. I suspect it's something there.

Joel

 

[charbaby]

Remove the spare tire and look in the area! Maybe there is something loose in there.

Rear shock or strut mount/bearing cap going bad maybe? Just throwing this out there for ya! I'm not sure how Honda's are setup these days. You or the dealership service dept will have to open the interior/hatch back area and remove the inside panel to access the top of the mount and check for play...Yeah, $500, just your luck!

If the kids are commenting, maybe it's one of their toys/baseball or something that got stuck down somewhere in the rear well/spare tire area? Just throwing out a couple of ideas that I have come across over the years. You may find that tool you thought your neighbor borrowed!

 

[JTK]

Thanks for the ideas.

The spare is on the other side of the noise and it buttoned up tight. The rear shocks are not tower mounted. Everything can be unbolted from underneath.

Joel

 

[JTK]

Just got the van back. They had a heck of time isolating the source of the clunking. The service adviser even stated; "It sounds just like a bad stabilizer bar end link, but these vans don't have any".

They called me & wanted to start by changing out the shock. If that wasn't it, they'd look into the control arm bushings. They wanted $150 for a replacement Honda shock. I said no way. They said they'd look for an aftermarket one.

They wound-up charging me $100 for a ~$50 KYB 349091 shock and $128.70 for diagnostics and labor. $228.70 out the door.

Wife says it's quiet now. It's so windy and rainy right now I can't even take a listen/look.

It's amazing to me they didn't push to replace the other shock or push any other services. I didn't think there was a shop out there that wouldn't replace them only in pairs. I'll have to swap out the other side with a matching KYB at some point

.

While there they also took care of a ABS system recall which included a brake bleeding and fluid top-up and also a transmission programming recall.

Of course they didn't even notice the mis-fit caliper pin boot. I picked up my Honda kit while I was there. I'll get on that as soon as I can.

Joel

 

[charbaby]

Very good although it's always expensive. At least you/they have narrowed down the cause of the noise. Hope it stays away!

Yeah, I too am surprised they didn't try to sell you another KYB and other services. Very good though!

Windy & rainy? Hmmm, it was as calm as could be here yesterday. Almost too calm! You know, like the one before the storm? My daughter lives in Amherst and mentions how much more windy/breezy Buffalo is compared to Rochester.

CB