I have a 2001 Honda civic Vti and have been hearing this rattling in the front suspension area for the last 8 months and I have done all of the following:

1. Changed struts
2. Changed link bars
3. Changed LCA bushings
4. Had the front suspension examined as recently as yesterday.


However, the rattling has never stopped and I am fed up with this. I love my car and it runs perfectly otherwise, but I hate the rattling.

I also get a clunking/clicking sound that appears to be coming from my steering rod area.

Please help

Thanks

when you changed the struts, did you get new top mounts and bearings too?

no I did not...should I have changed the top mounts too?...The mechanic looked at them last Saturday and said they were fine

How do u know when the bearings in the strut mount are dead?

usually bad bearings will make clunking and rattling sounds. i have the same issue now but dont wanna take all the stuff apart just to replace the bearings (which are usually plastic btw and just crack over time).

If you have wheel covers, then it's those.

So the bearings u refer to are those in the strut mount right? Can those be removed independently?

I noticed last Saturday that when the mechanic opened the strut mount the bearings looked as if they could not be removed...

I would be elated if it is really just that

yeah bearings can come apart, they were prolly mashed on so tight it looked like single piece. but you gotta take the whole shock apart again to change it.

ok...Thanks....will have that done tomorrow..

What specs these bearings have and what do they look like

i think its just a plastic washer looking piece for the bearing. very common for them to crack

http://www.discountautoshocks.com/sh...ory:Suspension)

please check dat link as say if that is the replacement bearing for the strut mount

yeah the round ring is the bearing. but you prolly want to replace the top mounts too while you have it all apart.

I had the same problem on an older civic and found that the brake pad clips were missing. I bought a complete set at Autozone and also added the antisqueek gunk all over the back of the pads. reinstalled and the problem was solved. I had another rattle under the front end afew yaers back and it turned out to be the catalytic converter rusting out from the inside. Good luck, CW

This is almost a year later and I still have the problem...changed struts, LCA bushings, rack ends, link bars, strut mounts..

However I have not changed the strut mount bearings....when the mechanic removed the old strut mounts the ***** loosed up in his hands like nothing, and it looked like the ***** were just sitting loosely in the grooves around the mount...are the ***** supposed to be locked up tightly in the bearings?...

Part #9 is the bearing and you need two!
O ya and there not plastic any more its in cased in a metal ring now..
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...SHOCK+ABSORBER

wow metal, what an idea lol. i will have to stick in the metal ones next time.

Ya metal! I freaked when i got mine and thought it was the wrong part.. but if you look at the part price for an 01 its like 15 bucks i think thats the old plastic one.. and anything 02-up is 20 which is the ones i got and they were metal... METAL!

thanks man.

fixed...it was the strut mount....it had to be removed and the OEM one reinstalled

Hello Remmick69,

So you replace it with a OEM new 2002 strut bearing on a 2001 Strut mount?

"Hello Remmick69,

So you replace it with a OEM new 2002 strut bearing on a 2001 Strut mount? "

Did you get an answer to that ? I have asked this question and no body answered it !

I'm trying to get the 02 Strut mounts for my 01 EX 2 door

Any body know if it fits without a problem ?

hmm my progress coilovers were designed for a 01-02 i had to by 01 plastic upper bearings in order for it to seat properly with my 04 top hats i don't believe you can just swap out plastic for metal.

If you have an 01, get the 02, they fit and are metal, its been covered before, i dont have the link though.

interesting.... im going to have to take a look at my suspension later on this week.

Thanks for the reply 02_d17a1_dx just wanted to make sure though
Are you talking about the Bearing only ? Or the strut mounts and the bearings ?

I need to buy them soon and I want something good that last. I'm leaning towards the 02 strut and bearing but Honda Dealer doesn't know if they fit or not lol

Thanks.

Idk if the 01 strut mounts will mate up with the metal bearings, but might as well replace them all, they will mate up with your 01 struts though.

i just replace the strut bearing on my 02 with my stock 02 mount... 01-03 should be the same, they just updated the bearings, because the plastic bearings were POS. Heres the links illsta. # 9

Metal bearing:
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...SHOCK+ABSORBER

Plastic:
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...SHOCK+ABSORBER

Hey check to see if the top nut on your strut is tighten down all the way. I had a knocking rattling noise for awhile before i figured out i didnt tighten enough. You have to jack up the front of the car and take the weight off the front struts, then tighten the top nut down useing an allen key and 17mm closed wrench. After i did that no more rattle/knocking. Hope this helps

You gotta make sure you take the weight before tightening the the NUT!
Try that and see if the noise goes away..If you tighten the nut with the weight on the car youll tear the rubber on you top mount.

you tighten the nut right and dont move the alan key? i tried that before but it wasnt moving at all. i guess its already tight.

ya the nut but you use the allen key to keep the strut rod from moving when you tighten the nut..