Rep Power: 201

1.
It sounds like fine sandpaper wrapped around a rotating metal shaft. It does not happen at all speeds. I think it's present more often when the outside temperature is low. It sounds like it's coming from the lower front passenger side, but I could be wrong. The 2003 Civic has 176k miles on it. Could the grease in the driveshaft boots have dried out?

2.
I inspected all four front driveshaft boots the other day. No leaks. No clunking on turns or anything, either. I took apart the front brakes, lubed the four pins and brake pad shims per the shop manual with synthetic grease and moly, and inspected carefully. No sign that anything is amiss.

3.
I have the shop manual directions for replacing the driveshafts (a.k.a. halfshafts); a honda-tech.com DIY site on same; and am ready to buy a few tools to do it. Any suggestions for where to buy the halfshafts? Ebay has them. I think autozone does too. Is it a good pre-emptive practice to replace the halfshafts after this many years and miles?

 
Rep Power: 517

.....Brake rotor dust shield contacting rotor?

 
Rep Power: 132

Bad wheel bearings? They make more of a growl sound though.

 
Rep Power: 201

Wheel bearings are indeed also on my mind. I suppose I might have to let the problem "develop" more.

ezone, I did not see anything bent up around the brakes, but I could have missed it. Yes, I am wondering about brake lining dust. I use OEM pads and shoes always, having replaced both in the last year. When I cleaned all four wheels' brake areas the other day, things did seem less gritty-sounding. I got a lot of brake lining dust out of the rear brakes in particular.

 
Rep Power: 201

I have narrowed the sandpaper-like sound as follows:

-- Happens when in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear, with foot off the gas pedal, above 20 mph. (My Civic has a manual transmission.)

-- It also happens in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th gear when the cruise control is on and the car is going downhill (requiring less throttle, so it's like one is taking one's foot off the gas pedal).

-- Does not happen in neutral.

-- Goes away the instant I push the clutch pedal.

-- Is not a function of pushing the brake pedal or releasing the brake pedal.

 
Rep Power: 517

Exhaust heat shields buzz/rattle?



A next step might be to raise the wheels off the ground (safely) and see if it still makes noise in 2,3,4 gears, then use ears and a stethoscope to narrow down the location of the noise.

 
Rep Power: 201

ezone, thank you for suggesting raising the front wheels and having someone press the gas pedal while I stay away from moving parts and try to narrow the sound. I am going to try to get a bud to help me with this sometime this month. First place I will try to examine is the gearbox.

I just edited my prior post to add a bit more info.

 
Rep Power: 517

The updated description makes me think it's inside the transmission also. Might be a bearing issue allowing unwanted movement of something inside the trans.

Any leaks from the trans, or low fluid level?