Clicking/popping/rattling noise from front driver side

MATTKWALSH

MEMBER
2009 HONDA CIVIC
2.0L
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
117,000 MILES

I have a loud clicking or popping noise coming from the front left anytime I hit any kind of bump whatsoever. I live on a gravel road and the noise is awful. I have heard CV joint, but the noise does not get any worse when I turn and the boot seems to be in good condition. I just put a new strut on and it did not fix anything. I know it is not anything with the brakes, I have checked all that. Any ideas?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

The best suspects are the lower ball joint, loose brake pads, worn anti-sway bar links, and deteriorated control arm bushings. Loose brake pads will stop making noise when you hold light pressure on the brake pedal. Anti-sway bar links can usually be heard while driving at very low speeds, such as when driving through a parking lot, and they will become quieter when turning slightly in either direction.

The fastest way to find the cause of the noise is to have the steering and suspension systems inspected at a tire and alignment shop. The people there are experts at finding the causes of noises, pulling to one side, and bad tire wear. The biggest concern as far as safety is the ball joint. If that separates, it can send you into the ditch or into oncoming traffic. That is not real common on your model, but it is a real big problem on some other brands.