IrishInIsengard

I just bought a 2003 API S2K with 35K miles from a guy who maintains his own cars. I've noticed when I shift, there's a subtle clicking noise coming from the rear end (my intuition says from the wheels, but I'm not sure). I thought that maybe it had to do with how I was driving it, so I had another person drive it. The same clicking sound was there.

Has anyone else had this happen or know what this could be?

Other random facts that may help:
-it happens on flat terrain
-occurs between all gears, not just 1-2, etc
-still clicks whether going straight or turning

Thanks in advance, guys!!

DFWs2k

check axle nut tightness, why is your font so weird

CoolGuy094

Could be the axle nut tightness or how the axle splines are seated in the hub. A way to check is to remove the wheel, take off the axle nut (no easy task without a large breaker bar or powerful impact wrench), remove the lower castle nut and pop the ball joint out (need a tie rod end puller), remove the ABS sensor bracket from the upper control arm (so yo don't accidentally pull on it) then pull the hub away from the axle. Then take some hi temp grease and apply to the splines of the axle and the splines on the inside of the hub, and dab a bit on the collar of the axle nut (part that mates to the hub, not the threads) and reinstall everything. Torque the axle nuts to 230 ft-lbs (push really hard on your breaker bar!) and you should hopefully be good to go.

IrishInIsengard

Thanks, I really hope it just needs the axle nuts tightened. I don't think I have all the tools to check out the axle myself. At least this way, I can tell the shop exactly what to do. Is this a common problem? I was reading another forum that made it sound like this was a recall at some point or TSB issued.

I also noticed that most people said the noise happens when pulling out or going from reverse to forward or forward to reverse. Mine happens while shifting, too. Sorry, these are probably dumb questions, but I'm sort of ignorant when it comes to this car.

DFW, I just switched the font for kicks. I've been avoiding Times fonts ever since college ended.

DanZilla

This happened to me when i bought new RPF1's with new Re01R's a few years ago. Not sure exactly what it was, but when I sold those wheels and put my OEM wheels back on. The clicking noise never came back. Sounds like cling-cling-cling when you shift?

I also took it to my local Honda dealership and the techs there were confused on what the noise was

IrishInIsengard

I still have the original wheels on the car. I just bought it though, so who knows what was on it before. The sound I hear is usually a single click, sometimes two. No more than that though.

Sukeetoshyoo88

excessive backlash between your ring and pinion?
or is that supposed to be a clunking noise?

DFWs2k

sounds like axle nut to me...

i tightened mine and it started clicking again, so need to tighten again, guess w the impact gun this time

IrishInIsengard

How often do you have to get the axle nut tightened? Do dealers do it for free because of the design flaw?

rocketstarter

design flaw? unedaquate torque specification on early models