Honda Accord 2009 Noise From Suspension - Strut, Axial Thrust Bearing, Decent Arage In Pattaya

[MrJ]

Hi All,

I got noise from the front suspension especially at low speed at bumps and belief need to change the front strut/axial thrust bearing. My Honda dealer in Pattaya says all is fine and recommends to change the the shock absorber if I am not happy. As i only have 36.000 km and only driven carefully I doubt that the shocks are done already. But as I have 20 inch alloys with 245/45 tires the bearings could be the problem. I fear to change the shocks as recommended and still have the noise.....and spend for nothing.

Does anybody have experience with a similar issue and may can recommend a decent garage in Pattaya area? I would prefer HONDA original dealer but get tired already.

Thanks and Cheers

Mr. J

[overherebc]

I used to get a soft clunk from the front when the car came to a stop on braking and the load came off the front springs, if you know what I mean, car stops and the front comes back up a little bit.

As per yourself Honda said front shocks, wife did it without me knowing, she uses car to get to the office so just dropped it off in the morning and collected at night,and the clunk disappeared for a few weeks then came back.

Changed the bearings a few weeks later and again after a few weeks it, the clunk, came back. Ignored it after that and it never got worse and still had it after 120,000 k.

[culicine]

I don't think this is the shocks (my honda civic's lasted 200K kms before they got a bit noisy. I think this clunking sound is common for hondas, as I've heard the story many times before. I'm not sure if there is a real problem or a design characteristic. I changed my springs later on and don't really notice any clunk now....or maybe I just got used to the sound.

[Ace of Pop]

Ive taken several Friends Civics and City to Tire Plus with your complaint. Each time the Near Side Bearings are chewed up, i like their service,enthusiastic you can stand and look,Hondas O.K. but shew you off if you wander about.Try it.

[MrJ]

Ive taken several Friends Civics and City to Tire Plus with your complaint. Each time the Near Side Bearings are chewed up, i like their service,enthusiastic you can stand and look,Hondas O.K. but shew you off if you wander about.Try it.

thanks for the advice - where is their garage in Pattaya? will give it a try......

[MrJ]

Ive taken several Friends Civics and City to Tire Plus with your complaint. Each time the Near Side Bearings are chewed up, i like their service,enthusiastic you can stand and look,Hondas O.K. but shew you off if you wander about.Try it.

Thanks - where in Pattaya is their garage? will give it a try

[Ace of Pop]

They have a Website.Find it there, i only go to Patts for Bike Week.

[BSJ]

I think your barking up the wrong tree. Under normal condition, or with big wheels/tyres, the front end should get to 100k before you need to worry about worn parts....unless for some reason the damping fluid the struts sit in has drained out of the tubes. Which can lead to a knocking sound. I would be looking at the steering rack. With the big wheels/tyres the extra load on the rack bushes may have accelerated their wear. It doesn't always show up as vibration in the steering wheel so people often miss it till they get the car up on a hoist.

[Ace of Pop]

N/S Front have been a Honda prob for Ages. It about time they took them to Totota the level of quietness. As for fluid leaks from Chokes any numnut can see it. The OP says hes not hard on the Car ,so Big Ghetto Wheels make little difference.

[MrJ]

just back from Tyres Plus and they couldnt find anything - as usael at the test drive there was no noise. The mechanic there called his friend at Honda Pattaya dealer garage and i landed there again - now waiting for their result. Will be the usaul all ok no problem but yu can change for new system.

There was liquid whats or ever seen from any part......

Keep you updated

[Ace of Pop]

I can identify with your Frustration. Silly as it sounds we had a Civic with tiny Kms, but because it sat so long, 10K in 3 Years ,the Tyres "front" caused the problem, but looked perfect though.My new Civic has Mich Pilots, i dumped the G,Year before delivery.they are noisy crap, but still its road noise is more than a Toyota Sportivo Altis. After all this time Honda should have fixed this front end nonsense. I'm of a big family here,so i get all the Moans about all the Makes.But i still chose Honda.

[MrJ]

just picked up my car. As expected - "everything is fine, no problem - but if you want you can change the steering shaft for 40K" . They charged me with 470 THB for 1 hour check up and couldn't find any licking or damage.

So i guess i have to live with that and if i get bored i just turn on the radio...........Anyway on highways and decent roads the car feels great only in small/bad Sois or bumps and in parking floors(fast up and down cruising e.g. Central) there is this rattling front left and squeaking from the back suspension area.

Cheers

[Ace of Pop]

Well, Im Lost. All i can add was they {Tyre Plus} said the Bearings were O.K. I said chage em anyway and it fixed it..

[MrJ]

Hi All,

just want to give a final update - all has been sorted out, went to the other Honda dealer in Jomtien(opp. Ambassador) and they did a great job, changed the front bearings and some rubber and discovered the source of the noise from the back as well. Unbelievable - the left rear spring(after market) was mounted in the wrong direction. For more then 4 years, with all regular service and several additional stops at Honda North Pattaya is was undiscovered. They worked 1.5 days and the total bill was THB 4.700, very friendly staff and English speaking, motivated engineer Mr. Noom - all is great and finally I am happy.

Will never use the Honda North Pattaya again and can recommend Honda Jomtien to all.

side note: me at the show room: Can i test drive the new Honda Accord I may interested? sales girl: "sorry Sir no have" me: When you get test car in the future? Sales girl: "sorry can not" me: Thank you very much :-)

Cheers Mr.J

[ThaiBob]

It my understanding that the Honda dealerships in North Pattaya and by Ambassador are one in the same (same owner). Many of the staff moved to the new location but many remain at the old location too. I have had routine maintenance done at north Pattaya location but after this story I will use their new shop.

[MrJ]

yes its the same owner but totally different attitude - e.g. the first thing they put on seat and steering wheel protection to keep all clean and you get a voucher for tea/coffee from the front desk. I didn't recognized any moved staff........

[Ace of Pop]

After Tyre Plus did not change the bearings. I'd like to see the ones Honda replaced.Never know them to turn away business, or cheat anyone.Bloody long time to fix the Spring,the bearings are 40 Mins a Side 1.5 Days is ridiculous, but the price is O.K at Honda Rate.

[ThaiBob]

yes its the same owner but totally different attitude - e.g. the first thing they put on seat and steering wheel protection to keep all clean and you get a voucher for tea/coffee from the front desk. I didn't recognized any moved staff........

The new shop is a beautiful facility and I am glad they have a high level of service. Frankly I was also happy with service at the north Pattaya location. A/c waiting room, free coffee and donuts, tv, free computers, newspapers and magazines, etc. Whoops, I forgot..... free car wash.

[culicine]

How much were the bearings themselves?

[MrJ]

around 2.000 THB for both sides

[culicine]

around 2.000 THB for both sides

Thanks, so about 1000 baht each i assume? I have a noise from the front of my civic, usually above 80 km/h. A kind of droning noise but I've been told it's not the bearings (by B-quik). I need to get it checked further. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the bearings because I had done nearly 220k km:) on my civic:)

[Ace of Pop]

Neither one of You have told us if the problems fixed as yet.Now B.in Laws got the same on 10Month old Accord at 17K. Seems like the Honda Range is made to rumble.

[culicine]

Neither one of You have told us if the problems fixed as yet.Now B.in Laws got the same on 10Month old Accord at 17K. Seems like the Honda Range is made to rumble.

Mines not fixed yest as I don't feel its a major issue and I don't drive this car much these days anyway. Anyway, if its a bearing I just read that the sound will change as you sharply swerve at high speeds. I haven't checked mine for this yet but I suspect it won't make a difference. I'm tending to think my tires have hardened to the point of becoming noisy (they are at about 35K kms now). 17K kms is way too young found any problems like this, but that's still under warranty so I'd get honda to look at that.

[Ace of Pop]

Recon hes turned the Music off for the first time..