Knocking/Creaking on hard turns

Hi!

I am new to the forum. We are dedicated Honda owners, although we have had a few problems with our 99 Odyssey which have made us question our loyalty. We had an early failing transmission and had to jump through many hoops to get Honda to cover it. About six months later...we got notice of an extended warranty, so clearly we weren't alone with this problem. We knew it had been a problem with early models, which is why we were so persistent in working to have it covered by Honda.


My question today is:

I am hearing a knocking/creaking noise on hard turns only. Otherwise, things seem peachy. Does anyone know what this might be, and how much might it cost me to fix? Something about joints????

We are heading on a 16 hour trip (and back). A thousand plus dollar fix is not in my budget, but I am concerned about safety.

Any thoughts? And can I trust any garage to fix this problem, or is this one of those things best handled by a Honda dealer? We have definitely learned to have the brakes done by the dealer.

Cara

Welcome to the forum!

Does it sound like a suspension creak? I've had Hondas that creaked on turns, and from what I could tell, it was the end of the springs coils moving against the spring seats (where the ends of the springs rest). I theorized the spring was sort of winding up and walking up the spring seat, and then I'd get a "thump" when it went back. I noticed that later years had a rubber piece under the end of the springs. I learned to live with it once I figured out what it was and that it didn't matter.

Or, the groaning could just be the stabilizer bar bushings or other bushings getting older and less "supple". I had heard of people spraying them with a rubber compatible lubricant (silicone?) and that eliminates the noise. If that is the problem, you could have them replaced.

Or, it could be something loose. I've worked on a family member's van that had what they described as a "funny" noise, and it turned out that one of the stabilizer bar links was broken. So, I'd suggest you crawl under there and look for anything obviously loose, broken, or worn.

If it is more of a mechanical or grinding sound, then I'd worry about maybe a driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint, but if it is a groan or a thump, I'd suspect a suspension issue.

Do you have an independent garage you can trust? If you do, I'd have them look it over. If it is very repeatable, have them ride with you and have them listen to it. I don't think you need a Honda dealer for this....hope this helps...Glen

Glen,

Thanks a lot for your response. I guess the obvious thing is to take it in and have it looked at. I was just trying to get an idea of what it might be...I dread taking my car in like I dread going to the dentist...maybe more, because it usually costs me more!

Thanks for your ideas...sounds like maybe the first or second thing. I think creaking describes it best, although its a low pitched sound.

We have a Tires Plus that we've used several times for smaller problems, and they seem pretty honest. I just won't have my brakes done there anymore.

Thanks again!

Cara

One more thing...I guess it doesn't really happen unless the car is warmed up...on short trips I never hear it...if that is another clue.

I'll take it in before we make the long trip for safety's sake, and let you know what it was~

Thanks again,

Cara