Clunking from rear

[civic si hb]

So i went out with the family(me, wife and son) today for ice cream and I had to drive through a road that was about 1/8 mile long that had construction and it was pretty bumpy. When half way through it my car started to make a crazy thumping sound of the driver side rear. So when i go home I jacked her up and checked the passenger side end link and it was very tight and would not move no matter how hard i tried. Now on to the driver side........ it was so loose i turned it 5 times with ease putting the rachet on it but here's the crazy part. While tightening it the nus will get about 70percent tight( feels like another 2 turns will do it) and then the seals breaks(stripped) and it goes back to where it started (5 turns behind again),so you can fully tighten that nut. So i got to the 70% point and left it alone till a can call dealer and put in a warranty claim. Oh i have 1400 miles on the and i drive pretty conservative around corners being the old man i am at 31. Here's 2 pics to show people the endlink if they do not know what i am talking about.

Rob

 

[Rotus8]

The dealer is probably the right action, but if you want to try again and have some metric allen wrenches, put a allen wrench in the socket at the end of the bolt to keep it from turning and try tightening the bolt. If it doesn't snug up then, the threads are boogered up from knocking around and the dealer will have to replace the link.

 

[civic si hb]

The dealer is probably the right action, but if you want to try again and have some metric allen wrenches, put a allen wrench in the socket at the end of the bolt to keep it from turning and try tightening the bolt. If it doesn't snug up then, the threads are boogered up from knocking around and the dealer will have to replace the link.

Thanks for the imput i've never tried that. I was justtaking a socket around the but and tighting it that way. I'll give that ashot 1st and then call the dealer to be on the safe side. thanks.

Rob

 

[civic si hb]

The dealer is probably the right action, but if you want to try again and have some metric allen wrenches, put a allen wrench in the socket at the end of the bolt to keep it from turning and try tightening the bolt. If it doesn't snug up then, the threads are boogered up from knocking around and the dealer will have to replace the link.

I just came back from the dealership and they did what you said and now everything is nice and tight. I came home just to double check the work and I couldn't nighten the nut no matter how hard i tried.

 

[whitey4311]

Same happened to me at same milage and when I wrencehd on it it felt like it wouldnt stop turning but then a few more times and it was tight. I was scared it woudlnt tighten either but some red locktite and a few more turns of the socket got it to where it wouldnt tighten any more.

I didnt know about putting an allen in the bolt tip and using a box wrench but that makes sense. I took it to the dealer and he wrenched on it and it woudlnt budge so what I did must have worked.

The threads on mine looked good but the area where the sway bar sits did flatten the threads however the nut doesnt touch that area so no problem there.

So then it must be possible to tighten it with out using an allen at the end right?

I just hope mine wotn back out again but with that loctite I doubt it will.

Mine was the rear right but I did put a drop of loctite on the threads of both sides so it would seap in and lock it up. You might want to do the same if you are worried about it.

 

[djltoronto]

Same happened to me at same milage and when I wrencehd on it it felt like it wouldnt stop turning but then a few more times and it was tight. I was scared it woudlnt tighten either but some red locktite and a few more turns of the socket got it to where it wouldnt tighten any more.

I didnt know about putting an allen in the bolt tip and using a box wrench but that makes sense. I took it to the dealer and he wrenched on it and it woudlnt budge so what I did must have worked.

The threads on mine looked good but the area where the sway bar sits did flatten the threads however the nut doesnt touch that area so no problem there.

So then it must be possible to tighten it with out using an allen at the end right?

I just hope mine wotn back out again but with that loctite I doubt it will.

Mine was the rear right but I did put a drop of loctite on the threads of both sides so it would seap in and lock it up. You might want to do the same if you are worried about it.

what I do on all my end links (and this is better than loctite), is add a jamnut.
Adding a second nut does 2 things, it will lock everything in place, and it will protect the threads for the elements, so next time you need to remove the end link, it will be silky smooth.

Sorry I have no pics... but it's as simple as adding an additional nut to the exposed threads of the end link, and tightening!

 

[whitey4311]

Sounds good but if it happens again I will e sure to make it cause damage and take it in.

The idiot mechanic said that I should have left it and brought it in the way it was but I was affraid that it would cause damage driving the weekend like that. Next time I hear it I will bring it in and have it all replaced under warranty, but I think my red loctite and hard wrenching of that nut isnt going anywhere.

 

[sea9]

Same thing happened to my MS3, about 700 miles on it. The manufacture date is 04/07. I heard the clunking noise coming from the rear and checked the end link. I could easily take the nut off with my hands. I called the dealership and they told me to bring it in first thing this morning. They tightened the locknut up for now,but are ordering a new bolt since the movement stripped some of the threads. The mechanic said they had the same issue with a M3 Hatchback yesterday, so it may be something worth checking on your vehicle.

It seems like this was something that was loose from the factory and was made worse by the god-awful roads in New Orleans.