Popping noise in driverside wheel

[Bullhorn7]

Going on a slightly bumpy road the wheel (possibly suspension issue) pops like metal on metal and its getting more violent every day.

[deevergote]

Are you lowered?

Check the condition of your ball joints, and make sure everything is tight. When something fails in your suspension, you crash... you shouldn't be driving this car until you fix it. It's very dangerous.

[Bullhorn7]

It might as well be lowered due to it having suspension problems already but this problem just came up, along with the passenger side door handle breaking

[batever]

Going on a slightly bumpy road the wheel (possibly suspension issue) pops like metal on metal and its getting more violent every day.

Probably either the front sway bar end link bushings (makes a *lot* of noise if they are shot when going over bumps, but is not that dangerous. The noise will not seem to be located at the wheel exactly but like a foot and a half further in. Because that's where they are. Also they are an easy fix). or the lower ball joint (very dangerous if it completely goes and slightly more involved. The noise will sound like it's coming from near the wheel area--again, because that's where they are located ).

Look at it Asap. Put the car up and look at the sway bar end link bushings. If they are completely crapped out (even fallen out/missing) then that is probably your answer. The bushings will cost around $30 for the part and is very easy to remove and install.

If not I would immediately suspect the lower ball joint, which is very dangerous if it's very worn and making noise. It's a $25 dollar part that if it goes (breaks) can be very dangerous. Normally it will cause like a popping sound when you go over a bump if it's worn.

Also use the search key on lower ball joint test or testing. there are a number of ways to check on them.

[pedroalcala]

yep....bushings are worn out bro.....

[deevergote]

If it's a ball joint, DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR.

[batever]

If it's a ball joint, DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR.

Agreed. And if you do drive the car and the driver's side wheel collapses, don't press on the brakes or even let up suddenly on the gas or you'll go into a clockwise spin and possibly roll. Keep the gas steady, try to regain steering control then and very very slowly let it off while you try to steer the car as straight as possible.

And no this has never happened to me thank god but I do think about such things and mentally practice them.

Better to just replace the lower ball joint if that is the issue.

check into it as soon as possible.

[deevergote]

When your wheels suddenly look like this at 70mph |---\ you're going to have a hard time controlling anything.

[Bullhorn7]

sounds like a job for this weekend il take pics if I dont see anything.

[batever]

When your wheels suddenly look like this at 70mph |---\ you're going to have a hard time controlling anything.

Undoubtedly it would not be a fun situation; the op needs to change the lower bj if it's bad.

I don't know anyone this has happened to.

But if the drivers side wheel collapses enough it might start skidding instead of rolling and basically you would lose all or most traction on that side and still have steering traction from the passenger side. Which would mean that if you hit the brakes the car will start to spin clockwise it seems to me.

And while the collapsed wheel is still rolling it will apply turning force to the front end. Which if you are on top of it you can counter with the steering wheel using the turning input of the passenger side wheel to help keep the car going basically straight. it's definitely guaranteed to be hairy.

Hit the brakes or suddently drop the throttle and all bets are off though it would seem to me.

Someone on this forum came through a failed lower ball joint at highway speed without crashing --posted the pic of his car sitting on the side of the road with a collapsed driver's side wheel a couple months back in a thread about the lbj as I recall. It would be interesting to find out what the ride was like when it happened and what actions he took.

[deevergote]

I know of 2 people that it happened to. Accord R33, a good friend of mine, had it happen. He was lucky enough to skid across the road without hitting anyone. He managed to stop without wrecking the car, and he fixed it with no issues... but that was a VERY lucky situation. He actually ended up losing a wheel, I believe. The one that collapsed was torn clean off.