Suspension - Creak/Grunt From Rear At Low Speeds
SOURCE: Honda Service News
TITLE: Creak of Grunt From Rear of Vehicle at Low Speeds
APPLIES TO: 2000-2005 S2000
SERVICE TIP:
Getting complaints from owners of '00-05 S2000s of a creak or grunt from the rear of the vehicle when cornering or driving at low speeds? The problem could be there's movement between the outboard joint and the wheel hub. To get rid of this noise, you need to clean and lube the mating surfaces of the outboard joint and the wheel hub.
Here's how:
1. Remove the wheel nuts and the rear wheel.
2. Lift up the stake on the spindle nut, and remove the nut.
3. Remove the cotter pin from the lower arm ball joint castle nut, and remove the nut
4. Separate the ball joint from the lower arm.
5. Pull the knuckle outward, and use a plastic hammer to remove the outboard joint from the wheel hub.
6. Clean the mating sufaces of the outboard joint and the wheel hub.
7. Apply a thin layer of DC111 silicone compound to the face of the outboard joint. This compound reduces the friction between the joint and the wheel hub so the noise won't happen again.
8. Pull the knuckle outward, and install the outboard joint to the wheel hub.
9. Reconnect the ball joint to the lower arm. Torque the castle nut to 69 N-m (51 lb-ft), then tighten it only far enough to align the slot with the ball joint pin hole. Install a new cotter pin.
10. Clean the wheel hub and the spindle threads.
11. Lubricate the seating surface of a new spindle nut with engine oil, then install the nut. Torque the nut to 245 N-m (181 lb-ft). Use a drift to stake the spindle nut shoulder against the driveshaft.
12. Reinstall the rear wheel. Torque the wheel nuts to 108 N-m (80 lb-ft).
13. Repeat steps 1 thru 12 for the other outboard joint.