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I’ve had more than one person come to me with questions about a noise from the rear end of their Honda Element or CRV. It just so happens that my 2004 Honda Element had a similar noise so I decided to investigate. Originally I had thought it was an issue with the rear lower control arm bushings or the upper strut mounts but after talking to my friend Scott Armstrong who also has an Element he convinced me to look at the rear stabilizer bushings. After looking at them I found them to be the source of the noise. I replaced them and went for a test drive to find that the noise was gone. This is a VERY inexpensive repair and I suggest you give it a try if you have a noise in the rear end of your Honda Element or CRV.
How to Mount and Balance a Tire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hOZXIr1ujE
Silicone paste: http://www.google.com/shopping/product/8054207793647799334?q=silicone%20paste&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=ce22fb4e419b2ace&bpcl=37643589&biw=1688&bih=960&tch=1&ech=1&psi=UMaaUOaCH-qY2wWK1YCADA.1352320593054.3&sa=X&ei=U8aaUIebJuqj2QXJ24GQAQ&ved=0CGkQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers
Discussion about this video: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/18-The-EricTheCarGuy-Video-Forum/42891-finding-rear-end-noises-honda-elementcrv#45430
Stay dirty
ETCG
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I have literally been trying to fix this noise for 10 years on my 2007 Element. No shop ever figured it out. The right rear felt and sounded exactly like you described when I yanked on it. Replaced both bushings and brackets and the thunking sound is finally gone. Best $20 I have ever spent. Thank you!
Good job
This has been driving me nuts! $15 and 10 minutes later, the noise is gone. Thanks!
Thank you dude I needed this it’s been driving me crazy
Awesome mate thank you
Me too!! I have a 2004 element !
rusty bolts… turn a bit anticlockwise, a bit clockwise, a bit anticlokwise, etc so that the rust can fall off instead of getting caught in the threads.
I hear this in my santa fe and its driving me nuts
Excellent just checked my 07 element and I have the same issue. Pulled on the stabilizer bar and hear the same noise. I thank you I will be ordering new bushings.. ðŸ‘Â
What kind of silicone paste are you using?
i hear a clunck on the right rear side when i stepped on the gas, what could it be?
thanks
Wow this is the same noise I hear on my 06 odyssey
Super!!!
Damn, our E's are just generally noisy, lol – While I'm upgrading my 2010's stereo, DynaMat is going to be installed everywhere… m/
I replaced all 4 struts on my Element, few days later a friend asked me to help him with a 100pound box to take to FedEx and as soon as I left his driveway I started hearing a bouncing tapping noise on the driver rear side and the faster the car went the faster lowder the noise was.
If anyone has an idea what it is please reply. I'm going nuts trying to find it but I can only hear it as I go, specially when I turn left. I no longer has the rear axles bcz the differential went out, is is now a front wheel drive.
Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks!
I have both an Element and a Pilot both have the noise!!
Thanks this should fix my problem!
Stumbled on this video as I have the same noise in my 2009 CRV. I was all set to order new dampers, tomorrow morning I’ll be checking these bushes! ðŸ‘Â
I guess I'll go check them out 😂
I guess mine could be different. 2005 CR-V with 175,000. The bushing that was clunking was the one to the rear behind the differential. The rubber completely wore off. Just the metal bar in the center of the bushing was left and clunking around. After replacing that bushing and the other main bushing connected to it (holds differential up) my wheel camber was better and the noise was gone.
Eric I bet that was the easiest job you ever had to doðŸ‘ÂðŸÂ¼ðŸ™‚🙌ðŸÂ¼
My brother fixed his by turning up the radio
Whats the Honda grease? Is it the shin-etsu grease?
This video solved the clunking noise on a 2008 honda element. Thank you Eric ðŸ‘ÂðŸÂ½ðŸ˜Â
Thanks man, great video!
Well my 06 E …….i just rebuilt the entire suspension, front and rear. After pulling out the drivers side ball joint, I get a noise a week later. Sounds like s loud knock from the transmission. I replace the cv shaft on that side and torque to 180 ft lbs. The knock is still there and stops when you push the clutch in in. Help!
Great vid one thing tho you should never put any grease or paste on anti roll bar bushes, it can allow dirt to stick to it and cause premature wear honda do not assemble with lube neither should anyone replaceing these bushes
Eric I have an 05 Honda CRV ex four-wheel-drive and I’m getting a got off a clunking noise my front passenger side strut is not leaking the sway bar end links are tight, The ball joint is not making any ruckus at all checked the lower control arm bushings they look good
I owe you a beer. This one has driven me nuts for a year.
yea, apply the silicone and open up that split…mmmm
Thanks for the silicon paste idea!
I have a squeak coming from the rear end whenever I hit a bump, or if I shake my car. Any idea what it could be? It sounds like "my Elements a rockin, so don't come a knockin" ðŸ˜â€
Man, you are a life saver ðŸ™Â
Hi there. Hello from Portugal. I just did this procedure on my 2004 2.2 Honda Accord (European) and guess what? It Worked!! I just got rid of that horrible noise in 10 minutes thanks to you.
Thank you very much for the tip.
Eric, your videos are phenomenal for a weekend mechanic. Thank you. fwiw, your aversion to anti-seize is amusing .
This was exactly my issue. Got cheap parts. My husband fixed it in an hour. Awesome thanks!!!
I never understood why some people insist on silicone grease for rubber parts? If it is so critical then could somebody explain why rubber CV boots and ball joint boots have petroleum grease in them???
I have that clunk.
hi there eric,
i got Honda CR-V 2002 Gen2 4×4 . Vibrates when accelerating specialy uphill. i replaced front lower arm control, front and rear swaybar links, front and rear struts, front ball joints and tie rod end.
but still vibration still there. hope you can give me idea what should i check
2004 CRV, I suspected the same issue. Thanks for sharing, this solved the issue!!
Just replaced the struts at 145k miles and the my green (same as the video) 2003 Element handles great again–but that noise is still there! Now I'll do the bushing replacement and my life will be complete 😊ðŸ‘Â
My daughter has a 2003 CRV, I'll need to give that a listen and maybe be a Dad-hero for a day or two.
Yes shiny things are rubbing but it's a bushing which by definition should be rubbing.