Hello All,
My 2014 RDX AWD Base 220000 kms has been making an intermittent hard knocking noise in front for a few months now.

The problem:

• Hard knock which seems to be from area under brake pedal.
• Happens mostly when making a right turn while acclerating or hitting a bump. If I go straight afterwards and hit a bump, it knocks again (As if side turn moved something out of place - in tension- and going straight hitting bump releives tension.)
• If I drive carefully, I can drive a whole day without hearing/feeling it)

What has been done so far (in order) the last two months:

• New front driver side control arm
• New stabilizer links (both sides)
• New sway bar bushings (both sides)
• New ball joints (both sides)
• Had an alignment done
  • Knock unchanged
• Went to Acura dealer, diagnosed front shocks and rear sway bar bushings
• Installed new shock/strut assemblies
• New rear sway bar bushings
• Had an alignment done
  • Knock unchanged
• New Inner and Outer Tie rod ends
• Had an alignment done
  • Knock unchanged

All parts are MOOG except shocks are FCS. I need to reiterate that the sound has remained the same since the beginning. A loud single hard knock (like a knuckle on wood board).
Any ideas?

Thanks,
M

 

Rack and pinion?
You need good diagnostics, not guessing and random replacement of parts

 

Most of the parts that I had on there were due or close to end of life anyway, which is why I went forward with all those changes.
I'm not very experienced with rack and pinion assemblies. Are you saying that it may be defective or that it may be loose? What would a defective rakc and pinion feel like?

I will be brining it back to Acura dealer for another round of diagnostics soon, I hope I have better luck.

 

If something breaks during these knocking noises, the sound will progress and later will very clearly indicate a faulty part. What's stopping you from just driving on and waiting, instead of investing in this old and inexpensive car?

 

It's my wifes car and I'm a little worried that something will let go catastrophically, tbh.
I feel a little better now that the parts are new up front, but not much.

I was hoping soemone on here will have had a similar problem.

 

The only thing that can lead to catastrophically on a MacPherson suspension is the tie rods and ball joints. If they are ok, then there is nothing to worry about.
I had a similar problem and replace the sway bar bushings.

 

If it is the Rack and pinion, as altair47 mentioned, the next time you visit the dealer specifically ask them to check the tightness of #32 gear box mounting bolts and #23; #24; & #25 rack & pinion bushings for wear.
P.S. Gear Box - 2014 Acura RDX 5 Door BASE (2WD) KA 6AT (acurapartswarehouse.com)
Though, I would have thought they already looked at them on the prior visit?

Good Luck

 

Thanks you
Coincidentally, I did tighten those today (#32 and #33) but have not had the chance to check if the noise is gone. I will report back in a few days.
Maybe they did check them, I have no way to tell.

 

Update:
After tightening the bolts mentionned above, the car was silent for two days. Yesterday, I heard the knock again.
Now Ill check the same nuts again tomorrow to see if they loosened and Ill also try to tighten any others I may find.. But, I think I'm on the right track with the rack and pinion bolts.

 

I have the same problem I believe. The only difference is that mine seems only happen when in make a right turn at low speed over a dip. I have replaced struts, front control arm, sway bar link and sway bar bushing. The noise is still there. I’m curious to hear your latest findings.

 

Tightening bolts #32 and 33 on the bracket (#1) from the pîcture above is really easy.
Put the vehicle on a stand, remove tire and use 14mm socket for lower bolt and 19mm for higher bolt.

There is also a 19mm that is accessible through the top engine compartement but, you need a long extension (~18") and a swivel head. That one is in the middle of the assembly.

I thightened mine again today, all bolts didnt move except for 19mm top bracket bolt on passenger side and the one in the middle of the assembly. I can't tell you the torque, but i nudged them about 3-4 degrees with a breaker bar.
I did a drive today and all seems solid. I will post again in a week, unless the noise comes back sooner.

 

I could not find the torque values for the RDX, though, here are the values for 11-15 Honda CR-V.
These should be in the 'ball park'.


Torque Settings for Honda CR-V (4th Gen.) (2011-2015) - TightTorque

 

Still knocking. In fact, it seems worse.

 

Today I asked a colleague to turn the steering wheel, and I myself climbed into the inspection pit. It looks like these are bushings on the rack.

 

Thank you Altair47. The car is still intermittently knocking at present.
I do period checks underneath but, have found nothing so far.

I will bring it to Acura on my next day off for them to check it again.
I will also be disassembling my original struts soon, to see if perhaps there is a spot where things can bind. This is an unlikely place to have a problem since the new FCS struts havent not affected the noise.

If the rack bushings were bad (#23, 24, 25 above), and the vehicle was placed on the ground (weight on tires), do you think you could see the rack moving?

Thanks,
M

 

My rack is completely hanging around along with knock and it can be seen with the naked eye. I didn't look from above, but it's clearly visible from below.

 

This is funny, but I just climbed onto the car, asked my wife to turn the steering wheel and couldn’t find any visual play. Now it seems to me more that it’s just the steering joint that’s worn out. Mystery

 

When you hear or feel your issue, where do you feel it? Where do you think its coming from?

For me, it's a loud knock and I can feel it under my foot, near the gas pedal.

 

Same thing when turning the steering wheel.

 

I noticed my car did the same thing when I had it. I was wondering if something was wrong but didn't get a chance to have it looked at.

 

I solved my knocking with the help of adjusting the steering wheel, very trivial and simple in my case.

 

What did you do to adjust it?

 

I understand that in my case this knocking appeared due to the fact that I had not touched the adjustment of the height and length of the steering wheel for years, 3 days ago I lowered the growl and move the steering wheel back and forth, up and down several times and this horrifying knock miraculously disappeared.
I'll let you know in a week if he comes back.

 

What do you mean by growl?
Did you mean the cowl (the part between the hood and windsheild)?

 

Sorry for the typo, I wrote рычат instead of рычаг.
That is, growl instead of lever.

 

Oh, that is much simpler than I anticipated!

I'll try adjusting the steering.

Thanks!

 

I've read your complaints here. Have you tried tightening the bolts on the front subframe?

 

I've tightened every single nut/bolt I can find. I have a car hoist, so everything is accessible to me underneath.

 

After adjusting the steering wheel, the know is still there.
Happens mostly when turning right at low speeds and hitting a bump.

 

During diagnostics, did the mechanics use this kit to localize knock?
It was solely thanks to him that I discovered that the knock was located near the steering wheel.