I have a 91 Max SE/4spd auto w/ 120K mi. I bought it used last October as cheap replacement transporation after my Acura Legend got totalled by a pickup truck. I discovered that I really like the way it drives and handles. I can see why it was a Car&Driver 10Best winner. Anyway, here's my problem.

What I originally thought was a bad tire appears to be something in the driveline. The car has a rumble that increases or decreases with vehicle speed. It sounds like something stuck in a tire. Tires were checked and were fine. I raised the front of the car off the ground and put the car in drive. With the wheels off the ground in forward motion I can hear the noise. I can not hear the noise in reverse. I don't think it's CV joints because the boots are intact and it is not the normal clacking sound that you get with a bad CV joint. It is a definite rumble that changes with vehicle speed. I did a quick look at the transaxle and didn't see any obvious leaks. Does anyone have any clues. I would like to have some idea of the problem could be before I go to a shop for repairs. Please reply in the forum or email me.

thanks
Derrick
decrib1@aol.com

 

Hey man, my car did the same thing for almost 15,000 miles. I took it to a local shop and they checked on it for me. They kept telling me nothing was wrong with anything. I knew I was hearing this roaring sound from the passenger rear side but noone could tell me what was going on. One day, I got ****ed off, went to a body shop that my friend's dad owns and used his hydraulic lift to pick my car up. I'll tell you what I found. My friggin' tire was being eaten away on the rubber in a diagonal, zig-zag type of pattern. His dad helped me to realign everything and then I replaced both of the rear tires (just in case). Balanced them and threw them back on. Everything is fine now. I don't know if I just got a bad tire or what.

 

Thanks C-Dawg, but the sound on my Max is coming from the front end and I have brand new tires (less than 500 miles). You problem was very likely bad alignment or less likely a bent rim or spindle.

DEC

 

You should check out the wheel bearings; they may need to be replaced.

 

it defenitely sounds like bearings to me.