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Please let me know if you post a video, I printed the 14 pages of alignment issues to take to my dealer and I'm taking a copy of this pic too, hopefully I'll have better luck.
thanks so much,
Amber
Picture of page
Video 1 (5 Megs)
Video 2 (45 megs)
Video 3 (15 megs)
The movies are each slightly different.
I really hope this helps anyone who is in a similar position. This has frustrated me for the 2 months I've owned this 2007 Odyssey (purchased used from a first owner) and now it's finally solved, at least in my case. I really believe there was an error where someone at a factory was improperly instructed in the assembly and alignment of these strut units. Fortunately, if you know what to look for, it's a very straightforward fix if you have the service manual.
Link to the Picture
The above picture was taken of my LEFT strut off of my 2007 Honda Odyssey right when I took it out.
The top arrow is pointing is pointing to the correctly aligned strut mount. The next arrow is pointing to the correctly aligned steel spring plate. The next arrow is pointing to the spring rubber mount (which is NOT aligned correctly). The bottom arrow says that all the above marks should be aligned to the middle of the two flanges. To fix this I compressed the spring, took it off, rotated the rubber portion to line up with the other marks, aligned all the marks to match the spaced directly in the middle of the lower bolt flanges, and at the same time made sure the bottom of the spring would sit correctly in the lower portion of the strut.
I also wiped down all the components and checked the plastic strut bearing for wear (looks like a flat plastic disk, can't see it in the picture).
I also have a 2007 EX-L. I bought it 3 months ago with 16,300miles. I have driven 6,000 miles now and I have never been more disappointed with an automobile purchase in my life. I have memory steer and other issues that cars I have driven well past 200,000 miles never developed. The dealer is useless after 2 trips under warranty. I would sell and cut my losses, but I have already lost thousands just from taxes.
I didn't replace my strut mount bearings when I did the work. I did put a light film white lithium grease on the top and bottom of the flat strut bearings (even though the inside of the flat bearings has the grease) because there was already some on the outside and I had cleaned it off when I took the coil springs off etc. The memory steer is pretty much gone. I'd say 98+% improvement and the other 2% may have been because I may not have gotten the upper rubber exactly lined up and was off by a hair or I'm still hypersensitive to it. I actually like to drive it again and have driven about 150 hundred miles in it. At any rate, I'm going to drive over 3,000 miles in the next 15 days on the highway, so we'll really know how it worked after that. I would have dreaded the 3,000 miles and now I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes. It used to be unbearable and pull REALLY hard and I wanted to get rid of the van. Now I think I'll keep it 10-15 years.
I'd definitely get the rubber parts put on correctly and then get another 4 wheel alignment (changing the rubber parts to where they should be will change your toe on the front).
The one component to replace, if you wanted, is the bearing. It ranges in price from $11.00-$20.00 each (you need two) depending on where you get one. Again, mine was ok, but I did it myself and didn't have to pay a shop for my time etc so if mine didn't work out I'd just take it apart myself again. If you have the dealer do it, they should inspect the ones in your van, or you could just ask to see them and see if they turn when you hold it like a pancake and try to spin your hands (they require a little effort to turn even when they are new).
Here is where I found the part number, but then the dealer would know the part number too. I wouldn't replace just one if you have to. You should do them both.
http://www.bernardiparts.com/products/51726-SHJ-A52.aspx
On a side note, there are only a few things can can be the problem with memory steer if it is not the alignment:
1) The steering rack is defective ($1500+ to have it done at the dealer, can't really do it yourself since you have to support the engine and unbolt the front lower frame sub-assembly, I would only have a dealer do it and not an independent shop) Memory steer is not usually a rack replacement item, but it's not completely outside of the realm of possibility.
2) The front lower sub assembly is not correctly aligned at factory or damaged in accident
3) Strut problem as already described
4) Uneven wear on tires
5) Dragging caliper (brakes)
If you have less than 36,000 miles and/or are within the warranty you may want to ask about a rack replacement if they don't want to look at the struts. Strut rubber alignment is cheap, rack is expensive. I had a 2005 Odyssey before and it had a rack and pump replaced in the first 2 years due to hard turning in one direction only, particularly at low speeds. I was not the owner at the time, but I read the service records on it before I purchased it (the 2005 Odyssey).
Obviously you just dropped 20k-30k on a van and then paid a couple grand on taxes and registration. I did the same and bought from a private party first owner so I knew the van history but really had no one to go to with problems for warranty. I always figure on working on any vehicle I purchase since I'm a do it yourself person and I like to have a vehicle that drives well. I'd insist on getting it right since you've got the van now and it's misery to drive a vehicle that doesn't work within at least 80%-90% of your expectations. The Odyssey is a nice van once you get it how you'd expect it to work (too bad Honda didn't get it right the first time as it would appear). You could also file with nhtsa.gov for a recall/complaint which may get a recall started. I filed one tonight. There is obviously something fishy with the steering if there are this many people talking about it. There are certainly more that are just reading and not posting.
To file a complaint:
http://www.nhtsa.gov
Hope that helps.
I just got back from a 2.5 week family vacation. I drove all of the 4,000 miles of it. I was driving for 10 hours on a couple days too. The van is much more sensitive to slants in the road and how evenly it's loaded, but it will go straight if the road is flat. The wheel still turns easily, but it seems to turn ever so slightly more easily left. All my tires are properly inflated as I had checked them. Wear seems to look ok as well as there are not any noticeable problems. In my case, I think the problem appeared to be solved sufficiently at the present as I just drove 650 miles today and 500+ yesterday and I seemed to do ok on wrists, gripping, etc. It still isn't quite as easy as driving some other cars, but it's 98% there, which is good enough for me.
On a side note, the 2007 EXL seems to get 24 mpg on the freeway, but my 2005 got 27-28 on the freeway which is puzzling. I know they put a different transmission in the Odyssey in 2006 or 2007 (I don't know when). It also likes to keep the engine at very low RPMs and wait for it to ping a little before downshifting. It also likes to jump between 1200 to 1500 rpm at 45mph for some strange reason. I'm going to investigate that as well.
I have a 2008 Odyssey which has a slightly different strut assembly but does this same strange pulling, mostly right but occasionally left, that many have described here. The upper spring seat is different and it doesn't really seem possible to get it misaligned as in the pic above.
My question is, and I haven't fully disassembled the strut yet, but I removed the 3 bolts on the top and lowered the strut down enough to turn the upper mount. When I turn it by hand It feels very stiff. How hard should it be to turn this mount? I've disassembled struts on older cars before and don't remember them being so stiff. When the strut is fully assembled on the car I can move the wheel/knuckle assembly about 5 degrees or so in either direction and the upper mount doesn't actually move. It just twists the strut and spring. After about 5 degrees or so then it begins to move on the bearing in the upper mount.
For someone who has had these apart already, how easily should that bearing turn when the strut is assembled? The service manual doesn't specify. My plan is to order new bearings but was hoping to get some feedback from someone in this thread before I go to the trouble to completely tear it down.
Thanks in advance,
John
When I took mine apart I looked that all the parts, including upper strut mount bearing very carefully. If they your not damaged, I'd clean them off with a paper towel along with their mating surfaces, then put a healthy amount of while lithium grease or wheel bearing grease on them according to what it looks like was on them at disassembly.
You will need to have a 4 wheel alignment after it's all together again and those run about $80, so you don't want to do this twice as it get's expensive and it's a lot of work to pull all that stuff apart even once. It's worth it if you get it fixed though. I tell my wife quite frequently that the van is a joy to drive again and it's still been 4 months since the fix.
Hope this helps.
I just checked Bernardi Honda's web site and that new strut assy is very different from mine. Don't know if I'd be much help there. Did you buy the factory service manual? Looks like it's about $100 on ebay. My factory manual is only for 2007 or else I'd scan and post the strut part for you.
I've NEVER had ANY POS make of vehicle do this but HONDA finds it acceptable? Never will buy a Honda again. EVER!
I'd had this problem and took 3 videos and posted them on the internet on youtube and in this forum. I successfully fixed mine. A 7 second drift is only an excuse to categorize a problem. We all know when a car doesn't feel right, but that's not quantifiable in a technical bulletin or warranty issue. It's not any of the things your dealer checked or it would be resolved. The struts and the springs were not assembled correctly on my 2007. I had a 2005 and it was fine. My 2007 was acting like a car that had a mind of it's own. I fixed mine after digging on this forum and it's a dream to drive again. Before I fixed it I would have traded it for ANYTHING else to drive because of how it pulled. Look at my previous posts. I've detailed the whole thing on how I fixed it according to Honda's own technical service manual for the 2007 on the front suspension. The old saying goes "if you've tried everything and it's not fixed, then you haven't tried everything". Obviously the dealer has not correctly identified the cause yet or you wouldn't be on the internet looking for the solution. Read my old posts and you'll see how to check your spring rotation as it's assembled on the strut without taking them off the car. This will tell you if you have the same problem I had.
Jack
appreciate your help,
thanks so much
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/online.cfm
I always resort to "If the problem still persists then whatever was fixed, no matter how good the effort was, was not what is causing the problem."
The dealership may really give an honest effort, but if they haven't fixed it, they haven't fixed it. Just be polite and keep repeating "I'm sorry about being a bother to you, but it still pulls. What can you do to fix this before the warranty expires? Will you fix this before the warranty expires? I can't keep a car that does this." If they say they can't do anything, then ask "why not?" Keep asking "Why or Why not" until you get to the root cause. If may end up in corporate Honda's lap, but don't ever threaten to go there because all negotiations are dead if you make threats. It's much easier to get it done if you can swing the dealer to your side. Perhaps a well worded "how can you fix this steering problem for me before my warranty expires?" would be in order while telling them you're not trying to make problems, just trying to get a car that works. Maybe you could offer to help with whatever paperwork you need to fill out to vouch to the warranty department at Honda that your van is not right to help the dealership get reimbursed etc. That may let them know you want to work with them.
Jack
As a side note, spring compressors are really dangerous and you have to be REALLY careful. If you've done it before then you already know what I'm talking about, but I can't stress enough to the first time DIY'er to have someone around who has done it before to keep an eye out. Safety first.
Before ordering parts I did notice that when I turned the wheel that the strut did not turn on the bearing until about 5-10 degrees of turn. Instead it just twisted the spring. So, as I mentioned in my first post above, I unbolted the three bolts that hold the strut in place under the hood and lowered the assembly down. When I tried to turn the mount it was very stiff and quite difficult to turn. So, in my case, it appears that the original strut bearing is so tight that the top of the strut doesn't turn on the bearing until the twisting tension in the spring gets to a certain point. I believe this is what is causing the "memory steer" on the 08 (and maybe other) models. If there is twisting tension in the spring after you make a right or left turn then the springs are going to tend to push the wheels back the other way. This is why the vehicle pulls right after a right turn and left after a left turn.
I will post again after I get these parts replaced (hoping for this weekend) but having played with all the new parts together on the bench this is my take on the "memory steer." The bearings in the 07 and the 08 are the same part numbers and they seem to just be some kind of plastic bearing--not real impressive. My Odyssey has done this since the day I bought it but I don't drive it that much and let the warranty expire before doing anything about it. I have about 45k miles on it.
One last note...I've read through the OEM maintenance manual for this several times and it doesn't talk about adding any grease anywhere to any of these strut parts/bearings. Where are you all adding the grease? I don't see anywhere I would want to add grease. The bearing should turn internally when assembled so it seems to me grease shouldn't be necessary. I have noted a small amount of white grease seeping out of the center of the new bearings though. Maybe this is what is being referred to? That seeping would end up on the raised center portion of the steel spring seat but, again, I wouldn't think that shouldn't need any grease.
--Edit: I read up again where you said you found the grease. I have to believe that grease just ended up there from seeping from the center of the bearing. I'm just not sure how grease would help in that area. If grease helps it means the bearing is not turning and the plastic is just rubbing on the steel. Just my $.02.
~John
I find it very interesting that the upper bearing didn't move until the spring had enough torsion in it. What was described makes perfect sense.
Thanks for taking the time to share all about it. It's nice to know there are other DIY'ers out there. I may yet have my strut assemblies out in a year or two to replace the bearings if anything starts to act up.
Jack
When I removed the strut I found the top mounting rubber very difficult to turn. When I got it apart I found a bearing that was quite a bit stiffer than the new one. I replaced the rubber dust cover which is also the upper rubber spring seat. If anyone decides to do this to their 08 I recommend replacing the bearing, the rubber dust cover/upper rubber spring seat and the lower rubber spring seat. I didn't replace my lower spring rubber mount but when I disassembled it I did find a very small hole in the bottom of it where the end of the spring had worn it through.
On the 08 for reassembly the manual describes lining up the upper mount with the three studs in it with the damper bracket at the bottom of the strut. I don't quite understand as that is the piece that turns when assembled. What it doesn't mention is the "R" on the rubber dust cover/upper rubber spring seat like it does for the 07. However, I assumed that is supposed to line up as well. Really it can only go together one way and when I assembled it they wouldn't quite line up. The bottom of the spring and rubber seat only goes in one spot. The upper rubber spring seat also only goes in one spot on the spring. The only way I could get the upper rubber seat to line up with the bottom was to twist hard on the spring when releasing the spring compressor and I managed to get the R on the upper rubber piece to pretty much line up with the lower bracket.
When I finally got it all back together I found the upper mount was still quite difficult to turn on that bearing but not as bad as before. The spring puts a lot of pressure on the shock and makes it quite difficult to turn. However, when I put it back on the car I noticed that it requires significantly less torsion on the spring before it turns at the top. I do see a slight amount of twisting in the spring but it's much less than before. I took the car for a spin and am happy to report that the "pull right after a right turn and pull left after a left turn" is gone!! Yay!!
Thanks to everyone here for getting me on the right track with this. I've had lots of struts off cars (I seldom ever disassemble them though) but never have I felt such stiffness on these upper bearing assemblies. It's possible that once there is some weight on the strut spring and the shock absorber isn't being pushed up against its internal stop with all the pressure of the spring, that the top plate will turn easier on the bearing. That may be why it works fine on the car. Still, I think the plastic bearings are cheesy and don't look like a good design to me. Honda could have engineered this better for what I paid for this van.
Again, to sum up...For anyone having the issue of pulling right after a right turn and pulling left after a left turn, I recommend replacing these bearings and upper and lower rubber seats. It worked for me. I don't think I'm going to worry about an alignment at this point since there is no adjustment in any of the components I removed. The two bolts that hold the knuckle to the strut really have no adjustment, nor do the upper three bolts. Since it now tracks perfectly straight down the road I'll just wait until the next tire change to have a routine alignment check.
~John
2008 Odyssey Touring
~John
Today I have gone there to go look for new Civic, The response from the sales rep was to bad, the time we meet him do sent even care to show the vehicle, The sales rep was in way that when we meet him he was looking in a such a way that when would we leave the showroom. On the same day i have gone to another honda dealer, where he has take full care of us and got a good deal. I only want say go for Honda but never go to this dealer.
Jack