94 Civic Si

1994 Civic Si w/ ABS, factory wheels and tires.
I replaced the front and rear coilovers with some KYB adjustables a few years ago - no change in ride height. (Side note, I cannot get into the online KYB catalog to see what I might have ordered a few years back).

While my car was parked, a kid ran his Jeep up on the front end and I have been dealing with his insurance company ever since.

The car pulls a little to the driver side since the accident, so I took it on for an alignment. The passenger side camber is off, and the alignment guy said he could not get it back in spec because the "spindle" is bent. I think he means to reference the knuckle? He was an old-timer. He said they deflect up with age?

I asked him if the accident could have caused this? He just shrugged and said he could not say. That was frustrating because the other guy's insurance said they will not pay for the alignment. They said it could have been caused by something else prior to the accident. These guys (State Farm) have been fighting me every step of the way on this claim.

Can anyone comment on this? Am I looking at buying a new passenger side knuckle to get the car back in spec and stop pulling? And would it be wise to replace both knuckles at the same time? That looks like over $500 in parts.

51210-SR3-N10 shows $237.88: KNUCKLE for 1994 Honda CIVIC HATCHBACK

Thanks for any wisdom you may be able to provide!

tony_2018

where did they hit you? Did you get a police report? Did you take your car to a body shop after the accident? Did you take pictures of the accident? Did you even take your car to an alignment shop before the accident? Did you take it afterwards? Can you put records/receipts of when you had any alignment done?

94 Civic Si

I think his driver tire hit my front bumper right in front of my passenger side headlight (see pics).
No police report, the accident happened in a parking lot while I was inside. I came out and was walking into the rising sun, so it was a little hard to see, but I was getting closer to my ride, I had a WTF moment. Then the guy hit me came up and admitted to the accident.
I called my insurance company, and they said no need for a police report if I had the other guy's insurance info.
I did take it in to body shop, and yes to pictures.
The last alignment before the accident was years before, probably around 2006.
I did take it in for an alignment after, that is when the old-timer said he could not my camber fully back as the "spindle" was bent.

tony_2018

I can't see how this frontend damage could cause a bad camber...

White_EG1

X2

JarvisW

Yeah, it usually only happens when you curb out or hit a pothole.

sorry, but that damage is so unique, it made me laugh a lil.

Again, sorry, and good luck with your repairs!

EDIT: also, replacing a Knuckle is easy, I did it in about 20 mins, and could have been faster if I had all the tools I needed right there.

JDMswagSerf

Seeing as how the jeep got on the car from right and continued to the center of the car. He may have moved the car a little and if the wheel was pushed against a curb it might have bent a little.

Hard to tell if it's bent with not pictures of the spindle.
does the car have camber kits? Or how was the worker trying to adjust the camber on stock camber arms?

Best is to replace the spindle and have it re aligned, if it's still out of spec somehing else is bent.

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

Don't buy new knuckles! Just go to the local U Pull and Pay and grab a set of a junker. You can use any 92-95 Civic EX, 94-95 Si or 94-01 Integra. Should cost you just under $50.





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94 Civic Si

Thanks, I appreciate the help. I was getting a little pissed when the adjuster was telling me that they would not cover the alignment.

I will look for some used spindles around here. '94-'01 Integra might be my best bet.
Just nervous about the possibility that the car I get them from may have a bent spindle as well?

94 Civic Si

No problem on laughing, it must have been strange looking. I asked the facility if they had video cameras on the parking lot, b/c I wanted to see what exactly happened. No such luck...

The accident did push my Civic back out of the parking spot.

I'll start looking up How To/DIY on knuckle replacements - what tools should I make sure I have handy?

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

Looks for a car with no damage or rear end damage. Your more likely to find a knuckle with a bad ball joint or wheel bearing then a bent knuckle.

The yard will mark the part and I believe you have sixty days to return it for store credit. As another poster said it should take about 20 mins, maybe up to an hour, to remove and replace a knuckle. There are 7 nuts per side including the wheel lugs to remove. The hardest part will be separating the ball joint from the knuckle.

Pick the part and replace it that same weekend. Get another alignment. If you found a bad part, rinse and repeat.

Do quote me because I'm working off memory, but you'll need a 19mm socket for the wheel lugs, 17mm for the ball joint nuts, a pair of pliers to pull the cotter pins and a hammer to help knock the ball joints out.

If you don't have a copy of the Factory Service Manual (FSM), Google helm Honda Civic FSM. Look for the hookup and you can find a free copy to download. Eric the car guy on YouTube is also an excellent resource as is the junkyard itself. Go experiment with a car out there.





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94 Civic Si

No camber kit, stock arms. The only suspension mod is the KYB adjustable coil overs from years ago.

94 Civic Si

Thank you. As I write this, I realize how long it has been since I did any real upgrades to this machine. I did the engine swap in '02, put the coilovers on in '06, and have pretty much just been driving it since then.

Should I be planning on replacing the ball joints while I am at this? I am guessing they are factory. I got the car w/ ~40k on it from the original owners, now it has 266k on the clock.

The guy doing the alignment said the tie rod ends were pretty worn, and they looked original. Where do you all like to buy replacement TREs?

Thanks!

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

I'm OEM for tie rod ends and ball joints. If you do wheel bearings look on Amazon for timken (510030) as they are either Koyo or NTN rebranded and $30 cheaper than Honda's price.

There are a few good online Honda site that sell parts. I like Acura Parts | OEM Acura Parts | Factory Acura Parts and Honda Parts OEM 30% Off | No Tax!! Outside California | Honda Dealer Parts. Both company's have been very good. I'm partial to the Acura site though. (They have Honda as well).

It can get pricey to do all that, but you've gotten quite a bit out of you original parts already.





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94 Civic Si

Ha ha, you are correct my friend. That is a big reason I am willing to go through a re-fresh on this car, for years she has just faithfully responded when I turn the key.

Thank you for websites as well! I like when they let you buy Honda and Acura parts on one website.

I will look up the ball joint replacement procedure as well.

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

A few more things here;

You're going to need a 32mm socket and ~2ft breaker bar to remove the axle nuts. A flat head screwdriver as well.

If you're located in the metro area look up the Napa machine shop off Havana. They can press wheel bearing and ball joints. Nice guys, quality work and a good price.





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JarvisW

Yeah, you can also do it with rent-a-tools too.

There are some youtubes of doing it on a 92-95.

Good luck!

94 Civic Si

Thank you!

It looks like you can only replace the lower ball joint?

I found a few videos:

JarvisW

Yeah, the upper control arm comes with one pressed in.

94 Civic Si

Local guy has a '99 Integra, w/ ABS, pass side knuckle for $75. Nothing else...

94 Civic Si

Any bad mojo from replacing lower and leaving the uppers in place? Not looking to start replacing UCAs as well...

eHMxhACk

iTrader: (17)

Dude is high.

U Pull and Pay price. You'll have to put in some labor finding/pulling the knuckle, but damn! a $50 mark up. Nope.








eH.

94 Civic Si

Damn! Problem, is am likely having to drive an hour, to then put in the labor to pull it, and then drive an hour home. The $75 guy is in my back yard. I think I will post a Wanted in the classifieds here...

JDMswagSerf

If the guy has a good conditin knuckle removed thne go with it.
and the junkyard is an hour away+ labor,
Driving your civic you wont waste much gas, but will be about a half day journey.

The spinlde is $19.99+ core + tax + all the other stuff they charge + entance! + 2 hours of gas.
Vs
$75 right behind you.

94 Civic Si

Looks like this is also used on 94-97 Del Sol...