lower ball joint removal. How?

[M2nR]

what up guys i need some help on removing the lower ball joint on the front suspension. this is it...


should it slide right out? cuz if it should then its not doing it... and tips?

any help would be great
Thanks <FONT COLOR="red">H-T</FONT>

[eg2phosizzle]

first remove the cotter pin than un screw the crown nut...and than use a ball joint remover (fork) place it between the metal and boot and use a hammer and bang that sucker out...hit the fork not the actual ball joint you'll rip your boot

[egcivic]

im pretti sure everyone that works on civics with outstanding mileage has had this problem plenty of times.. and everytime its a big pain
if ur talking about that bolt not spinning off that is
if so i usually take a hammer and hit the lower control arm on the suspension to try to lock the ball joint in place so that the threaded part doesnt spin with the bolt
or i have my freind stand on the brake rotor and try to push down while i try to unscrew it.. usually ends up working after an hour or so
try searching tho im sure there are more knowledgable ppl on the topic and better ways to do it

[Nevaeh Speed]

no, no, and no again. Don't you that shitty fork. You gonna damage your ball joint....

loosen the crown nut, enough like three or four turns till it falls off. The hit right here with a nice sized hammer. Takes a couple of wacks once in a while..

[94hatchling]

are you needing to replace the balljoint? or just trying to remove the lower control arm?

if you are not reusing the balljoint, then a pickle fork will work. if you are reusing the balljoint, do NOT use a pickle fork, it will ruin the balljoint and tear the boot. use a hammer and hit the LCA where the balljoint goes through, and hit the knuckle where the balljoint is secured. DO NOT HIT THE STUD ITSELF. whether it is dead on the top or even with the castle nut turned upside down. it will ruin the balljoint. not immediately, but shortens its life twofold. the stud is tapered, so it is a compression fit into the LCA, along with the castle nut and cotter pin holding it in. so it will take a little persuation to remove.

if the stud and balljoint is spinning in the socket, then you need to apply pressure in between the spindle and the LCA, which will then put pressure down on the nut, and remove it. WD-40 will help if it doesnt come easily.

hope that helps. good luck.

EDIT: refresh owns me

[Nevaeh Speed]

and that rubber mallet that you have in the picture is not gonna work... You better get a metal hammer.

Peace. Best of luck.

[M2nR]

hey ive already tried to do everything you guys said to do with the exception of the fork thing since i plan on reusing the lower ball joint and and yes i did wack the side of the LCA with a hammer and that pos still doesnt want to come out. i just ended up removing the whole LCA and already to0k out the axles (what i wanted to do) But still it got me agravated that this little thing didnt come out, im still on it so if anyone else knows a way to do it, let me in on it
<FONT COLOR="red"></FONT>

[99blackcivicSi]

first off, if the balljoint is just spinning, take a pair of channelocks and HOLD the top of the ball joint and the bottom of the lca, then unscrew it.

secondly, put a jack under the rotor, jack it up put PRESSURE there, then SMACK the lca with everything you have 2-3 hits it will come off, after doing MANY MANY MANY MANY engines, trans, lowering, axles, over probalby 300 times i have done this, never have a problem.

[Luserkid]

1. Put jack under ball joint and lift til you reach max hight.
2. Put 1/2 inch ratchet like shown in picture.
3. Lower Jack
4. Kick top of brake disc until you hear a pop. (Repeat 1-4 if ball joint not loose)
5. Lift rotor and ball joint is free.
6. Remove ball joint from LCA

[hitvtecgetloud09]

heres a little tip so u dont damage the threads onthe screw cuz then ur fucked... put the nut back on the screw but dont tighten it give it like 2-3 turns then take the hammer to the sides but try to avoid the nut as much as possable and after a couple hits give it a lil tug up and down to see if it popped out but usually ull hear it..good luck..

[INVALID]

Originally Posted by Luserkid

1. Put jack under ball joint and lift til you reach max hight.
2. Put 1/2 inch ratchet like shown in picture.
3. Lower Jack
4. Kick top of brake disc until you hear a pop. (Repeat 1-4 if ball joint not loose)
5. Lift rotor and ball joint is free.
6. Remove ball joint from LCA

I was scanning the thread to see if anyone would mention this. I always just use the 1/2 inch ratchet. I jack up the lca then just release the jack quickly and it pops right off since the 1/2 inch won't allow it to go all the way back to normal position without either popping out the ratchet or separating.

[R-Lug]

^^ works everytime for me. No busting the joint either and no need to use ball joint remover.

[sohctodohc]

this worked for me on my 150000 mile civic. take thecotter pin out take a air gun and that got the crown nut off for me. then put the crown nut back on but put the crown part so it is sitting towards the top of the car. then hit it with a hammer. that has done it for me 4 times now and no screweing the threads up or nething.

[I8Stang]

Originally Posted by R-Lug

^^ works everytime for me. No busting the joint either and no need to use ball joint remover.

[rice a roni]

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1544731

[Linh.]

Use a big hammer and be sure to to stil have that castle nut on there when you hit the ball joint

[byronl]

Originally Posted by Luserkid

1. Put jack under ball joint and lift til you reach max hight.
2. Put 1/2 inch ratchet like shown in picture.
3. Lower Jack
4. Kick top of brake disc until you hear a pop. (Repeat 1-4 if ball joint not loose)
5. Lift rotor and ball joint is free.
6. Remove ball joint from LCA

I also have used this method and it works very well, use the craftsman 1/2" teardrop style ratchet It will work

[pdiggitydogg]

I use that method as well
works everytime, flawlessly

[.:Swig:.]

i just put a fork in it,jack it up, then push up theres reaqlly nothing much to it but that was me

[Silverhatch]

almost every time u use my ball joint tool I mess my threads up.

[khoalie]

Originally Posted by Luserkid

1. Put jack under ball joint and lift til you reach max hight.
2. Put 1/2 inch ratchet like shown in picture.
3. Lower Jack
4. Kick top of brake disc until you hear a pop. (Repeat 1-4 if ball joint not loose)
5. Lift rotor and ball joint is free.
6. Remove ball joint from LCA

this is a great method! never thought of that
i've always used a balljoint puller with the castle nut inverted, works 80% of the time, everytime