B18EG6

Sorry if this is a lame question, but I dont see the snap ring on the lower ball joint to free it from the knuckle. The knuckle is still on the car, and I have snap ring pliers... but I cant see the ring itself. Is it within the seal? It is on the bottom of the knuckle, correct?

Thanks

litterbox

I have never heard of this either. In for an answer.

Heylookits shawn

i dont know what you're talking about. to get it apart you need to use either a balljoint separator(always ends up ripping the rubber boot) or just whack it with a bfh

B18EG6

Okay update. I went to napa and requested a lower ball joint, she asked me what side and I said it was for the passenger. I did NOT think it mattered. Here is what I got from napa



Thats why I asked where the snap ring was. I then removed my passenger side knuckle, and eventually my ball joint. This is what I found; no place for a snap ring.



Then on to the driver side... I purchased a ball joint from an HT member a while ago, and was told the side did not matter. He sent me this ball joint



I removed my driver side knuckle, and noticed a ring in the way of the ball joint. I popped this ring out and got the ball joint out. This is what I saw



However there was NO snap ring holding this one in. WHY are my two ball joints different, is this from an old previous owner? Does side matter? How can I get them back in? They are quite snug.

thanks!

Redline96LX

Confusing to me too, because I had a balljoint on a civic knuckle that I got out with a hammer.

o5mar1

don't use the snap ring, i got the same kit from auto zone, when i bought a new ball joint. the new joint is pressed into the nuckle.

B18EG6

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Redline96LX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Confusing to me too, because I had a balljoint on a civic knuckle that I got out with a hammer.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeh I got both out without using the snap ring.

All of the archived info I found said to replace the snap ring - why not put it on there if I could?

How do you reinstall these? Do machine shops/mechanics need to press them in?

o5mar1

yes they need to be pressed in

B18EG6

to whom should I go to press them in?

Relic1

I pressed mine in and used the snap ring. What harm can it do?

most mechanics have access to a press.
It doesn't take a huge one to get the job done. I did the very first one I did with a vice and a few 1/2" drive sockets for spacers.

JDM_Ej

I pressed mine in myself with a big-*******-hammer.

Then i installed the snap ring.