dazebreak

1995 Honda Civic DX 4DR Sedan, D15B7

Searched around, also looked in the manual.

I removed some of my suspension parts recently, and I had to pop the front lower ball joints from the control arms a couple of times. The first time, I was replacing my worn suspension bushings with an Energy Suspension Bushing kit because it was cheaper, AND because I like the feel of that type of bushing. The kit came with new ball joint boots, but when I tried to fit them they wouldn't stay in place. I tried to use the circlips from the original boots, but that didn't work either. Since the aftermarket boots don't do anything for the ride, and because they didn't fit, I put the OEM boots and circlips back on.

Later, I had to do my clutch, so I removed the LCA from the ball joint again, but like an idiot I used one of those pickle fork ball joint removers and a hammer and I tore the ball joint boots. (I now know the trick to jack up the LCA and pop it loose with a tire iron or something).

My question is, how do I check for wear and for full functionality of the ball joint? Grease is spraying on the wheels as I drive, so I need to get new boots, or new lower ball joints. Furthermore, what kind of grease should I use? In the specific ball joint section of the Haynes it just says to use grease.

Thanks!

Texas4door

Just get new lower ball joints to be safe
They come pre-greased
You can probably find them under $20 at an auto parts store
For future reference: alternative to the pickle fork and jack is a tie-rod puller (rented one when I did mine for about $15)

dazebreak

Sound advice, but aren't OEM best?

Texas4door

Moog's good stuff too (lifetime warranty FTW)
^^

dazebreak

Moog does appear to be quality, however on all of the sites I found front lower ball joints for my '95 Civic, the warranty is one year only.

stateofjustin

To determine if you need a new lower ball joint, you jack the offending side up and try moving the tire toward you and away from you with your hands at the top and the bottom in an toward the car and away from the car see-saw motion.

If you are able to move the tire at all toward you, your ball joint(s) are shot. I'd replace the lower ones first and perform the test again.

Factory Prices:
51220-S04-003 JOINT, BALL (LOWER) $42.75

FYI the OEM Honda Boots and clips are available separately if your joint is not bad. Simply replace them, fill with grease and done.

51225-SR0-A01 BOOT, BALL DUST (LOWER) $2.40

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30955309@N06/8427922912/http://www.flickr.com/photos/30955309@N06/8427922912/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/30955309@N06/, on Flickr

dazebreak

Thanks for the tip about how to test the ball joints.

Yes, the bottom one is the torn boot. I did see that you can order the boot, but thanks.

dazebreak

As far as which grease to use, I guess any NLGI #2 LB grease would work, eh? Like the Coastal/Moly grease from Autozone. Maybe ok for clutch throwout bearing contact points also...