how long does it take for a broken boot to be somewhat problematic... its a brand new ball joint and i broke the boot a few days ago... yes i know broken boots on brand new ball joints sucks.... lol...

 

Good question... I am wondering the same thing...

I think I messed mine up the other day...



Should I replace it while I have the car torn apart or (like the thread creator) is it okay to drive on it like this? And for how long?

** I don't mean to hijack the thread or anything and I'm sorry I don't know the answer, but I would like to know as well **

 

I ripped that boot 4 years ago on my old 1997 Honda Accord. Still going strong...

 

From what i know i think one of mine is ****. But runs fine. If your the "better safe then sorry" kind of person then replace it. Tell the people you got it from that it was busted.

 

no i did it... the guy i got the car from replaced it like 1000 miles before i got the car and when i put my engine in a busted it.... i also had to cut off some of the threads bc my dad mushroomed the hell out of them so theyre isnt a hole for the pin in the threads anymore but i always check it to see if its tight still and it has a lot of threads left so it should stay put until i can get my new ball joint next week

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM EJ1 95 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no i did it... the guy i got the car from replaced it like 1000 miles before i got the car and when i put my engine in a busted it.... i also had to cut off some of the threads bc my dad mushroomed the hell out of them so theyre isnt a hole for the pin in the threads anymore but i always check it to see if its tight still and it has a lot of threads left so it should stay put until i can get my new ball joint next week</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you talking about the hole for the cotter pin? Dude **** that, if that hole isnt there get a new one ASAP. You dont know when that nut could come loose and your car goes.

 

its hard though even if you had it replaced and you go to take axles out on a crx for example you have to take a ball joint spliter just to get it out and its almost impossible to not ruin the dust cover. the ones on my civic are almost the same as yours and there fine, my car is a dd and goes fine

 

i think ill take a tiny bit and drill a new hole bc i need to drive my car this weekend....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luserkid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Are you talking about the hole for the cotter pin? Dude **** that, if that hole isnt there get a new one ASAP. You dont know when that nut could come loose and your car goes. </TD></TR></TABLE>

you know you can just drill another hole right...

and for future reference... the easiest and least destructive way of seperating the joint. from the back of the car put a long square prybar as in the pic below and jump on it... pops every time...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miahmouse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

you know you can just drill another hole right...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I know and i had a bad experience with it. Never chancing it again.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jspresso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its hard though even if you had it replaced and you go to take axles out on a crx for example you have to take a ball joint spliter just to get it out and its almost impossible to not ruin the dust cover. the ones on my civic are almost the same as yours and there fine, my car is a dd and goes fine</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is for anybody who has trouble separating that lower balljoints without damaging them in some way. I feel that this is the best advice I have EVER received for working on my Hondas. Just spreading the word...

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=887859

 

mine's ripped too when i did my axles and i never replace it yet. still running for one year already.

 

if i feel its needed i'll change it asap. when i did my brake swap i replaced them. im doing a 5 lug swap now and im going to replace them. they dont look to bad but whatever peace of mind.
i saw what happen to my friend when he was driving the ball joint let go and his wheel shot out of the fender.
after that i never play around with ball joints. the fear of it happening when driving scares me

 

I can tell you this much I had to use a fork type separate the ball joint on my 2001 Chevy venture causing me to bust the rubber boot on the new ball joint I had installed a month earlier, to my surprise I was able to drive on that ball joint for 6 months before I needed to replace it but I did pack it full with grease first.
But it depends on how much you drive and road conditions and the weather I live in West Virginia and it was winter time plus I do a lot of driving so that should tell you that it's a wonder if it lasted that long.

 

Thanks for the addition but this was a 15 year old thread you just necrobumped.