hello. unfortunately the search server is down...so heres my dilemma

theres about 4 ball joint rubber bushings that hold grease. i fucked up about 3 of them. the steering rack tie rod ones and one of my hub bushings. i ripped them by using a cheap ball-joint seperator. now it looks to me as if these are not replaceable. am i wrong? can they be replaced and is it something a DIY'er can do or do they have to be pressed out? and i was also wondering, since these tend to tear, who makes good aftermarket ones? tia.


Modified by donut. at 1:46 PM 10/13/2005

 

I think you can buy just the boot and C-clip from Honda if the actual balljoint itself isn't bad.

If you do replace the balljoints...

I wouldn't necessarily get aftermarket. I replaced mine with Napa's, still work great. For the outer tie rod ones, you're going to have to buy the whole tie rod unfortuately.

 

sorry for not clarifying. the actually ball joints itself aren't bad. its just that i ripped the rubber bushing that goes around the ball joint. it holds grease. this happened while attemping to take off my steering rack and hubs

they kind of like a "cv boot" for ball joints you might say. my main concern is if those are replaceable.

 

yeah that meants u have to get new ones. heres what i did.
i took a hammer and beat it out of place.
then i took and lubbed it up with some KY (didnt have any grease).
then i juss beat it back in there, try not to kill it. if u notice that its not doing anything after lets say the frist 4 or 5 good hits then back it out and lub it up agian and try again

i juss kept doing that until it slide right in. be care u dont bust open the top (where u hit it) cause if u do then its junk.

P.S. try and find a block or something like that to place over top to get the joint to so that way i dont beat it in at an angle (that will bend the nut on the end = junk)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by donut. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sorry for not clarifying. the actually ball joints itself aren't bad. its just that i ripped the rubber bushing that goes around the ball joint. it holds grease. this happened while attemping to take off my steering rack and hubs

they kind of like a "cv boot" for ball joints you might say. my main concern is if those are replaceable.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, well like I said before...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ****** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think you can buy just the boot and C-clip from Honda if the actual balljoint itself isn't bad.

If you do replace the balljoints...

I wouldn't necessarily get aftermarket. I replaced mine with Napa's, still work great. For the outer tie rod ones, you're going to have to buy the whole tie rod unfortuately. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's my advice. Also, I just replaced my balljoints a few months ago, so if you have any issues let me know. I may be able to help.

 

Your going to have to replace them. Its not to difficult to do. Im guessing you used a suspension fork which is suppose to be use to remove the ball joints but 9 times out of 10 if they have not been touched in awille your going to tear the boots.

 

I just picked up a ball joint from autozone for 25.99 and the ball joint press which is actually free to use. You pay for the initial tool and when you bring it back you get a full refund. My only question is, before taking the actually ball joint out and removing it from the LCA, do you have to take any other hardware off, I know obviously the tire, but like the calipers or rotor, etc

 

part #?

 

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

 

Part # taken from http://www.slhonda.com:

51225-SR0-A01 - BOOT, BALL DUST (LOWER) #4 in picture $1.85
52338-SL0-003 - CIRCLIP, CONTROL ARM #8 in picture $2.82



You'll need the circlip as well when you replace the boot since the clip might get messed up removing the existing.

 

thanks alot for your help and everyone elses

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ****** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Part # taken from http://www.slhonda.com:

51225-SR0-A01 - BOOT, BALL DUST (LOWER) #4 in picture $1.85
52338-SL0-003 - CIRCLIP, CONTROL ARM #8 in picture $2.82

You'll need the circlip as well when you replace the boot since the clip might get messed up removing the existing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is where I got mine from