my ball joint is shot and i need to replace it, is there any way i can just hammer out the old one and hammer in the new one? is there a tutorial on it i searched and i couldnt find ont. TIA

 

Even after you replace it you still need to have the car aligned. Just let them do the whole job.

Pay the man and be on your way.

 

is it the upper or the lower ball joint? If it is the upper ball joint you will have to replace the upper control arm. If it is the lower ball joint it can be replaced but is a bit of work. Either way you will need to get the car aligned after the work is done

 

NO NO NO. If you are just replacing the lower ball joint you do not need to get an alignment. The only times you need an alignment are when messing with the rack and pinion, outter tie rods, lowering the car or installing camber kits. The new balljoint is just the same as the old one so nothing is changing. Hammering it out and in can be done but it can also be difficult. I say take them to a machine shop. I got mine done for like $20.

 

Take your knuckle out and there is a snap ring. Remove it. take a deep socket or something that fits over it. Press it out. You can use a table vise for this. With the new ball joint take the boot off. Find something that fit over the threaded part will go and use a short fat socket. Press the new one in with vise and make sure it goes through until snug. You will have to have room to put the snap ring back in on flat top part. Reinstall boot. The boot removal is not neccessary but I found that they can get damaged if left on. I can do these in about 5 minutes with knuckle off car.
I usually replace wheel bearings at same time.

arm_can on ebay has the complete ball joint/sway bushing sets and are pretty reliable.

Also this tool helps and Honda charges about 120.00 for it. I finally found one and love it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...wItem

Hope this helps you

 

Modified by CardDealer at 9:19 AM 11/16/2006

 

thx guys but we went to autozone and rented a ball joint press, in and out in like 20 mins