lower ball joints
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,963
Likes: 0
From: WI, US
Re: lower ball joints (miguelv0723)
There are numerous ways to remove a ball joint, but for the final removal, (not the poping of the ball joint) you should have it hydraulicly (sp) pressed out by a shop. Some will tell you that a BFH (Big Fu*ken Hammer) will do the job but I prefer to have a shop press them out for little or no money.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: California
Re: lower ball joints (LSEGHATCH)
Done it once, the stud holding the lower control arm was completely damaged. So I had to remove the whole ball joint.
Step 1: (Hardest Step of All)
Remove tire. Remove pin and bolt holding lower control arm to ball joint stud. Then put tool to hold the lower control arm to the stud. Twist the screw until the stud yanks loose away from the lower control arm. Use a special ball joint tool, which you can rent at autozone for 20 bucks.
Step 2:
Remove axle bolt from the spindle. Need big socket to remove this bolt. I believe the brake spindle will come off, in the process remove the brake caliper too.
Step 3:
Remove all bolts holding the arms of the spindle to the lower control arm and upper control arm, most have a pin to secure the bolts. If stud moves with the bolt you need some clamps the hold it from moving, but thats a rare occational.
If your doing this by yourself it sucks, so I prefer geting some help.
Step 4:
Remove the spindle with legs and place it on a block of wood. Remove the extra metal piece behind the spindle, it will get in the way when hiting out the ball joint. Get a flat screwdriver and hit it the balljoint supporter with a big hammer. It will come out.
Conclusion:
Will take a while to do, no press is require, and Ball joints/comes with stud and bolt cost only 26-30 bucks new at autozone.
Good side doing it yourself:
You learn how to take apart the dam thing, way cheaper, some balljoints come with lifetime warranty, and you learn about how the suspension is connected.
Bad side not doing it yourself:
Cost a fortune, mechanic jips you, and you don't learn jack-only a life learning lesson of mechanics jipping you.
Step 1: (Hardest Step of All)
Remove tire. Remove pin and bolt holding lower control arm to ball joint stud. Then put tool to hold the lower control arm to the stud. Twist the screw until the stud yanks loose away from the lower control arm. Use a special ball joint tool, which you can rent at autozone for 20 bucks.
Step 2:
Remove axle bolt from the spindle. Need big socket to remove this bolt. I believe the brake spindle will come off, in the process remove the brake caliper too.
Step 3:
Remove all bolts holding the arms of the spindle to the lower control arm and upper control arm, most have a pin to secure the bolts. If stud moves with the bolt you need some clamps the hold it from moving, but thats a rare occational.
If your doing this by yourself it sucks, so I prefer geting some help.
Step 4:
Remove the spindle with legs and place it on a block of wood. Remove the extra metal piece behind the spindle, it will get in the way when hiting out the ball joint. Get a flat screwdriver and hit it the balljoint supporter with a big hammer. It will come out.
Conclusion:
Will take a while to do, no press is require, and Ball joints/comes with stud and bolt cost only 26-30 bucks new at autozone.
Good side doing it yourself:
You learn how to take apart the dam thing, way cheaper, some balljoints come with lifetime warranty, and you learn about how the suspension is connected.
Bad side not doing it yourself:
Cost a fortune, mechanic jips you, and you don't learn jack-only a life learning lesson of mechanics jipping you.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MalcolmV8
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
8
Apr 5, 2011 09:01 AM
2camsaam
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
21
Oct 1, 2003 07:32 PM