I need a good how-to or any tricks/tips that may be useful. I searched around a bit but didnt find what I was looking for and most pictures were just red X's. I dont want to remove the entire lower arm to do this unless I have to. I had a friend do this for me a while ago, but for the life of me I cant remember how he did it or with what tools. He tried to explain it to me but Im drawing a blank. I need to do both R and L sides so if anyone has any tips let me know.

THIS IS TO REPLACE BOTH BALL JOINTS, NOT POP THEM OUT OF THE LOWER ARM.


Modified by RTW DC2R at 8:31 AM 3/6/2007

 

the we-todd-did method?

support the car on jack stands
use a breaker bar handle
jack the suspension up
insert the handle in the area between the lower control arm and the bottom of the spindle
lower the jack and the handle forces the ball joint out.

or something like that...

who has the pix?

 

BFH

 

no no I need to replace the joint, not pop it from the lower arm.

 

I had this same problem. I searched how to seperate the ball joint and asked how to actually remove it, only to be told to "press it out". Thanks

 

I usually use an impact hammer, I've been successful with a socket and a hammer though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by walker111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I usually use an impact hammer, I've been successful with a socket and a hammer though.</TD></TR></TABLE>

did you take off the arm or just hit it from the bottom? bear in mind Im using jackstands

 

I never took of the arm. Put it up on jack stands, pop the ball joint loose, take (preferrably) an impact hammer and hammer the joint out. If you dont have impact, take a socket around the same size and wack away.... You could try and rig something up with a C clamp, and kinda press it out... It shouldnt take too much. GL

 

Why not just take the hub off and have a new ball joint pressed in. Would be much easier than trying to do it on the car. Why do you want to remove the arm? It has nothing to do with replacing it.

How can you have 13k posts, and not know how to change a ball joint?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Arsenal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not just take the hub off and have a new ball joint pressed in. Would be much easier than trying to do it on the car. Why do you want to remove the arm? It has nothing to do with replacing it.

How can you have 13k posts, and not know how to change a ball joint?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm pretty sure he knows how to do it, he's just looking for the easiest way to get it off.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Arsenal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not just take the hub off and have a new ball joint pressed in. Would be much easier than trying to do it on the car. Why do you want to remove the arm? It has nothing to do with replacing it.

How can you have 13k posts, and not know how to change a ball joint?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I mistakenly said "lower arm" when I meant the knuckle. As for your wiseass comment, I know HOW to do it, but Im looking for the best way to do it with hand tools rather than a press or other tools which I do not have access to.

 

ive had the knucke off and beat the **** out of it w/ a hammer same thing putting one back in

 

Air hammer FTW

 

Ok this is how to do it with hammers. Remove the lower ball joint nut and axle nut. Hit the lower arm right at the ball joint to loosen it. Once loosen pull out the knuckle being very careful about the axle shaft. tap/hammer on the shaft to loosen it from the knuckle. Once free swing the knuckle over 90 degrees. Now take a pair of vice grips and clamp it to the lower ball joint thread and hit it with a hammer from undernieth till the ball joint pops out. Can't remember if there is a snap ring holding the ball joint...just check. Clean dirt around the hole where the ball joint sits. Then hammer in the new ball joint lightly on the shoulder...never the middle of it till it seats in.

 

^^^^^ This is the method i use to remove them. The OEM ball joints shouldn't have a snap ring but the aftermarket replacements most likely will. BTW what are some good ball joints to buy since i change mine about ever 5k miles?

 

I've done it with hammers before and it works, but is a royal pain in the ****. Then I bought the OEM Honda tools to do and just press them in and my bench vise or shop press. Far far easier and completely painless.

I don't have the part numbers hand for the tools right now, but they're listed in the shop manual and don't really cost all that much. Or here is an aftermarket kit that has the same basic components. http://www.etoolcart.com/brows....html

 

I will be attempting this tonight, the hard way. well see what happens

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITRFreddy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">^^^^^ This is the method i use to remove them. The OEM ball joints shouldn't have a snap ring but the aftermarket replacements most likely will. BTW what are some good ball joints to buy since i change mine about ever 5k miles?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
why ever 5k?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94rs-turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
why ever 5k?</TD></TR></TABLE>

He might be one of the poor saps that had there wheel fall off due to a failed joint. But 5k is extremely overkill...

Ryan, let us know how it goes.

 

BFH is how I do it.. can get tiring though if it just doesn't want to go..

 

Just to let you know I hardly ever change integra ball joints at work... only the odd time, but i guess if you race a lot or something, then maybe so. Integra ball joints are awesome.

 

You can rent a ball joint press/remover from Autozone. Honestly hand tools or not, take it to any machine shop. Pressing it in is the right way to do it. You dont want to beat the **** out of a new balljoint with an air hammer either.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94rs-turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
why ever 5k?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Honestly i don't why. when i did my build i replaced the OEM ball joints with NAPA ball joints and now they seem to go out often..........5k was a mild exaggeration, but still often enough

 

everyone who attempts to work on there own cars should invest in a air compressor and a few basic air tools. would make this job 100x's easier. air hammer them out, air hammer them in. I've done it at least twice a week for the past 5 years at the dealer. have never ruined a ball joint going in and have never broke or "beat" the **** out of the knuckle gettin it in or out. This itr forum is filled with for the most part intellegent people with kinda expensive hobbies, at least you can do for yourself is buy the damn 300 dollar craftsman compressor. Many of the backyard mechanic headaches will disappear.my .02

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITRFreddy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Honestly i don't why. when i did my build i replaced the OEM ball joints with NAPA ball joints and now they seem to go out often..........5k was a mild exaggeration, but still often enough </TD></TR></TABLE>

Or spend less than $200 on the actual honda tools and have it done in 2 minutes with no hammering of any type