Tried to search but didn't find any info on the lower ball joint.

My girlfriends car needs a new one. In the picture it shows the snap ring which wont be a problem, but I imagine that it is pressed into a knuckle. Will a simple pulley puller or pitman arm type deal do the job.

If I do the job is an alignment required?

Part in questions.


And the car.

 

IIRC, you need a whole control arm.... at least not too long ago, you couldnt get that ball joint separately.
And yes, it'll need an alignment.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boilermaker1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IIRC, you need a whole control arm.... at least not too long ago, you couldnt get that ball joint separately.
And yes, it'll need an alignment.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Did I not post a picture of just the ball joint? So yes it is available.

Anyone with some correct information care to post?

 

yes alignment, yes pressed, yes it's going to be a bitch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fventura03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes alignment, yes pressed, yes it's going to be a bitch.</TD></TR></TABLE>

alignment is only needed if i actually remove the knuckle/ball joint aseembly correct?


If i could extract it while everything is assembled It would not need an alignment correct?

 

how are you going to manage to do that without removing the knuckle? the axle is going to get in the way and u wont have much space to "hammer" it in

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fventura03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how are you going to manage to do that without removing the knuckle? the axle is going to get in the way and u wont have much space to "hammer" it in</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually if you remove the sway bar endlink and the nut on the bottom end of the ball joint, it should come out.

 

he'll have to remove the axle still

are we talking about the same thing? the bottom ball joint? here's a pic for reference, this is a different chassis but same principle:

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vr6mole &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did I not post a picture of just the ball joint? So yes it is available.

Anyone with some correct information care to post?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, you posted a picture of a generic ball joint. That website shows several different ball joints available for the car, and none of them look the same..... you honestly trust a website picture to be accurate? Jeez....
Now, as I said, Honda does not sell ball joint by itself. If there's a parts store knuckle, so be it... thats not necessarily a part I'd be trusting my life to when its made to unknown tolerances. As per the manual, the whole knuckle gets replaced. Its designed to be permanent.... so have fun smashing that thing out of there and getting a new one in... you'll probably have to heat the **** out of it.

 

because TRW is such a no name brand....

Wonder why they make OEM steering racks for VWs??

 

are u trying to get a ball joint for ur tie rod end or something?..anywayz dang that ride is clean waxed up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b0yg0tskills &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">are u trying to get a ball joint for ur tie rod end or something?..anywayz dang that ride is clean waxed up</TD></TR></TABLE>

i think so, i'm confused...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vr6mole &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">because TRW is such a no name brand....

Wonder why they make OEM steering racks for VWs??</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe they're a Mexican company...

Anyways, take the advice and replace the entire part, per Honda.

 

Alright, does anyone in here even work on their own cars?

Got the job done in about 90 minutes. Removed the bolt, slid the ball joint out of the control arm and pulled the axle out. Pushed the old ball joint out, and then pressed the new one in.

No alignment is needed as I did not touch anything that would change the geometry of the suspension.

The ball joint is NOT pressed into the control arm.

It is pressed into the entire steering knuckle.

Maybe you guys should get the right information from your mechanics.....

I hate checkbook drivers.

 

i just replaced the lower ball joint like 3 days ago, really easy.i just got a old socket than hammered the old one and tapped in the new one with a ball joint press

 

I changed my air filter once

 

i think an oil change is about the limit to my knowledge.

 

Oil...?

 

for me only changing tires are my knowledges..bolts on remove and bolts back on haha

 

Do you have any pics or videos of how you pressed it out? Mine kicked my (#@ and I ended up having a shop do it. I could not figure out how to set up the ball joint removal tool to press it out of the LCA? None of the attachments would fit directly over the top of the joint to where I could use the C clamp to press it out. SOunds like you figured it out. Your help is appreciated.

 

Honda does not sell the ball joint separately, you will need to buy a new knuckle. If you change the knuckle I would recomend a wheel bearing and performing an alignment. Although changing those parts should not change the alignment in a perfect world, not all parts are created equal. There might be an aftermarket maker of ball joints but Honda does not sell them separate. It is common that if you nick or deform the knuckle the ball joint will come out of the knuckle. Be very careful. I would get the real one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fiveten &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Honda does not sell the ball joint separately, you will need to buy a new knuckle. If you change the knuckle I would recomend a wheel bearing and performing an alignment. Although changing those parts should not change the alignment in a perfect world, not all parts are created equal. There might be an aftermarket maker of ball joints but Honda does not sell them separate. It is common that if you nick or deform the knuckle the ball joint will come out of the knuckle. Be very careful. I would get the real one.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i happen to work at a honda dealership as a technician, for the lower balljoint, most of them come as just the bj alone, you do not have to buy the whole knuckle. Get your facts straight. I cannot beleive how much information in this thread is wrong...

 

Crasian, here is a view out of a honda parts catalog. Please show me the ball joint you can order without the knuckle. What is the pick list #........We are talking about 01-05 civics...not older ones or accords or ludes. Some you are right you can get separate, not this application. Show us different......

fiveten

 

ok u need the knuckle not the control arm and yes it need alighnment. i fucke dmy balljoint when i changed my lower control arm and i ended up needinga new balljoint. it means the whole knuckle. not tat hard to do. u will need to fuckwith the break likes though which means u may need to bleed the breaks after. not a big deal

 

Don't remove any brake hoses....You can just remove the caliper from the knuckle. pull the axle, remove the abs sensor if you have it...and I would recomend a new wheel bearing. It is very difficult to get it out unless you have the right tools(press or hub tool).