Hello,

I am replacing some things on my front suspension. Right now just the upper control arm and both tie rod ends. Will someone please tell me what tools I will need to perform these operations? Also, I am experiencing a clicking / popping sound on the front right side of the car. And I am also experiencing a bit of confusion as how to solve this noise. Do I replace the axle or the cv joint? Is the cv joing part of a new axle assembly? If so, which axle will fit my 90 crx dx?

Thanks,

Jake


Modified by rockcity at 6:53 PM 7/1/2008

 

you'll mostly need just sockets to take the front suspension apart. i just did an upper ball joint on my own car recently. i used a 17mm, a 14mm and i think a 10 mm. i can't remember if i needed any others. just bring the set with a ratchet and some different length extentions. and a tie rod/ball joint seperator(found at most auto parts stores, sometimes even for rent). a big hammer will work as well. just hit the knuckle next to the ball joint stud and it should pop apart. and the axle is the cv joint. actually it's 2 of them, an inner and outer. the clicking usually happens in the outer joint(the one next to the wheel). its when the boot splits open and dirt gets into the bearing and cage assembly. even if the boot isn't split now, it could have been before and the previous owner might have just replaced the boot. mine were rebuilt once before i bought the car, and when i turn the wheel, i get a clicking noise. unless you have an engine swap or something like that, just ask for an axle for a 90 crx dx.


Modified by almost_stock_civic at 11:19 PM 7/1/2008

 

Good deal! Thanks man I'm gonna try to rent the tie rod/ball joint separator in the a.m.
I gotta wait for the axle to arrive, but I should be able to do the uca, lower ball joint and the tie rod ends, correct? Thanks!

 

Would any ball join separator do? There are quite a few on the market and even a few sets. Which one should I use?

 

they are actually specific to what you are separating. the space between the forks varies based on what you want to take apart. i bought a set that has 3 different heads that screw on to a shaft. i just have to pick the one that looks right and use it. if you can rent one, it might just come in a set with the different sizes. you can fix all the stuff in the front suspension, but i wouldn't put any of it back together until you put the axle in.

 

Can I at least put just the upper control arm's in? and then do the lower ball joints when I get the axle?

 

yeah you could. you just have to make sure you can swing everything around to get the axle into the hub.

 

Thanks. I think I'll just do the driver's side suspension and then wait for the passenger's side axle. I don't want to run into any obstacles.

 

I gotta do my Passengerside upper balljoint sigh.....I just try taking the one off at the local autowreckers learned a few tricked etc and didn't break anything of mine lol.

 

I just bought the entire upper control arms from hyper4hondas on ebay. good deal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rockcity &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just bought the entire upper control arms from hyper4hondas on ebay. good deal.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was just looking at that same kit. How did it compare to factory Honda pieces? I'm worried it's low buck stuff. How did it compare? Strength, fit?

 

Well, relative to what I pulled off of the car, it was golden! Everything fit well, but I'm not expecting to get the mileage out of it that i could from Honda parts.

 

Here's what you need to do virtually everything you'll ever do to your car:
- 32mm socket
- 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19mm sockets (deep and shallow)
- 10mm 12point socket (for pressure plate bolts)
- 17mm 12point socket (for flywheel...may be 14mm)
- 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19mm gear wrenches
- big fning hammer
- crowbar
- common and phillips screwdriver
- anvil
- vice
- feeler gauge (for valve adjustments and gapping plugs)
- allan wrenches (not sure what size, but for your shocks)

That's pretty much it. you could get an array of 21-24mm sockets for wheel bearing repairs, but, those are almost better to take to a shop.

All of that should cost around $200-$300 depending on where you get them. then you're pretty much set.

The only difference is, maybe an air compressor purchase and hardened sockets for the air gun.