Was driving in the city when all of a sudden i heard a bang and the steering got really stiff, managed to drive it like 2 miles to home and it seems like nothing else broke, had i known what it was that broke i probably wouldnt have even tried to drive it home (i drove like 5mph w/ the flashers on)

I have the service manual but it only has replacement info on the front lower ball joints, is the procedure the same for the upper?

 

dude that sucks that happen to a buddy of mine.....pa pot holes cal guys don't know about that

 

Youll need an upper control arm. The ball joint and arm are one piece. Just jack it up, remove the control arm bolts in the bay, remove the remaining stud from the knuckle and put the new one in place, then bolt the ball joint to the knuckle and just finger tighten the control arm bolts then raise the suspension with a jack to normal ride height and torque the control arm bolts in the bay.

 

^^^^ You're going to have to hammer the **** out of that stud that remains in the spindle. If you can't remove it after hitting it for 30 seconds straight, take a 30 second break and then beat the **** out of it again.

 

I've done this before.
You can press your upper joint out of the UCA!! It's cheaper that way but I'd recommend just buying the new assembly since it will be easier. It's up to your. It was like $40 for the joint alone versus $95 for a 5th gen Civic hatch.

To press the ball portion of the upper joint out, I used a bike peg and a vice, and I would recommend having someone hold the knuckle while you press the threaded portion of the joint into the empty cavity of the bike peg, pipe, etc.

 

time for like a skunk 2 camber kit...

 

that ****ing sucks. lucky you held together though.

 

**** PA roads coming from a Pittsburgher

 

might as well get some camber kits....

 

So Honda designs this to just be replaced as an assembly, upper control arm and all?

thanks for the replies all, what is really scary is the night before i was driving around the curves on 76 outside Philadelphia....that could have ended terribly then

 

First of all, at least you are safe and your car is safe.

If one part of it breaks, replace the whole assembly. (Mainly because the Upper Ball joint is pressed in, if you have a tool to press it out, it is easier to press it out and replace with either another upper balljoint, or adjustable balljoint).

But from my experience, it was easier to go with a whole new assembly. However, I have myself pressed out the upper balljoint and fitted a new one in. All it takes is a vice, some sockets, and alot of heat from a propane torch.

Hopefully that helps.

 

yea thanks alot guys, the autozone by me has 2 in stock. i am just gona go pick up a whole new assembly. thanks for all the help