What's the best way to take these out to replace them. I have a manual but it doesn't exactly say much. It doesn't say the way to put the new balljoint on or the procedure to take it off. (Very sucky manual) Do I need to remove the shock/strut? How do I get the bar that connects to the upper ball joint off? Thanks for any info you guys can give me.

 

its better to release the lower part of the strut, and then llosen it from the 2 bolts on the top, oin the engine bay.. that was one of the first things i changed when i got my car.. and since it was my frist time, it was a bitch.......make sure u loose the lower end, and it should make things a lot better....

 

Was just out looking at it again. It appears the upper control arm is 2 pieces, no? it looks like it mounts to a bracket and the bracket mounts to the frame(?). If that's right, I could support the lower arm with a hydro-jack or block of wood, remove the control arm and then the bracket without taking the strut off. The only question I can't get figured out is how re install the bar that connects to the ball joint.

 

i tried searching for u
this is what i found
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=217091

 

I looked at that before I made my original post....it doesn't help me what so ever.

 

its just one piece
I don't think you can buy just the ball joint seperatly, the whole upper control arm comes in one piece.
and there is 2 nuts inside the engine compartment, up on the shock towers, remove those nuts, and the upper control arm should come out from the wheelwell...

edit: the control arms are $127.00 canadian from Honda


[Modified by Hcivic88, 7:49 PM 8/24/2002]

 

So that means i'm gonna have to remove the strut?

Also, if I do have to remove the strut/coil-over, do I need a spring compressor or will all the tension be off of it when i jack it up with the wheels off the ground and I can just unbolt it and take it out without it springing on me?

P.S. Upper control arm and balljoint already pressed in: $82 bucks from local parts store.


[Modified by Civic89, 4:24 AM 8/25/2002]

 

I just did one on my car last night. Took 20 mins. (I have a lift and air-tools). I took the two 18mm nuts off that hold the arm to the body, Which are under the hood next to the strut assy nuts. Then you need to take off the two 10mm bolts that hold the cover on upper ball joint nut (which is a 17mm). Then take take off the 14mm bolt that holds the strut in the fork, then remove the 17 MM bolt and nut that holds the fork onto the lower control arm. Take a hammer and tap the fork off the strut tube. Also you will need to take the bolts off that hold the brake hose onto the strut. At this point you can remove the upper control arm and put the new one in. You should be able to figure the rest out from there.

 

I am withouth a lift and air tools, so that right there is gonna make it harder for me. Main question is do i need a spring compressor or are the coil overs at full extension when i have the wheels off the ground?

 

Bumpity