Hi All
When I jack up the left front corner of the 2000 integra, which I did looking for worn wheel bearings, if I grab the wheel at 3:00 and 9:00, there is no play. If I grab the wheel at 12:00 and 6:00, there is a little play. I suspect it is the ball joint(s).

How would I know if it is the upper, lower, or both? Maybe stick my head in there and have my kid wobble the wheel? Could I see which joint is faulty?

I understand I can 'borrow-rent' a press from Auto-Zone to press out the lower ball joint. What is done with the upper? Same thing? or is it really welded to some bracket (upper control arm?) that gets replaced?

Thanks

Dale

 

The symptom you diagnosed is a wheel bearing.

 

12 and 6 would mean wheel bearing. for the upper ball joint you replace the whole arm.

 

Thanks for the quick reply's.

So...12:00 and 6:00 indicates wheel bearing. That figures.
This past weekend I replaced the passenger side wheel bearing. That side wobbled at 12:00 & 6:00 as well as 3:00 & 9:00. That bearing was SHOT.

There is a 117,000 on the car. Half of me said "do both sides", the other half said, "save the buck, replace it later". Plus, I was sure I was looking at ball joints for some time in the next month or two.

All right then, thanks again. I will order up another bearing and get after it.

Dale

 

if it wobbles at 3 and 9 that's also tie rods.

 

no it doesnt.

it means upper balljoint,

you diagnose the wheel bearing by rotating the wheel.

 

the check the lower ball joint put a good heavy pry bar batween the knuckle and the LCA and pry (think 3 foot bar) you'll want the weight on the wheel too. Uppers you want to take some weight of the wheel but not all and try to move it. It's been my expirence that genuine Honda ball joints are absolutely worth the extra money, they hardly ever go bad, aftermarket tend to last about 6 months.

 

Ok, I am gonna throw this out there. I jacked up the corner again over the weekend. Still a little play at 12 & 6, none at 3 & 9. And while I can see and feel the movement at 12 & 6, I watch the top of the knuckle and see no movement at all.

Man, I should have had a kid move the wheel while I watched the lower ball joint.
Maybe in a day or two I will do that.

But it feels like a wheel bearing....

When I find out more I will post.

Thank you.


(The analysis part is just fun for me. If I have to replace the wheel bearing, both ball joints and a tie rod end, so be it... I just like to solve the issue. )

 

So what happens when you rotate the wheel....? Any roughness?

 

Dooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh Why did I not do that?

The car has an automatic.

Will both front wheels need to be off the ground to rotate the wheel?

Dale

 

I replaced that drivers side wheel bearing this past weekend.

The play is now gone.

I'm sure if there was MORE wear in the bearing, it would have wobbled at 6-12 and 3-9 just like the really worn out other side did.

But all is well now, until the 'nearly' worn out <insert part name here> needs to be replaced.

Thanks for your help.

And to answer a previous question, there was a tiny bit of roughness when spinning the wheel.