1996 Accord LX Sedan

I need to replace my front upper balljoints before I can do my alignment and when I ordered the balljoints I gave the parts store the info for my car, they quoted me for the part, I ordered them. When I picked them up they had ordered the bolt-in adjustable balljoints. Problem is mine are press fit. I'm looking at it and it appears the bolt-in will physically fit if I were to secure it from the top with a large washer. I could be mistaken, and I want to make sure this can or has been done before I try something that just won't work. If I have to I can order the press fits, but since I need camber adjustment I want to try this if I can.

 

Uppers are one peice with the control arm. You have to replace it as an assembly.

 

That makes no freaking sense. Every parts store, Autozone, NAPA, O'Reiley's, Advance, along with all the aftermarket places, list the ball joints as separate and have them available for purchase.

 

They could be designed for the lower control arm. If you can make it work, go for it.

 

If they're supposed to be for the lower control arms, then every parts store in the continental U.S. is completely wrong.

I had my brother look up the info on All Data or whatever the hell he uses at work. You can in fact press out the ball joint, the whole arm doesn't HAVE to be replaced, it's just easier and for sure it makes for less labor if a shop is doing the work. I could buy the whole control arm for each side but $60 for the ball joints and twenty minutes with a press is WAY easier on my pocket book than $160 for the arms. As for the adjustable ones, I just exchanged them for the press-in and I'll deal with the camber later on if it proves to be an issue.