Pretty much trying to save the disaster of the suspension set up of the previous owner who decided to be "hella flush" and do some dangerous things that would be similar to cutting springs but instead wasted the Eibach Ground Control set up by adjusting it and cutting the sleeve down so the spring could sit freely under the strut and about halfway from reaching the tophat. It's pretty bad. Drivers side strut removal and repair was easy but I hit a wall on the passengers side when I could not move the upper ball joint off to remove the strut. It was completely stuck, I tried using a pry bar and tapping it, tried pulling down and using my legs to push up on the top part of the joint to remove it and it wouldn't budge... I'm frustrated and out of ideas... if anyone has anything for me... PLEASE HELP. Thank you...

Car is 88 CRX Si

 

Smack the **** outta of with a hammer

Ballpeen prefered

 

I literally tried to smack the **** out of it with the best angle I could and it barely budged...

I'd probably have to pull the fender off to get the best angle...

any other ideas?

 

No just smack it with a hammer as said. Make sure your hitting the knuckle part and not the ball joint part

 

smack more downward or straight into the knuckle? I tried doing that and for some reason it wouldn't budge. I'll try again tomorrow. This is frustrating me. I know this car is going to be nothing short of a headache but at least the motor runs well.

 

Try smacking it where the ball joint goes through but on the knuckle. I hit strait towards the knuckle not downwards. Get the biggest hammer you have and hit it a couple times as hard as you can

 

Torch and a pickle fork/balljoint separator they are $10 at harbor freight!

 

Have fun replacing your upper ball joint after doing it this way

 

I'll try the pickle fork but not the torch. I tried using some PB Blaster and WD40 to see if it could break anything loose while using the hammer.

 

Don't use a pickle fork yet. Hit it hard with a hammer if you can't break it free see if you can find someone stronger. Most of the time pickle forks ruin the ball joints

 

Are you planning on saving the balljoints? If so brake clean them and repack them with grease and new dust boots or they will go to hell. I would start with light taps using the pickle fork at a few different angles should slide out good luck bro

 

Thanks for the help guys, I will try it and hopefully something works out. I'll let you guys know.

 

I used a pickle fork on mine, it might tear the boot but a replacement boot wasn't too expensive for me.

Just went through the same thing on my CRX.

 

use a bigger hammer.

 

absolutely none of these "methods" would ever work. so no wonder why youre having a hard time...

and when ppl suggest using a hammer, you dont hit up or down, you hit the side of the knuckle around the balljoint. the vibration is what knocks it loose.

or use a proper puller.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-crx-ef-civic-1988-1991-3/how-pop-off-balljoint-videos-1912773/

 

iv never had a problem hitting the knuckle to get ball joints out. if it wont come out, keep hitting and hit harder.

 

There really isnt one specific way to remove them some methods just work much easier and safer. I would just use the balljoint seperator then go from there..

 

im really curious as to why you think need to get the balljoint loose to remove the shocks ?

 

also, where are you located ? if youre close by i can help you out for a small fee

 

Thanks for all the help guys, I will be working on the car tomorrow and it should work out tomorrow. I'll let you guys know otherwise.


North Orange County, pretty far. Thanks for the offer but I think I should have it handled by tomorrow. Seems simple enough, just my first time working on older Honda suspension. I come from a Subaru background lol.

 

This ^

Remove 17mm nut and bolt from bottom of fork and lca. Remove 14mm bolt from top of fork. Remove fork. Remove both 14mm nuts from top of strut. Pull entire assembly out from the bottom. Done, without touching a single ball joint.

Installation is the reverse of removal.

 

wait, yeah. lol. if youre just trying to remove the shock (not strut on a honda) then you shouldnt need to separate the balljoint at all. youre doing it all wrong.

 

I meant fork... but I didn't correct myself since everyone pretty much understood what I meant.

 

but you dont need to separate the balljoint in order to remove the fork..........

 

Lol, what just happened?