So today I orderred a moog lower ball joint and a factory upper control arm for both sides of the front of my 89 Crx Si

My question is , is there any tricks to installing? I cand find much info on the balljoint but I think you may need to use a pair of pliers to remove a c-clip? Top or bottom of the joint? Then just pickle fork it together??

Also for the new upper control arm, do I need to loosen the 2 large bolts in the engine bay before I lift the car or split anything there?? My upper assembly is very dirty and Ill have to clean it before I start but I couldnt really tell how to remove and install them

THanks guys

 

easiest way would probably be to take of the entire "arm", Loosen the two top bolts in the engine bay, then the steering rod, then driveshaft, brake etc. Then loosen the lower balljoint. You might need a fork to brake the rod and balljoint loose.

After that it should be quite easy to change what you need to change, the balljoint you can usually manage to get it out by just giving it some hard taps with a hammer, then either use a press to get the new one in or tap it in with a hammer.

This is atleast how i do it, Might be other and faster ways to do it ^^

 

The ball joint needs to be pressed in and out? I thought it was a circlip??

 

circlip is for added safety but it is a press fit joint

 

Would the axle need to come apart for any reason?

Debating if I need to remove the axle nut while the car is still on the ground.

Not sure if I need to remove the axle to take the suspension off to get the upper LCA off

 

Axle needs to come out to get lower ball joint easiest way is to remove the entire spindle and hammer down on the ball joint remove clip first thou

 

You can hammer the old ball joint out??

I cant find a damn thing as far as pics or good DIY info on how to remove these joints

 

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/balljoint-replacment-autozone-free-rentals-27023-27164-a-2987276/

 

Ya we dont have an autozone here to rent that tool

 

I didnt need a shop press, I put the nut back on the balljoint after I removed the knuckle from the car and hit it with a 5lb hammer. Bitch popped right out, putting it in I used a socket that was a little bit smaller than the outter edge of the balljoint. Gave her a few good taps with the socket and hammer and BAM! Finito...

 

No lubing the parts before hitting them back together?

Do most have the c clips / circlip?

Ive gotta buy an axle 32mm nut before trying this

 

I didnt use any lube and I believe most honda's have the c-clip on the lowers. You might be able to Youtube the installation.

 

Did you have to haul off and really smack it as hard as you could with the hammer, or just pick it up and dropp it kinda thing... Do you put a nut on the threads while you smack it

 

 

Stock lower will have the circlip.
New OEM or aftermarket will more than likely not have the clip.

 

both honda and moog show the clip coming with the new part

EDIT: oem parts drawing shows two circlips? ive only seen the one under the front LCA


OP, its pretty straight forward:

Remove wheel, axle nut, lower shock fork, brake caliper (and brake disc if desirred).
Loosen the castle nut on tie rod end, upper and lower ball joint.
Seperate all three ball joints, then remove the castle nut completely.
Remove the entire knuckle from the car (make sure the axle is out of the way).
Remove lower ball joint c-clip then hammer out the ball joint. Press the new part back in
The UCA will just need the two bolts in the bay removed to come out.
Put it all back together.

 

The second cir-clip (#15 below) is actually to hold the rubber boot on. #24 is a 40mm snap-ring and it's responsible for holding the ball joint into the knuckle.



Snap ring:


Ball joint cir-clip shown in blue:

 

This really is an easy job! just chisel the old clip to free it up then use two small flat head screwdrivers to pry it out, stick the nut back on for an easy target grab it with vice grips and wack it like it owes you money job done

 

a vice is nice, i usually remove the old rubber boot, slide a socket over the old joint, don't forget to remove the circlip and beat it out with a mini sledge

 

May I ask where did u get these ball joint ? And what's the part number?

 

Thanks guys, I willtry this when I get the rear back together

 

I would guess that they're from Honda.

The part number is on the bag in the pic: 51220-SM4-013

They're $20.04 each here:
http://www.hondapartsdeals.com/produ...s_id=534111613

 

That's not an EF ball joint in the pictures!!! I have no idea if that part number will fit his car. The CRX ball joint is ~$36 and the part number for the Si is 51220-SK7-013.