I started this job rather quickly using a youtube video as my instructions. It did not specify in what order to remove the bolts so unfortunately I removed the horizontal and vertical 19mm bolts first and then got the sway bar nut off. Only after removing these and jiggling and jostling the control arm around a bunch did I realize that the ball joint where the castle nut came off is completely stuck. I hit it a bunch with a hammer but this was all futile because the control arm was just moving around the whole time.

So basically now I am trying to get the 19mm bolts back in so that I can use the jack-to-rotor and 1/2 inch socket method of prying the control arm off the ball joint. However, I can't for the life of me get the part of the control arm where the horizontal bolt goes through to line up back where it should. I am about an inch to 1.5 inches off the mark but can't get any closer than that. Any tips to save my mistake or have I completely screwed the pooch on this one?

Thanks you guys

It's a 2001 Civic LX

 

If you can't jack up the knuckle to align those bolts then you're gonna have to use a pickle fork on that balljoint.

 

Harbor Freight sells this tool for $20 but I can't find it online to post a picture so I snagged one from google pics. I would recommend it because it won't damage your boot or the ball and you should be able to remove it without reinstalling the bolt. It is the tool called for in the service manual. What's your plan for the rest of the job? This link is goofy but if you click on "images" it will show the tool.

http://www.google.com/search?gs_rn=24&gs_ri=psy-ab&cp=18&gs_id=1y&xhr=t&q=honda+ball+joint+tool&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.50500085,d.dmg&biw=1600&bih=809&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=sQ0DUtDgKc-84APjqoDIAw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=NdK7-RqglfAAeM%3A%3BK7z3RDTFwtor5M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.mteng.com%252Fimages%252F07MAC-SL00200.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.honda-acura.net%252Fforums%252Fintegra-and-97-01-integra-type-r%252F249164-bout-to-start-my-clutch-install.html%3B640%3B480

 

Ok thanks, I'm going to give it another shot at aligning them tomorrow morning. If not I'll go pick up a pickle fork and see what I can do.

 

Awesome thanks for the line on that tool, it looks like there is a harbor freight about 30 minutes from me so I guess that will also be in the cards tomorrow morning depending on how my final try at aligning the control arm bolt goes. My plan is to use a chisel, hammer, and hack saw to get the old bushings out. Then I'm taking the control arms and energy suspension bushings up to a buddies shop to use his press to get those bad boys in.

 

Well, some good news and not so good news. Finally got the 19mm bolts back into the control arm this morning. I used a hammer and screw driver to bash the the arm into place, I don't know why I didn't think of that last night.

The bad news is that this ball joint is so stuck that a 15mm socket between the control arm and ball joint area wouldn't even pop it off. Much larger than the 1/2 inch mentioned on another thread here. I tried to go up to a 16mm but at that point the car began to lift off of the jack stands before I could fit it in.

I have the drivers side control arm off, all that I could fit in there was a 9mm and that did the trick. Any idea as to these differences?

I've already wd-40'd the heck out of it, heading out to grab some PB blaster now and most likely that ball joint tool from Harbor Freight.

Also the car sat in a Florida garage from 2009-2012 so I'm sure that is working against me.

 

If you've got it so you have a lot force pushing the ball joint out of the LCA and it's still not going...

Hit the side of the LCA with a hammer. You'll want a good solid hit right outside where the ball joint goes through it. A few hits and it should pop out.

 

Well, I've truly botched this job now. I blasted the ball joint with PB blaster, tried a 15mm socket with a hammer this time. I hear a pop, not the pop I was looking for. Not sure what this piece is called but the caliper, rotor, and ball joint all attach to it. The part of it that surrounds the ball joint now has a large crack in it.


I was trying to fix my Mom's car before I went back to school and now I have to leave on Sunday morning. So I have this job 50% finished and I guess it will have to be towed to a real mechanic now to fix my mistake and finish it up; as I no longer have time to source the part and fix it. What is the part called that I broke? And will it be OK to put everything back together and just roll the car onto a tow truck with this part cracked where it is?

I guess the Honda gods were not on my side this week.

 

I can't really see much in the picture, but it looks like you cracked the lower control arm?

 

If this is the case, your best bet at this point is to just buy new LCA's from Honda that have the compliance bushing already pressed in for you.

 

Sorry about that, here is a picture with the crack circled, it's not the LCA


Also, for anyone doing this job in the future, a press isn't necessary if you're using the energy suspension bushings. I burned the middle parts of the OEM bushings out with a blow torch, then sawed out the metal rings. Unfortunately I only had a hand held hack saw on hand so it took a few hours.
The horizontal bushing will press in by hand since it's in two pieces. And for the vertical bushing all it took was a floor jack, my little brother to crank it, and a crossover SUV.

 

Unfortunately, that is the knuckle. I'm attaching a picture. That's rough. I believe you will need a new one and they will need to remove/reinstall the front bearing as well. Sorry you're going through this one....I put my Mom through hell when I was young. When it's all over with, make sure you take her out, buy her a nice dinner, and tell her how much you love her. She'll forgive you.

 

BTW - I think you're fine rolling it onto a truck but I would not drive it as it could be dangerous.

 

Thanks JJ,
I had it towed today. They brought a flatbed at first but then when I showed the tow guy the crack he called his boss and they decided to use a different truck that just lifts up the front two wheels. That didn't make sense to me, but they're the professionals...

I'm heading to pull-a-part tomorrow morning before I leave. They have an 01 Civic in stock so I'm just hoping no one else needed the pass side suspension knuckle as well. I definitely don't want to pay for a new one of those bad boys.

Thanks everyone for the help on this thread. I'll most likely be seeing you fellas next time my Mom asks me to fix something on her car, if that ever happens again.

 

At least you're staying at it, lots of folks would just give up and say I'm never touching a car again. I have screwed more stuff up it's hard to understand sometimes but I love working on my car...not sure I will ever understand why. It's awesome to have the pros on here to babysit us guys who like to monkey around with our daily drivers!

 

Ouch!

I just ripped apart my suspension this weekend and I'm surprised this gave you so much trouble. I bought one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...tor-99849.html

Mostly for removing the tie rod ends without killing the boots. I didn't think it would be up to the job of the ball joints too, but I gave it a shot anyways. My ball joints separated easier than the tie rod ends, no hassle at all.

I don't know how the knuckle would have broke, it's pretty stout.