Like the title says, I am wondering if I am able to remove the upper ball joint from the OEM UCA and replace it. Some say yes, others no.

I've already replaced the bushings, and It would awesome if I could stick some ball joints in.

Thanks guys!

 

If you can manage to get the ball joint out without damaging the arm...yes. If you live in a place that uses road salt, its probably not going to happen for you.

 

luckily no salt.

Judging from that it's going to be a complete pain in the *** and I'm better off buying new arms and just putting my bushings in them.

 

You can replace the upper joint by pressing it out. A lot of vehicles support this type of replacement. There are some drawbacks to repairing like this:

Pressing out the joint, and pressing in a new one opens the installation hole, making any replacement ball joint press in loosely. Many of these use a snap ring to retain the joint in the event of creeping. Steel stamped arms are the most vulnerable. Cast control arms usually have more than enough contact area to provide a nice tight fit.

As a rule of thumb, you should not install or press in a ball joint more than 3 times into the same pocket. I have had problems with many vehicles that have had multiple ball joints installed and becoming loose or dislodged in the arm itself with minimal mileage. If you press the joint in crooked on a stamped steel arm, you have essentially ruined any chance of it not moving after installation because you have deformed the pocket. Most aftermarket joints have a splined install surface to provide additional bite to help provide a good fit the first time around. Once you install it, the next time you need a joint will be met with needing to replace the control arm itself.

Autozone does have the ball joint press adapters necessary for a Honda upper arm, as well as the joint install itself. This can be done as an in-car repair.