ok, so i found out what the clicking noise is when i turn the wheel. the bearing or bushing on the upper control arm on the passenger side died


and here is the driver side to compare with, which is perfectly fine.


i called honda and those bastards won't sell that one piece alone, you have to buy the whole damn control arm and it's $190. i want to get a 2nd opinion on the matter because a local shop said that my passenger wheel can fall off when i'm driving on the freeway?? i honestly don't see how that can be... i'm thinking they're just trying to scare me into getting it done right away by their shop.
my question is... is there a quick fix other than replacing the entire thing? and how risky is it to drive on it? i'd say it's been at least a month or two since i noticed it and i haven't experienced any problems when i'm driving on the freeway or steering the wheel, other than the clicking sound. TIA

 

I believe accordfreak bought these very things. Balljoints.

Check groupbuycenter.com type in spc. You might as well get a camber kit along w/ replacing the ball joint...

 

spc

 

I have had the same problem and replace both of my UCA's on my '94 Accord. It is so easy to replace too, just three bolts to take out and BAMM, put in the new part with tightening the three bolts and you are good to go.

Try ordering from http://www.manhonda.com or http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com as they are cheaper than purchasing through your local dealer.

 

clicking when you turn can also be cv joints.

 

Try calling NAPA or something for the part. I had a 4th gen accord and from all the info I gathered the whole upper control arm must be replaced.

 

i talked to a nice honda parts salesman that told me about this, you can't get any upper balljoint BUT! you can buy the lower ball joint (which is sold separetly) and is pretty much the same, try that.

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=560241

 

that ball joint definitately doesnt look right. Honda does not sell it differently, they require replacing the entire control arm if the ball joint goes bad.

you can buy the aftermarket upper ball joint camber kits if you like and have that pressed in/out. but i have no experience w/ it.

 

i have 2 upper controller arm's if you need one hit up 07660 NJ.. is my location hit me up on PM if you are interested thanx

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GZERO &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i talked to a nice honda parts salesman that told me about this, you can't get any upper balljoint BUT! you can buy the lower ball joint (which is sold separetly) and is pretty much the same, try that.</TD></TR></TABLE>
that sounds like a good idea. heres a pic of the lower ball joint...anyone have a pic of the upper balljoint pressed out to compare?

btw, thats for a 4th gen, not sure if 5th gens are the same.

 

if you need a camber kit... go for the SPC ball joint kit ... it replaces the upper ball joint... and they're right about replacing the whole control arm.. if they did sell the upper ball joint and have a new one put in, it won't be as tight as it was before and will eventually pop out..

here's my link https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=560593

 

thanks for all the replies fellas
does anyone know how risky it might be to drive around with this for another 1-2k miles?
another member said that when u press the old ball joint out, you change the shape of the hole and ruin the entire UCA. so i guess getting aftermarket camber kit is out of the question

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accordfreak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you need a camber kit... go for the SPC ball joint kit ... it replaces the upper ball joint... and they're right about replacing the whole control arm.. if they did sell the upper ball joint and have a new one put in, it won't be as tight as it was before and will eventually pop out..
</TD></TR></TABLE>

then wouldn't the spc kit be the same deal as replacing just the upper ball joint w/o replacing the whole UCA? it wouldn't be as tight as before and eventually pop out

 

the upper balljoint is just pressed in and then tack welded on @ the factory. seems to me a guy could pull out that UCA and just have a good welder re-tack it? otherwise you're stuck replacing the whole UCA.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DeLiRiOu5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

then wouldn't the spc kit be the same deal as replacing just the upper ball joint w/o replacing the whole UCA? it wouldn't be as tight as before and eventually pop out</TD></TR></TABLE>

The balljoint camber kits don't press into the upper control arm. They use washer type plates with with a nut and a bolt.

 

good camber kits do press in the UCA, I would not use one that doesn't

the probelm is that when a ball joint is pressed out the UCA tends to get out of round making fitment of a replacement ball joint kinda sketchy

I have a SPC camber kit for sale if interested

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by urbanlegend21 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good camber kits do press in the UCA, I would not use one that doesn't

the probelm is that when a ball joint is pressed out the UCA tends to get out of round making fitment of a replacement ball joint kinda sketchy

I have a SPC camber kit for sale if interested</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have probably the best ball joint camber kit made (K-Mac) and it doesn't need to be pressed in.

 

oh, i have a pair of UCA's i will be looking to clear outta my garage. I sort of want to sell them as a pair though... The boots are torn and grease leaking but the guy who sold them to me (Boostedh23a or somethign here) told me they were ok when they were pulled off the car.
How do i check if they are good or not?

 

You need to install a new upper control arm, or at least one that is in good condition. I just installed a new passenger side UCA. Its pretty easy. 2 top screws and the one where the ball joint is (you jus have to take that lead/metal piece out first). What kind of camber kit do you have or is it stock? because my Special Products Company camber kit sucks and it broke on me--resulting in the UCA moving side to side. I'm about to install my new Ingalls camber kit. The bushings around the ball joint contains some grease, and yours is busted. If i were you, find another control arm and fix it ASAP

[edit]if a new control arm doesn't solve the clicking, its probably the camber kit..

 

those busted out both sides on my accord a few months ago. I was running 5g uca's on my 4g, and they are a little different. Both ball joints popped out like that one,

but i did drive around for quite a while waiting on my new uca's to come in.

 

Out of curiousity...

If the UCA's are salvaged from a junkyard doesn't that make them just as bad a choice as the ones already on the car?

If they are supposed to be replaced new. Otherwise how else would you tell a good one from a bad one?