1988-1989 cars have non-removable upper balljoints! And nowhere in the kit is this mentioned! I found this out the hard way after (1) trying to remove a balljoint myself and bending the upper control arm, and (2) after thinking it was my fault, having a machine shop do the exact same thing! The solution? Buy upper control arms for a 1990-1991 Civic/CRX. These upper control arms have removable upper balljoints. And it was around these control arms that the SPC kit was designed. They are quite cheap and easy to find at Pick-And-Pull type yards. Just keep in mind that it is possible that older arms could be used in newer cars. The older ones can be spotted by looking at the back side of the balljoint (the top of the arm). The back side is domed on the older ones and flat on the newer ones.

I should also mention that I was later told that only 1988 cars have the old style arms and 1989-1991 cars have the new style arms. But my 1989 HB has the older style. So I if you have a 1989 car, I would assume you have the older ones, too. Check to be sure.

 

Dude, thats some good info! I hope that I dont have any problems when I install my ingalls ones on my 91....

Blaze

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Blaze45 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dude, thats some good info! I hope that I dont have any problems when I install my ingalls ones on my 91....

Blaze</TD></TR></TABLE>

It is hard to say. But this would not be a concern if the camber kit is a pivot style (which I think the Ingalls is). On the other hand, I prefer the adjustable balljoint style kit.

 

damn...good thing i havent tried to install mine yet, looks like im on the hunt for some 90-91 control arms now

 

I wish i would have read this thread earlier...good info though, --- now i'm off to get some 90-91 upper control arms.

 

Good to hear. Glad I had a '91 and had no problems though

 

i ran into the same problem kinda, since i have an 89. i just went and got new control arms about 70, they included the ball joint and everythign. (they have a removabel BJ) so if i ever watn to take that step i could. sorry to hear your headaches.

 

How did you guys get the ball joint out of the control arm? I took off the rubber ball joint dust boot & external circlip but I can't seem to push out the ball joint from the control arm.



How'd you do it?

 

Big Hammer, one swing, done.

 

thanks. i'll have to give it another try...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ruiner17 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thanks. i'll have to give it another try...

</TD></TR></TABLE>


Either that or go to Autozone n rent the balljoint press set. Its basically a huge C clamp with some attachments, thatll press it out. I used that to get mine out when i installed my SPC's. BTW, you dont need a balljoint press to install the SPC's, you just need it to press out the stock balljoint, unless you wanna go crazy with a hammer .

 

ok, i have looked over and over, where do i get spc balljoints from???? anyone anyone????? thanks, (sorry to thread jack)

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us!


-PHiZ

 

http://www.iapdirect.com

 

Why not use 90-93 Integra arms?

 

Found the control arms from a 1990 Civic DX 4 door at the local junkyard for $50 total. About to hammer out those balljoints now. Thank god I don't have to cut my fender for the ingalls extreme camber kit and I don't have to lube my poly bushings every 3 months.

 

a better way to remove the joint is to pull the two 14mm upper nuts off the strut tower and remove the entire arm. place it in a vise using tubing or sockets of different diameter, one in back of the joint, bigger then its diameter and one in front (nut side) of the joint that is small enough to go through the hole in the Aframe but big enough to fit over the tapered stud. put the whole mess in the vise and squeeze. the balljoint will be pressed into the bigger socket and pop out without damaging anything. impact grade sockets recommended.

also, if you plan to use the camber correction kits that slide the A-frame outward, be prepared to really hack up your inner fenderwells as there isnt enough clearance. the cars fenders will actually rest on the A-frame and have no suspension travel. just lots of slamming metal into metal.
avoid purchasing the $20 ebay rear camber kits. they are 4 grade 8 bolts and 20 washers used to shim the dogbone upper link outward. it works fine, but can be bought yourself at home depot for $5.00.