I recently inherited the duties of chief mechanic for my 20 year old daughter's 89 Accord. I don't know how she did it but the right lower ball joint broke so I may as well replace both the right and left ball joints.

I'm pretty mechanically capable but I thought I'd ask anyway.

What are the steps to remove the old ball joint, other than removing the nut and the retaining ring? Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

The balljoints have to be pressed in and out with a hydraulic press. It's not hard to do, you just gotta have the press. I did one of mine myself at my work and, although a bit tricky getting it at just the right angle, it wasn't actually hard at all. Without a press though, you're pretty much outta luck and stuck with having a shop do it.

To get it out though, all you do is take that snap ring out and it'll press right out. Press new one in, new snap ring, and you're set.

 

OK, I'm making the assumption that if I have to press the ball joint out of the knuckle, I have to remove the spindle and hub from the CV drive shaft. I bent a Craftsman 1/2" drive breaker bar today trying to remove the center hub nut. Is there and easier way. I already did the easy part...removing the lower ball joint from the LCA. That was a sinch. In this case the ball joint was seperated from the socket which is still in the knuckle.

So far, I have the ball joint out of the lower control arm, the retaining clamp removed from under the knuckle. and the caliper and caliper mount removed from the assembly and out of the way, and the rotor off.. I know that there isn't enough room to press the lower ball joint up because the CV hub is in the way. The lower ball joint is pressed into the knuckle from above...am I correct?

I'm used to rear wheel drive cars. This is my first attempt at a front wheel drive vehicle but once I get the hang of it there all just another car.

 

That 32mm nut is held on by about 160 ft/lbs of torque. Use a bigger breaker bar. I have bent my share of breaker bars doing the same thing.

 

Thanks, I got it done. It was a lot easier than I thought. I did end up hammering the old joints out and back in. It was easier than using that ball joint press I rented from Auto Zone. I'm glad the CV boots were in good shape. It is probably simple but was unsure of what to do next if I removed the old outer CV Boot. I'm sure that I would have to disconnect something in the joint to separate the two pieces of the shaft in order to put on a new boot.