Would an arm puller work best? I have a tool for pulling ball joints but it won't work with my accord because there's not enough room. Kinda hard to explain.

#4 in this diagram by the way:

 

Hammer. Preferebaly a big one.

 

You need to remove the upper control arm to fit the tools on there. I used a shop press to press the balljoint out; makes the job much easier.

 

Hammer... preferrably a BFH! Seriously... Gotta know where to hit though, take care of the ball joints and give the arm a good smack!

 

should take all of 2secs to 'pop it' if you hit it just right.

 

I got it...i idnd't care what happens to the ball joints because I got new ones coming anyway. A big hammer and a couple wacks did the job. Thanks guys!

Now to another quesiton, on the otherside, I'm stuck with the axle nut. I've snapped off two breaker bars on the damn thing and can't get it loose. I already tried torching it also. Any suggestions? Obviously it's stuck on there good to break two good breakerbars. I have to go exchange them in tomorrow so for today, my work is done. (self note: never change bushings again...)

 

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!! Those axle nuts. I went through hell trying to get those off. I eventually had a friend come out with his roadservice truck with a shop compressor and 1" impact gun to break them loose for me. Then they came right off with 900 ft/lbs of torque that is. If the car is not apart yet, drive to a local shop and have them break them loose for you. Hand tighten them back and drive home. If the car is already apart, see if you can borrow/rent an air compressor and a 1/2 inch impact gun. I tried heating them/PB Blast/WD-40 and the impact was theonly thing that even budged them.

 

yea, I'm about to borrow my friends air compressor. The car is completely in pieces. The right fender has nothing in it anymore. I took it completely apart cuz it was a lot easier to take the whole brake assembly out to pound the ball joint out.

Nothing irritates me more than not having the right tools to get a job done.

Thanks for all the replies though...I'll keep you guys updated along with pics when i'm done.

 

everyone bitches about those axels nut so much I went out and bought a impact wrench and socket set for about $70 prob the best $70 i spent nuts come off in a jiffy and no bloody nuckles

 

I seem to be able to break all axle nuts loose with a 36mm socket and 1 1/2 foot breaker bar

 

That's what I've been trying but couldn't get it loose. Finally used a cheater bar and just snapped the end of the breaker bar off and the nut still hasn't budged.

 

First, dont use a hammer; you have a good chance bending the control arm(bad for alignment). Do it the proper way, and press it out.

As for removing the axle nut, here's the secret. 1/2" breaker bars wont do the trick. You need to get a 3/4" breaker bar, and a 3/4" socket. Get a big pipe and put it over the breaker bar to give you more leverage. I used a 5 foot thick pipe. That sucker came right off without no sweat.

 

I wasn't hitting the control arm. I was hitting the ball joint (control arm already removed) to get the ball joint out. I didn't care if I damage the ball joints because they're already worn and I ordered new ones already.

I'll defaintely have to try the 3/4" though. 1/2" just doesn't seem to cut it with this nut. It's gonna need some serious heavy duty torquing. 5ft huh? that's insane. I was probably using about a 4ft (using hydrolic jack's bar as a cheater bar) so I know I can give it enough torque...just need a 3/4" end I guess.

 

Question:
Your replacing the ball joints?
Are they facotry Honda Ball joints? or aftermarket like ingalls or progress?

I'm asking becuase I did the same, and when I went to get a new ball joint, I found out that Honda will only sell them pressed in the control arm. They wouldn't sell me the ball joint by it self.

If you were able to find a place that does, can you send me their info?
Thanks

 

It's the Honda OEM ones but I'm talking about the lower ball joint that you see in the picture. You can buy those seperately from www.hondaautomotiveparts.com.

The upper control arm's ball joint is sold with the control arms so I'm just going to leave those. I don't feel like spending $150 a piece for each control arm just to get new ball joints.

 

I bought Spicer ball-joints from the local auto parts store. They're identical to OEM as far as I can see.And yes, I take pictures of everything...

 

To get those nuts off, this is what I use now with my GF standing on the brakes.

 

Alright guys, I found this in the archives.

My question is: Has anyone bought the energy suspension kit and replaced the covers on the balljoints? I'm doing this now and the e/s boot does not want to stay on.

 

I'd like to know if the ball joint and tie rod ball joint boots are replaceable? Mine are all cracked and currently wrapped in Duct tape. It looks very ghetto but I figured it would at least keep some of the road grime and salt out in the mean time... Anyone know if they are replaceable? Called the dealer and they wanted me to get new tie rods and new upper control arms, it was a bit pricey. Thanks

 

definately replaceable. I've even got an extra ball joint in my garage that I bought from honda. thought I might need it, but didn't.

 

My tip for getting off axle nuts:
#1-break it loose with the wheel on the car and the car on the ground, very easy. (if it's possible with your wheel)
#2-Use a 1/2in spinner (NOT CRAFTSMAN) with a 6-point socket and a 6 foot piece of conduit piping
#3-Go easy on it, you break things when you try too hard
#4-Most importantly, spray the nut with PB Blaster before attempting it at all

 

alright this went the wrong way, i posted a reply to this asking if anyone has had experience with e/s boots for balljoints, but nobody reads that they read the main topic wich is like 2 monts old and respond to that... ohh well

 

I didn't see that. Honestly, I don't know what to say. Are you sure you got the right kit?

 

positive, all the other bushings went it perfect.

 

Are those the ones packed with grease? With the Clips wrapped around them?