Replacing lower balljoint boots with poly boots

[EJX_Michael]

Well... So I tore my lower ball joint boots when I was removing them to do my brakes.

The joints are fine so I just ordered some Energy Suspension ball joint boots.

My question is how are they installed? I see the stock boots have some kind of clip to keep them on, but I cant figure out how I would go about putting the clip on these poly boots.

Thanks

[cp[mike]]

im pretty sure they only get placed on (after greasing of course) and just get held on by the LCA. personally i didnt use them when i installed my kit, my rubber boots were already brand new, and they are already clipped shut...

[deevergote]

That's exactly what Sean (93twodoorLX) did. He just packed em with grease and placed them on. It's been 2 years now, or more... and he's had no trouble that I'm aware of. He was concerned about the lack of clip at the time as well.

[Granite CB7]

I never used them w/ my total kit, but Prothane makes the same thing aswell. They don't reference the c-clip groove at all, they basically just slip on and are squeezed down once the other arm is in place.

[MIKEYZCB7]

Well... So I tore my lower ball joint boots when I was removing them to do my brakes.

The joints are fine so I just ordered some Energy Suspension ball joint boots.

My question is how are they installed? I see the stock boots have some kind of clip to keep them on, but I cant figure out how I would go about putting the clip on these poly boots.

Thanks

Why would you remove your lower ball joints to do your brakes? Also how old are your ball joints because if they are old and worn just change them.

[deevergote]

Holy crap... 4 Mikes and a Dan.



On topic... To remove the rotors, it's often easier to remove the whole knuckle, which means the ball joint has to be popped. Tearing the boot is common.

[MIKEYZCB7]

Holy crap... 4 Mikes and a Dan.



On topic... To remove the rotors, it's often easier to remove the whole knuckle, which means the ball joint has to be popped. Tearing the boot is common.

on the front rotors isn't it just those 4 bolts that hold it onto the hub? This method makes no sense,i guess that's why messing up your ball joints is common.Big deal you have to remove the hub and whell bearing it's not hard I mean I'm a mechanic in a dealer and I just don't get how removing the steering knuckle makes doing the front brakes on this car easier.

[F22HB]

I have the boots to do my uca lca and tierods. They go on this winter so I'll post in this thread how it goes. Is it sad that all of my boots are torn? lol.

[3tcRob]

if he was doing a front brake job and need new rotors or rotors turned, unless you have the tool or a on the car lathe you have to pull the knuckle to pull the rotor they are behind the hub, so u press out the assy with the bearing and seprate them
Just pack it full of grease and put it on u dont need a clip they will sandwich in the knuckle

[wed3k]

if he was doing a front brake job and need new rotors or rotors turned, unless you have the tool or a on the car lathe you have to pull the knuckle to pull the rotor they are behind the hub, so u press out the assy with the bearing and seprate them
Just pack it full of grease and put it on u dont need a clip they will sandwich in the knuckle

somewhat true, ive done it with a slide hammer and a offset wrench. i run the poly boots on the project car.

[EJX_Michael]

on the front rotors isn't it just those 4 bolts that hold it onto the hub? This method makes no sense,i guess that's why messing up your ball joints is common.Big deal you have to remove the hub and whell bearing it's not hard I mean I'm a mechanic in a dealer and I just don't get how removing the steering knuckle makes doing the front brakes on this car easier.

The 4 bolts on the face of the rotor only hold the rotor to the hub. From what I've read, its less damaging to the wheel bearing to get behind the knuckle and remove the 4 10mm 12pt bolts, then putting longer bolts in the holes and pounding the whole hub and bearing out. To do this you have to remove the LBJ and take the axle out. I didn't even remove the knuckle, I just swung the whole thing outwards on the tie rod.

It would have been fine to just push the axle in and get the 12pt bolts out with a wrench, but I knew I wouldn't have been able to on my car because the brakes hadn't been changed in at least 5 years. It took a 4 ft breaker bar just for me to get them out with a socket. The bolts were dry and rusty, even after coating everything in free-all.

Next time though I'll try it with a wrench and slide hammer.


Thanks to everyone for the help. My LBJs are fine, its just the fact that I tore the boots and wanted to keep dirt from getting into the grease and drying up.

[deevergote]

on the front rotors isn't it just those 4 bolts that hold it onto the hub? This method makes no sense,i guess that's why messing up your ball joints is common.Big deal you have to remove the hub and whell bearing it's not hard I mean I'm a mechanic in a dealer and I just don't get how removing the steering knuckle makes doing the front brakes on this car easier.

The rotors do not simply come off when you remove those 4 bolts. Changing the front rotors on our cars is actually quite involved. Check the DIY section for various methods on how to do it, and you'll see what I mean.

[Tippey764]

I didnt use mine because they were awful. I just bought all new ball joints.

[F22HB]

The rotors do not simply come off when you remove those 4 bolts. Changing the front rotors on our cars is actually quite involved. Check the DIY section for various methods on how to do it, and you'll see what I mean.

I can vouch for this. I ended up having to use a press to get them out and managed to ruin the bearing in the process.

[EJX_Michael]

I can vouch for this. I ended up having to use a press to get them out and managed to ruin the bearing in the process.

Yeah... I ruined one of my bearings hammering it out too.