Ok, I just did replaced my Upper control arms and was wanting to know if there is a DIY out there for the Lower ball joints and how hard is it compared to the UCAs. Im also going to be doing my brakes, so does it make sense that while the rotors are off, i can easily get to the lower ball joints... basically my question is how hard are the lower ball joints to replace.
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"You've done more threatening prescription drugs..."
"the character of a man can be judged by how he takes his criticism"
"Quoting yourself is like, masturbation" -Starchland -
anyone ?
"You've done more threatening prescription drugs..."
"the character of a man can be judged by how he takes his criticism"
"Quoting yourself is like, masturbation" -Starchland -
Extremely easy with the correct tool. Use OTC #7249.Comment
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Ouch. That thing is at least $75, from what I could see doing a quick Google.
Something like that might have come in handy when I needed by rear knuckle bushing gone for my strut-gone-evil.
BustedLX --- I don't read too much about people replacing the lower ball joint; is that because you need this expensive tool (as opposed to a regular tie-rod or pitman arm puller) or because the lower ball joint doesn't wear out as quickly as the upper? Thanks.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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lower ball joints are pretty HARD. you have to partly push out the bearing just to pop it out (well on the odyssey knuckles i had to do that). and popping it out is easier said than done. my mechanic used an air hammer to pump it out and used a press to press the new one in. i just recommend to replace only the boot and regrease. i could care less if my ball joints are "contaminated" with little grains of dirt or sand. i'd rather use that extra time and money on something more urgent and important. just remove the c-clip, remove the boot, remove the old grease, clean, regrease, and replace the boot and clip. it's good as new unless you jack up your threads in the process of removal. good luck!Comment
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well i did my upper balljoints and im thinking if i do my lower ones, it may help illeviate some of the disconnectedness(and bumpsteer) i feel sometimes with my steering. Is there a way to check if there toast? i dont think theyve ever been replaced.
looking into the tool, thanks.Last edited by starchland; 10-29-2005, 02:34 AM.
"You've done more threatening prescription drugs..."
"the character of a man can be judged by how he takes his criticism"
"Quoting yourself is like, masturbation" -StarchlandComment
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just make sure the boot isn't torn and there is grease. running a joint dry is bad. even though it is torn and worn, there shouldn't be that much play in the suspension from the ball joints that you can feel. i would check your bushings in the swaybars, endlinks, struts, radius rods, etc. bushings wear out mainly contributing to the "disconnectedness" you feel.Comment
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pull the front of the car up.. so the wheels don't touch the ground. then with a long crow bar put it between the wheel assamby and the lower arm... try to jack it up. if u see any play then u need o replace the lower ball join.... i read this inthe manual and i have actually seen a mechanic do it on a cb7. good luck with it. itts hard to replace it but not that hard. make sure u have a 2 top puller and the lower ball join "Y" shape puller handy.are we there yet are we there yet are we there yet
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ok so should i have greased by upper balljoint before i put it in?
ill try looking for play, good advice.
"You've done more threatening prescription drugs..."
"the character of a man can be judged by how he takes his criticism"
"Quoting yourself is like, masturbation" -StarchlandComment
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First of all, you need a special tool from Honda to re-install the circlip around the ball joint boot if you were to remove it. Second, I would HIGHLY recommend just replacing it since the part from Honda is about $24 and it is ruined if water and dirt has got inside. It is an extremely important part of your suspension and can make a huge difference in the stability of the car if it is bad. Third, most of the time you will be forced to remove the hub/bearing assembly to pop the ball joint out of the knuckle. If you don't, you'll prolly ruin your bearing from the ball joint hitting it when you try to pop it out. I would get the tool recommended in the post and remove the knuckle completely to do it. Good luck!
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If you want to check if your lower is bad, just put a jack under the lower control arm and jack it up to unload the ball joint and check it for axial and radial play (towards and away from the engine and side to side). Basically just grab the knuckle assy and move it vigorously back and forth both directions and up and down, if there is any play then its prolly a good idea to replace. From what I saw when i did my bearings, there is a notch in the back of the knuckle to allow the ball joint to clear without moving the bearing/hub assembly.Comment
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sometimes the balljoint will clear the bearing, sometimes it wont. It's a major PITA if it wont clear.Comment
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I can imagine the frustration if it doesnt clear, taking that hub/bearing assembly was retartedly difficult. Air chisel with huge punch didnt work..... took us a while to get it situated on the press so i wouldnt bend anything.... basically like you said, major PITA.Comment
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