lower ball join replacement

[dosh8er]

I have already looked at the honda shop manual, but i wanted to know your guys take on the process of removing (and possibly reassembly) of the lower ball joint.

The books talk about a special tool .. aww, to fuck with those special tools, i wanna do it the old fashioned (somewhat redneck) way! please inseminate my with your knowledge!

[pimp86LX]

PIFFFT

heres my special tool:
http://www.n-abler.org/pictures/4%20oz.%20Ball%20Peen%20Hammer.jpg

[BITESIZE]

HA HA....An air hammer works even better.

[dosh8er]

i think we are confused. I mean, REPLACE the ball joint.. yes.. the old one is fucked, i need to put a new one in there. is that little shit pressed in there?

[jb2wheels]

yes

[SteveDX89]

You can rent a ball joint separator at an auto parts store. They work pretty good. Just jam it there and push on it. Sometime it takes some work but it's usually pretty easy.

[dj99]

The ball joint separator tool is also known as a "pickle fork" and is under $10 at NAPA or the like. If you're going to replace it anyway, that is the simplest way to go. I pounded the fork with a 4 lb hammer and it comes right apart. You may want to leave the castle nut on some so it doesn't fly apart.

If you wanted to save the joint, you would have to have a two jaw puller and some luck (hammer) to get it off without wrecking it. Since I replaced both of mine, I have used the puller successfully.

[pimp86LX]

Originally posted by dj99
You may want to leave the castle nut on some so it doesn't fly apart.



:werd:

[Dibbs]

Originally posted by pimp86LX
PIFFFT

heres my special tool:
http://www.n-abler.org/pictures/4%20oz.%20Ball%20Peen%20Hammer.jpg

:lol :lol

If you have a big c-clamp (at least 6 in gap) and a 3 inch piece of 3/4 inch pipe or metal tube, then you have a specialty tool for installing ball joints. Just put the pipe over bolt and screw the clamp down until the clamp won't move anymore, you then should be able to tighten the castle nut without any free wheeling.

[ACCORD EX]

just grease the new one so it can easiely go in !

Mike !

[dosh8er]

so... how do i GET #10 (b.joint) out of #7 (arm) ?
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/catimgs/13SG70_J06.gif
I already know HOW to get the ball joint separated from castle nut bull shit, i want to know how to replace the ball joint itself with a new one? i see that it can't just be pounded out w/ a hammer? :wtf:

[SteveDX89]

I believe the Haynes manual says to use a vise to push it out of the knuckle. You'll have to check though, not totally sure.

[ACCORD EX]

with a hammer too ! or a press !

Mike1

[dj99]

You can take it to an auto machine shop. They pressed out the old and in with the new for $10.

[oldsub86]

I am interested too. I need to do some work on the front end on our 88.
Anyone out there who has done this job at home? Is there a way to press the ball joint out on the vehicle or do you have to remove the whole assembly so you can get it into a press? I have a ball joint separator tool but have only used it on a rear drive pickup truck so far so don't know if it would work on the Honda or not.

[jb2wheels]

I've done this job at home. Dibbie's right (check the picture) - use the freakin' hammer to take it out and put it in. Also, as I recall, there is a circlip you have to take off the ball joint before it will press out. Check the manual you should have in your hand now - it will tell you.

That being said, I'd glady pay a shop $10/side to press out the old one and press in the new one.

Pickle forks suck - use one of the 2-pronged tie-rod end or pitman arm pullers you can get cheap at Autozone to separate the knuckle from the ball joint.

[Dibbs]

The only time I would use any removal tools would be if I were doing other suspension work that required me to remove ball joints that don't need replacing. Otherwise, just pound them out with the hammer and use the c-clamp method I mentioned earlier.

[dosh8er]

well, :flipa:

I've got a press here at home! so it looks like this is going to be easy.. i hope... i'll keep y'all posted.

[Vinny]

ummmmmm why didn't someone just point him here????

How to replace lower balljoint ? (http://3geez.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15247)

[jb2wheels]

Too easy.

[SteveDX89]

Didn't know there was a how-to. Thanks for the heads up though. I gotta go that in the spring.