Front upper ball joint...

Front <subject> is starting to go, has a couple millimeters of play... I remember reading something about ball joints snapping and dropping these cars to the ground as a "known" problem but can't find the details on it, whether it was the upper or lower ball that was particularly problematic.

Obviously this needs to be fixed ASAP, but the budget isn't very accomodating at the moment ($100-and-a-bit for a new upper control arm; not having much luck finding one at a wrecker)... is this something I need to REALLY worry about right away, or do the higher minds here figure I should be okay for the weekend (twitchy steering notwithstanding)?

I got both sides for $60 shipped on ebay.

does it make a squeaking/scraping sound when you drive

im just wondering if upper ball joints are my problem. They make noize but honda says they are fine even tho something is still squeaking

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Originally Posted by BITESIZE

I got both sides for $60 shipped on ebay.

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Great, but that doesn't answer the question of whether I'm safe to keep driving it for a few days until new ones can arrive.

Anyway, I got one at a wrecker for $50. Looks to be almost brand-new. Now I just need to get the mounting bolts loose on the old one... %*^$#*@^!!

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Originally Posted by conozo

does it make a squeaking/scraping sound when you drive

im just wondering if upper ball joints are my problem. They make noize but honda says they are fine even tho something is still squeaking

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Actually, the squeaking has been getting pretty bad from the left side, but it's the right side that started having issues - car would shuffle side-to-side when going over a bump, steering was getting twitchy... sometimes on a sharp turn from standstill, I could feel the front end shift.

Haven't checked the left side yet, but the right one was pretty bad.

i would not drive it alot...order them ASAP.....i feel you on this one...my lower ball joints are making noise... try autorock.com they had a 5% discount copon that forrestse-i posted.

Got it swapped... let the Deep Creep soak in for a couple hours (another fine SeaFoam product, great stuff!) and managed to crank the old nuts loose. Took about two minutes once that was done. Checked the left side as well, it's nice and solid.

*sigh* now the search can resume for stock rear struts (or at least springs) to get this thing back to a decent height and straighten out the nasty positive caster. Time for new tires too... money money money, dammt!

Soundy, what exactly did you replace and how much did it cost ... where did you buy your parts?

:) I am planning on doing the same thing VERY SOON. I drove to Florida with a bad front balljoint and I'm still alive. :)

I used to have that sway feeling after hitting a bump. I took out the back seat and realized the rear strut had pushed THROUGH the car. Not a fun fix.

hey um, is it them i hear when i push down on the front left side of the car, it sounds like a shitty cv joint when you turn a corner, but happens when somethings pushing down the left front of the car only

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Originally Posted by WindsAloft989

Soundy, what exactly did you replace and how much did it cost ... where did you buy your parts?

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$50 from Westwood Auto Wreckers in Coquitlam (dunno where you are so I don't know if that means anything to you). Replaced the upper control arm, which the ball joint is a permanent part of.

Job is simple enough: unbolt the small cover over the castle nut, then remove the castle nut and knock the ball joint bolt loose. Then undo the two nuts holding the control arm studs inside the engine bay - on my carb'd 3gee, I had to remove the "black box" with all the vacuum hoses attached; this is easy enough, simply undoing the two bolts, then pulling it firmly upward - there's a lower bracket that's friction-fit into a holder on the firewall).

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*sigh* now the search can resume for stock rear struts (or at least springs) to get this thing back to a decent height and straighten out the nasty positive caster. Time for new tires too... money money money, dammt!

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Ya I'm kinda screwed right now, lol... I know exactly what you mean. My ball joints are getting bad, today the steering felt pretty bad. I need new front and rear uppers, new front brakes and new tires... ugggh.

hmm....very helpful to know indeed. i need to change mine asap because the loose joint has blown my shock. but i've been driving it like this for months now and i'm still alive. that's not to say that it's been the safest thing, though.

well, picked up this today: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWN:IT

i'll put it on when it arrives and tell you fellows the results.

Thats a cheap price for all that! Yeah, let us know. My front end is all jakked up too...$$$

I would really like to here from anyone who has used these Ebay parts from 'hyper4honda' as well! Like how do they hold up after a couple or more years? (or have they even been around that long?) OH WELL, really too late for me as I already got the upper control arm & bushing kit and will be putting them on in the next couple weeks.

Rock auto had the moog upper control arm parts around $200
Honda OEM would be around $300 after ordering every little part separate.
This guy has the full kit for $96. (bushings/bolts and arms)

Well, I hope they outlast the rest of my car anyway.....
I'll let you know how mine hold up in a year or 2.

Thanks to anyone that can vouch for the parts quality......

The 200$ doesnt sound correct. I just looked with in the week and its was 83$ or 78$ for the upper arm and ball joint combo. The bushing kits wasnt more than 22$.

As far as them snapping its cause there worn and more then 10 years old. Most people don't check there cars out until the wheel is hanging off or there hear some wierd noise and then they just crank the stereo up more or snort more crank.

Im my experience the fronts got about 5 years and the rears you will belucky to go 2 without play. thats if the boot stays intact if it rips it wont go 6 months.

I'm experimenting with a grease fitting on the rear compared the standard (non) to see if this helps at all. The boots,currently, on the other hand looked terrible and I think will go out before the joint does. This is 3 r fronts and Ingalls adjustable with moog ball joints rear.

wp

Prices I refer to are for both sides so yeah thats about right for X2.

Mine are OEM 19 years old and 142K miles so OEM is quality stuff! I have replaced one tie rod end and that's it for suspension parts. All boots are intact and all joints are tight (except front upper ball joints).
Yeah, once the boots rip and dirt gets in, it's over, same for CV joints.
As far as falling off, my upper ball joints aren't that bad yet!


A suspension component that only lasts 2 years qualifies as Junk in my book!

If I was doing the lower ball joints I wouldn't mess around: either moog or OEM quality. What you go through to put them on and they carry the weight of the car. These lower front ball joints are a bit strange in our cars as the weight of the car is 'pulling' the joint out of the socket... should be designed the other way around to 'pushing' on the joint.

Thanks for the feedback, if I need to do the rears I might look at using OEM as well.

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Originally Posted by g.frost

I would really like to here from anyone who has used these Ebay parts from 'hyper4honda' as well! Like how do they hold up after a couple or more years? (or have they even been around that long?) OH WELL, really too late for me as I already got the upper control arm & bushing kit and will be putting them on in the next couple weeks.
Rock auto had the moog upper control arm parts around $200
Honda OEM would be around $300 after ordering every little part separate.
This guy has the full kit for $96. (bushings/bolts and arms)
Well, I hope they outlast the rest of my car anyway.....
I'll let you know how mine hold up in a year or 2.
Thanks to anyone that can vouch for the parts quality......

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How are your front end parts holding out? I'm about to make a purchase and was wondering...... Are the rubber boots still in good shape??
thanks!!

I got the parts and they look good quality-wise, but I didn't get around to putting them on the car over the holidays. ( other projects took priority....) so I put the install off until spring when I have the time and don't need the car for a daily drive. ....So yeah, the boots are holding up good so far, sitting in a box in the garage. Sorry I can't give a better idea on these,,, someone here must have a few miles on these parts by now....

PS> My old original OEM upper balls will hold up fine until spring, I have no worries about a wheel falling off my car.

yeah when i took off my front lower ball joints i just saw the grease was a lil bit dry.

im thinking of getting these anybody got any feedback on them

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-UPP...QQcmdZViewItem

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Originally Posted by snoopyloopy

well, picked up this today: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWN:IT

i'll put it on when it arrives and tell you fellows the results.

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Anyone had experience with these replacement parts from Hyper4Honda???
thanks!

the both should be ok. i got all my front suspension stuff offf ebay. i havent actually used them yet but everythig looked good

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Originally Posted by SQ is the SQUAD

the both should be ok. i got all my front suspension stuff offf ebay. i havent actually used them yet but everythig looked good

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Yeah - If you could tell quality by looks - it'd be a simple world......
Anyone have any real experince with these ebay after market suspension parts????? Someone in here has to........ come on - pony up the info!

I've seen aftermarket ball joints that looked real good, but the rubber only lasted a little over a year and started cracking......

I'm a little sketchy on them ebay upper control arms. It seems like you get what you pay for. Seems to me that in the long run, some good MOOG ones for the money is better than going through a couple sets of them over time. Moog is about the best aftermarket suspension parts for the money in my book.