A new discovery

[russiankid]

Went in to get my car inspected and it needed a new rear upper ball joint. So I got a whole new arm with a ball joint and bushing for $40 from Napa. Napa lists that you can replace just the ball joint for about $25. Now I remember reading in many threads that you cannot replace the ball joint. So with the new arm installed in 10 minutes, I was left with this old one; the curiosity begins.


Looking closer at the arm, there is a c-clip tucked behind the dust boot. The dust boot was on there tight, so lots of prying get it off. Then, I popped the c-clip off and put the arm in a small vice. I pounded the ball joint stud fairly hard with a 4lb hammer and well...the picture speaks for itself.

[ghettogeddy]

sweet

[russiankid]

If needed I can make a how to on putting it back in.

[markmdz89hatch]

putting it back in is a piece of cake too. Autozone has a tool (ball joint press) for rent or sale for $100. Harbor freight has the exact same thing for $40 (OK, now it's only $33). I'm telling you it's the same exact kit.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38335

Actually autozone sells just the upper ball joint (no arm included) as well for much less than the arm assembly.

Good that someone finally tried to get one out with just home-tools instead of a shop press or other shop tool.

[russiankid]

Edit: I tried pounding it back in but no go. You will need to press it back in. When pounding it out, make sure you have something on the vice like rubber to prevent damage to the arm. I just looked at the arm and there are a few spots where the vice dug into the arm because I didn't have anything on the vice.

[markmdz89hatch]

just be careful not to trash the balljoint when you hammer it back in

If you have a giant (like 40mm or larger) socket, you can set it on the receiving stem side of teh ball joint and then yes, just use a hammer to smash it home (the other large socket will receive the ball joint so that the boot doesn't get smashed.

[russiankid]

The lower ball joints up front were easier to get in than this one. Unless you have adjustable control arms in the rear, getting a whole new arm cuts down on repair time and the new arm has a new bushing in it. My old one looks ok when not on the car, but once you flex it, it has huge cracks.

[2ndGenGuy]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=1666

6 ton bench press. $79.

[lostforawhile]

some of them have replaceable upper ball joints and some don't i have some old ones where they are welded to the arm, when these cars first came out, there were some issues with the front uppers,they used to have c clips also. it was quietly fixed by honda with no recalls issued, from that point on they were all welded.

[russiankid]

Lame. I would rather replace a $25 ball joint than the whole arm for $60...up front that is.

[lostforawhile]

Lame. I would rather replace a $25 ball joint than the whole arm for $60...up front that is.

the problem was some ball joints were coming loose it was kind of swept under the rug, this was their first car with 4 wheel wishbones so I would expect some issues to have been worked out.

[Oldblueaccord]

Smufguy or some one similiar posted that stuff I bet.5000 post and nothing to say correct about cars.

I think its true there all not replaceable. I think also its cool that the inspection caught it thats what there susposed to do.


wp

[lostforawhile]

Smufguy or some one similiar posted that stuff I bet.5000 post and nothing to say correct about cars.

I think its true there all not replaceable. I think also its cool that the inspection caught it thats what there susposed to do.


wp

I would rather have the welded ones on the back for security, the fronts can be converted to lude arms which have bolt on ball joints,they are much more secure then the circlip ones that were on the front of three geez at first.

[Dr_Snooz]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=1666

6 ton bench press. $79.

Dang 2ndGen, you don't mess around do you?

[carotman]

I got an "under the blanket" trick for installing pressed in balljoints

Just put the balljoint in the freezer overnight. The metal will shrink a bit and the joint will be easier to install. I usually heat the arm with a propane torch so it expands.

When I did that to my lower baljoint, the thing would almost drop in it's hole. 1 hammer shot was all it needed to go in.