Rear suspension failed. Please help

[Skellington]

My passenger side rear suspension failed today. I started to hear a rattleing sound so I slowed down and whithin about 10 seconds the rear lowered down on that side and started to make clunking noises. When I looked at it, I could tell that the upper balljoint? / bushing went out. Looked like this:



I would of called a tow truck, but after using one a week ago for a broken timing belt, I couldnt afford it. I limped the car home like this for about 4 miles. I drove 1st gear really slow. The tire blew out and the rim started to scrape at the end. I have no worries for this tire and rim because I have the other 2 LS mesh rims that I will put tires on. After I made it home it looked like this:





I would really like to keep this hatch out of the scrap yard. How do I fix this? is it possible that the trailing arm or maounts on the body got bent from the unusual forces on it? Please, any help would be appriciated.

[Tdurr]

yea its deff a rear upper ball joint. just gotta check to be sure nothing else is bent/broke from riding on it like that.

[2oodoor]

Just get the whole upper arm wth the joint , replace it and do a visual inspection of the lower arms to determine further needs.

[Skellington]

Oh, nice. Rock auto has the upper link with new balljoint and bushing for $11.95. Ill probably do this for both sides. I need to do the fronts too those are $16.50. Not nearly as bad as I thought. What about the trailing arms? do they bend often? Ill do an inspection tomorrow.

[epic1400cs]

I had this or similar thing six years ago. Mine was right rear upper arm ball joint popped out and like yours, wheel was facing the sky. I was lucky that wasn't driving fast. I have replaced the right side myself. But the left side, the nut securing the ball joint bolt against knuckle arm was badly corroded and couldn't turn so I had to leave it with pro. They used gas torch to heat up the ball joint bolt and removed it. Good luck, if the bolts nuts are ok, it should be fairly straight forward. Check the tyre house and the tyre because the inside shoulder of the tyre has been rubbed against tyre house so need to check. Hope you sort out ok.

[Skellington]

Fixxed. Thanks for the help.

[gp02a0083]

this is why doing a 12 / 6 and 3 /9 check on the suspension parts is very important with our 3rd gens. the ball joints are known to do things like this.

[lostforawhile]

I saw something about upper control arms with adjustable camber, they looked to be a lot higher quality, on those, I would spend the cash for the best ones you can get, dont cheap out. Chedda is in the idea stage of making much better quality upper arms, he makes some great stuff, so I hope he follows through with it

[Oldblueaccord]

Kinda like this?




Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Strangeduck]

I know it's a bit of an old thread but mine did the same thing. I just replaced both upper control arms. Anytime i have a suspension or steereing issue i just replace both sides while i am at it.