Front Lower Control Arm Ball joint Removal - Interesting

M3_Power · 9th June 2005, 08:35 PM

Anyway was surfing through d-series.org and I came across this instruction on poping the front lower ball joint, thought it was quite interesting. I've seen a lot of friends (and even myself over working on my car) struggle to get this ball joint off - usually with a lot of hammering. This seems to provide quite an easy solution to the LCA ball joint issue ... Take a look.

Instructions:

We now need to pop the lower ball joint out. Many people have trouble with this. Most people tend to hammer the crap out of the lower control arm (LCA) to pop the joint but there is an easier way. Firstly, jack the entire hub assembly up by placing the jack under the LCA. Then, take out the cotter pin going through the castle nut at the bottom of the ball joint. Undo the castle nut but don't take it off, leave it a few turns on the ball joint bolt. Jack the hub enough so you can wedge the end of your breaker bar (or ratchet/anything solid) between the lower control arm and ball joint holder like so:

Make sure its sitting securely. Then lower you jack and the joint should pop. If it doesn't, just use your foot and give the wheel hub a whack straight down. I took a little video of it and it sounded like this when the joint popped

And even a video of it in action ... I thought it was pretty cool.

Video here: http://tech.ozhonda.com/diy/isb/balljoint.avi

TakeiTeg · 9th June 2005, 10:34 PM

meh..my powerbuilt ball joint remover did the trick, thou it freaked me out when it popped heh.

funkymonkey · 10th June 2005, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakeiTeg

meh..my powerbuilt ball joint remover did the trick, thou it freaked me out when it popped heh.

yea when i had to replace my front hub i done it the old fashioned way and wacked the hell outa it till it came off took me ages
then i got a balljoint remover and one mild hit and it was off

best buy ever!!!

Xsi · 10th June 2005, 11:46 AM

Yeah that method didnt work for me, I lowered the car down as far as it would go but no worky. Still, its a good idea if it works for you

igor · 10th June 2005, 11:54 AM

I've always used a ball-joint splitter.

Thats what they are for isn't it :?:

Pdu-NZ · 10th June 2005, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igor

I've always used a ball-joint splitter.

Thats what they are for isn't it :?:

Yup they sure are... funny tho, used to use them when i was a mechanic - and managed to break 2 of them trying to get ball joints out!!!.... Cheap repco ones which was the problem hahaha

MarkNZ · 12th June 2005, 04:03 PM

ball joint seperators are the best $40 ive ever spent, i used to take all the things off the LCA to remove it from the chassis, it would take me about an hour. with the seperator ive saved myself about 2 hours per job

nice trick though :wink:

One Fast Weapon booBAA · 12th June 2005, 07:34 PM

well not all vehicles u can fit a ball joint breaker in(not enuff room)

either u guys are very weak or using very small hammers,i do these at least 3 times a day just one good hard solid hit and pop easy as that

who's hand is that wearing gloves in the pic lol

calm_waterz · 13th June 2005, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Fast Weapon booBAA

who's hand is that wearing gloves in the pic lol

Haha! I reckon, that looks all nice and clean, a bit of dust maybe...I only use gloves when doing Cv joints/boots cos that grease is freakin shithouse. Same when working on diseasels, that oil is just plain terrible.

One Fast Weapon booBAA · 13th June 2005, 08:51 PM

yeah same man,if i did that all the other mechanics would laugh at me!

9th June 2005, 08:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
M3_Power Senior Member 7,000rpm (Peak Power) Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,061 Location: Auckland	Front Lower Control Arm Ball joint Removal - Interesting Anyway was surfing through d-series.org and I came across this instruction on poping the front lower ball joint, thought it was quite interesting. I've seen a lot of friends (and even myself over working on my car) struggle to get this ball joint off - usually with a lot of hammering. This seems to provide quite an easy solution to the LCA ball joint issue ... Take a look. Instructions: We now need to pop the lower ball joint out. Many people have trouble with this. Most people tend to hammer the crap out of the lower control arm (LCA) to pop the joint but there is an easier way. Firstly, jack the entire hub assembly up by placing the jack under the LCA. Then, take out the cotter pin going through the castle nut at the bottom of the ball joint. Undo the castle nut but don't take it off, leave it a few turns on the ball joint bolt. Jack the hub enough so you can wedge the end of your breaker bar (or ratchet/anything solid) between the lower control arm and ball joint holder like so: Make sure its sitting securely. Then lower you jack and the joint should pop. If it doesn't, just use your foot and give the wheel hub a whack straight down. I took a little video of it and it sounded like this when the joint popped And even a video of it in action ... I thought it was pretty cool. Video here: http://tech.ozhonda.com/diy/isb/balljoint.avi

10th June 2005, 11:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Xsi Senior Member 6,000rpm (Max Torque) Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,019 Location: Christchurch	Yeah that method didnt work for me, I lowered the car down as far as it would go but no worky. Still, its a good idea if it works for you __________________ My Website Current: 1995 Honda Integra Type R Formerly: 1990 Honda Integra XSi

12th June 2005, 07:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
One Fast Weapon booBAA Senior Member 4,000rpm (Taxi Drag) Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 545	well not all vehicles u can fit a ball joint breaker in(not enuff room) either u guys are very weak or using very small hammers,i do these at least 3 times a day just one good hard solid hit and pop easy as that who's hand is that wearing gloves in the pic lol __________________ Vtec-Technology is the only replacement for displacement

13th June 2005, 08:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
One Fast Weapon booBAA Senior Member 4,000rpm (Taxi Drag) Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 545	yeah same man,if i did that all the other mechanics would laugh at me! __________________ Vtec-Technology is the only replacement for displacement

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9th June 2005, 10:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
TakeiTeg Senior Member 8,000rpm (B Series Redline!) Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,668 Location: North Shore City	meh..my powerbuilt ball joint remover did the trick, thou it freaked me out when it popped heh.

10th June 2005, 11:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
igor Senior Member 6,000rpm (Max Torque) Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,893 Location: Ohakune	I've always used a ball-joint splitter. Thats what they are for isn't it :?:

12th June 2005, 04:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
MarkNZ Senior Member 7,000rpm (Peak Power) Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,975 Location: Outside NZ: United Kingdom	ball joint seperators are the best $40 ive ever spent, i used to take all the things off the LCA to remove it from the chassis, it would take me about an hour. with the seperator ive saved myself about 2 hours per job nice trick though :wink: