[crazi-85crx]

It's on an '88 CRX Si. SO, how can I remove the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle? I don't mean just seperating it out of the LCA, I mean taking it out to install a new one. I know I need to take the knuckle off the car and remove the clips from the ball joint, but should I just squeeze the ball joint out of the knuckle with a vice, ball joint seperator, or just smack it out with a big hammer.

I really don't know, and need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
-Scott.

P.S. I work on 1st gen CRX's more, so it's not like I'm completely lost .

 

[djhankb]

Well, when I did it, I removed the knuckle from the car, got the good set of snap-ring pliers (the ones with replaceable tips that reverses to also squeeze) and removed the big snap ring from the balljoint.
the rest is a matter of beating it out with a hammer, or better yet, using a shop press to press it out.
then clean up the sleeve it was sitting in really well, and you should use a press to press the new one properly into place, however i just beat mine in with a rubber mallet (as not to damage the balljoint itself)
and then you just replace the snap ring and reassemble everything. good as new!

-H

 

[crazi-85crx]

Thanks man, we'll give that a try tomorrow. We're picking up one of these, so we'll try that to.

 

[SBox]

Just did this two days ago. Same as the fella above, removed knuckle, tore the retainer ring out with some pliers, then pounded the old ball joint out with a Ford Wrench. Pounded the new one in with the Ford Wrench, but rather lightly. Getting the new retainer ring in was a beeyotch. I'd recommend snap-ring pliers for that.

Also, make sure you have a pickle-fork to seperate the upper ball joint from the knuckle...so as not to damage it.

-Alex

 

[jmart]

...a pickle-fork to seperate the upper ball joint from the knuckle...so as not to damage it.

That was a joke, right?

 

[shadowcrx]

pickle forks rock!!!!

 

[SBox]

...a pickle-fork to seperate the upper ball joint from the knuckle...so as not to damage it.

That was a joke, right?

To clarify...

...a greased pickle-fork to seperate the upper ball joint from the knuckle...so as not to damage it as much as whacking it out with a mini-sledge.

-Alex

 

[djhankb]

I love my pickle fork for getting the job done quickly, but I have also found that a few good whacks on the backside of the LCA will do the job without tearing any balljoint boots...

-H

 

[crazi-85crx]

That balljoint compressor thing was a total POS, but it was free, so oh well.

I always use the pickle-fork to get them out of the LCA, but picked up a air hammer to smash it out of the knuckle. I'll have to wait to try it tomorrow though, it's pouring rain and I have no garage .

 

[toxiclows]

pickle forks rock!!!!

pickle forks suck........ . . dmaage about everything they touch....

couple swift blows with a hammer and I have never had a balljoint or tie rod that would not just fall right out..... easily well at least on a Honda.....

 

[jmart]

There is a splitter tool that is like a scissor. It squeezes the top of the lca and the bottom of the ball joint bolt together and pops it right out, nice and easy. I just wish i had one. Instead I'm using a hammer for now. but ya, pickle forks hurt everything they touch and tend to make a mess.

 

[crazi-85crx]

I figured I'd post a little update for how it went. The air hammer didn't really do much, so I picked up a Tie-Rod puller that's meant for big trucks.

I got both Ball Joints replaced in under 15 minutes using this. b

edit: Just edited this, duh. Originally I put that I replaced the "Tie Rods..."