klutch908

Hey guys i need your guys input. Today i decided to install some coilovers, camber kits and new axles on my 07 TL-S. Everything went smoothly except for the lower ball joint on the passenger side. I tried to pull it out with a pitman arm puller which didnt work and destroyed the threads on the ball joint so i cannot use it to screw it back in. I played around with the threads but no luck so i decided to replace the whole ball joint. i ordered one and i will pick it up in the morning at 9am. I understand that i have to remove the whole knuckle which i did, then press out the old one and put in the new one. The problems that i am running into are that when the ball joint eventually came out, it also pulled out the sleeve with it. How can i take that off, and put it back in the LCA?

http://imageshack.com/a/img843/8020/ox3u.jpg

Also when i went to see how to press the old one out, i realized i need to remove the ABS sensor from the knuckle so i can take the whole assembly to a press or something. How do i take the ABS sensor out? i tried tapping with with a screwdriver but no luck., and any more force will probably break it.

http://imageshack.com/a/img845/442/iur6x.jpg


Then i noticed a metal ring inside the hub which prevents the old joint to come out. Its right next to the wheel bearing, How do i take that metal ring out in one piece?

http://imageshack.com/a/img834/9198/xbe0.jpg

Then lets say i do all this, how do you actually press the old joint out and put the new one in?

Please chime in with any advice, its a bit too late for me to take the car to the shop on a holiday weekend and i need the car for work monday morning. Thank you in advance for all your help!

3RDGENTL757

To remove the speed sensor spray WD-40 on the sensor and let it sit for a little bit and take sum pliers and try to twist it but be careful not to break it. Don't put to much force on it.
The ring is a snap ring I believe and all u need is a flat head and a pair of snap ring pliers to remove/install it. And it looks like your gonna need some heat to remove that sleeve I've never seen the sleeve come out with the ball joint....and here's a trick for future reference... When u loosen the ball joint nut don't take it all the way off just keep it threaded on a few turns and it will save you from damaging the threads

klutch908

So a quick update...

the lower ball joint is done and i dont have a press or time to take it out and put in a new one. so a faster, cheaper way for me to do it is to buy overnight the whole knuckle assembly from an online dealer. All together its like 300 bucks which is whatever right now as long as i get it fixed. my question is, does it come with the ball joint inside or do i have to buy the ball joint separate and get it pressed in?

YeuEmMaiMai

fastest way to remove a ball joint is with an impact tool and a ball joint removal kit

made just for Honda/Acura

klutch908

^^ thanks for the tip! im thinking about buying the removal kit but i dont have an air compressor...do they make an electric hammer version that is somewhat capable?

nfnsquared

Wow, nice find! That tool is slick!! About $90 shipped, not bad at all. Wonder if any of the NAPA stores rent it?

flyromeo3

that tool will not work because it will push out the sleeve.

flyromeo3

can you go to an autozone or pep boys and rent their tools?
You can use a huge c clamp and crank the ball joint in with hand tools

nfnsquared

You've used the tool and watched it push out the sleeve? Or are you guessing?

flyromeo3

my comment is based on experience.
The vehicle in this video doesn't have a sleeve on the LCA which is why it worked.




ACURA
Legend 1988-1995
Integra 1992-2001
TL 1996-2003

nfnsquared

Exactly what experience? Have you used that tool on a 3G TL lower ball joint?

YeuEmMaiMai

then you're doing it wrong...

seriously though how does it push the sleeve out?

nfnsquared

Have you used it? Or are you guessing also?

flyromeo3

Yes I have tried to use it on a TL.


which is why you need something that slips under the ball joint to hold the sleeve down while pushing out the ball joint.


I have used it and did not work.
Go buy this tool, jack up your car and remove one of your front lower ball joints.
So you can experience it for yourself.

nfnsquared

So why didn't you just say that in the first place rather than make the edited post about the video? If I had first hand experience, my first reply wouldn't be a supposition about a video....

flyromeo3

the sleeve isn't welded onto the lower control arm.
When these ball joints get replaced its seized to shit against the sleeve.


have you ever removed a ball joint?

YeuEmMaiMai

used it once on a 02cls which is close enough

flyromeo3

so this explanation isn't enough


"that tool will not work because it will push out the sleeve. "


do I need to dumb it down for others to understand?


Maybe I'm wrong to believe people are smart enough to understand.

flyromeo3

02 CLS doesn't have a sleeve the ball joint sits on.
which is why it worked for you.

nfnsquared

I don't think either one of you know for sure...

The sleeve is not supposed to come out (but it can as many know). Theoretically, it's pressed into the LCA tighter than the ball joint is pressed into it.

The ball joint SHOULD give before the sleeve does.

klutch908

In my case the sleeve came out of the LCA stuck on the ball joint. I was able to get it out after i destroyed all the threads however . Now i decided im gonna take my whole knuckle and get the old joint pressed out and have a new one put back in. My question is how do you take off this metal ring in order to pop out the ball joint? if i dont take it out, the joint has no room to come out. Also which is a better ball joint, an OEM one or a MOOG one that i find everywhere. Thanks

http://imageshack.com/a/img845/9343/kk1j.jpg

flyromeo3

that's the knuckle o-ring.
it pops right out. might have some rust in it so it will take a bit of force to remove.
Just be careful and not bend it.


also, remove the abs sensor and be careful not to damage the magnetic encoder on the wheel bearing.
if it gets damaged, you will have the ABS and VSA light illuminated on your dash.



i recommend sticking with oem. MOOG had designed a defective ball joint at one point. maybe it was redesigned

flyromeo3

ever changed out a ball joint on an 04-08 tl ?




as long as the right tool is being used. The sleeve wont come out.
Hence my disagreement to using the air hammer as the video shows.

eclypse

i know this is an old post, but just for posterity: if you did push the sleeve out, what would you have to do at that point? heat the arm up and press it in, and press the ball joint later, or what?

only asking so that this doesnt happen to me. as soon as i dont ask, this will happen, and ill be covered in grease one night while i try to figure it out.

flyromeo3

When the sleeve is pushed out use a big c-clamp and impact driver to get it back in place.

You'll then put the Knuckle ( assuming you pressed in a new ball joint ) back onto the lower control arm. When tighting the bolt in it will pull in the ball joint into the sleeve.