Lower ball joint trouble. - Honda Prelude Forum

imloggedin · 08-02-2008, 09:37 PM

Im changing my clutch and i got to the part where you have to remove the axles and have spent like 2 HRs trying to remove the friggin lower ball joint from the lower arm. Im going to go get a pittman puller tomorrow and see if it works, but my question is. Once i start pushing the stud of the ball joint through the lower arm will it break free and be easy to remove, or do you have to push it all the way through the lower arm? Is it just rusted and a pain or what?

vinuneuro · 08-02-2008, 10:07 PM

Rent the tie rod end (or pitman arm) puller for autozone. It'll take you roughly 30sec to separate the ball joint from the control with this tool. Make sure to have a/the nut cover the end of the threads while using the tool, or else there's a good chance of damaging the threads when the arm separates.

pswarts · 08-03-2008, 08:06 AM

all the months and years of road driving pressure really locks them into place. Once you "pop" them using a puller, they are easy to put in and out until you go driving again. Maye sure you have the correct puller and don't tear the boots on the ball joints.

98auto · 08-03-2008, 09:43 AM

I bought the smaller of the two ball joint puller that autozone sells. Even then I had to grind some material off of the ends of it so that it could fit around the nubs on the lower control arm. It took me about an hour of grinding and checking until it was large enough to slide over them. Once that was done, it took about 9 seconds per side to pop them loose and there is no danger of tearing the boot.

imloggedin · 08-03-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98auto

I bought the smaller of the two ball joint puller that autozone sells.

Exactly what i did today. Although i didnt grind anything off, so i probably ruined the ball joints boot. I guess ill try and repack it.

98auto · 08-03-2008, 11:28 PM

you shouldn't have to go up that far. There are two ears on the bottom the lower control arm where the balljoint mounts up. I ground off enough to get the tool around those two ears.

sr73087 · 08-04-2008, 05:01 AM

how exactly do you plan on repacking it ? I know they do sell replacement boots.

Next time if you cant get a pitman arm puller for some reason you can just hit the lower control arm with a hammer and it will seperate. Just leave the castle nut on a few threads so you dont mess up the threads. I personally rather use the arm puller but in some occasions where i didnt have one or it kept coming off(doing the radius rods) Ive had to hit them and it worked fine.

imloggedin · 08-04-2008, 07:47 AM

I couldnt see any place to really take a swing at it and make contact near the balljoint on the lower control arm. That sucker was tight.

sr73087 · 08-04-2008, 08:07 AM

if you can get it with the pitman arm puller thats the best way anyway.

ludestarbai · 09-22-2008, 11:24 AM

that arm buller was either garbage or i didn't know how to use it. (seems pretty straight forward) it definitly ripped my boots. I planned on changing the joint anyway so it didn't matter to me.

I need to find a lower rear ball joint. anyone know where I can pick one up besides a dealer? none of the auto stores has it, and its not on e-bay either.

any ideas?