Ball Joint Removal and Installation

1. Raise the vehicle on a hoist. Remove the front wheels.

2. Remove and discard the spindle nut.

3. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the lower ball joint. Discard the cotter pin.





4. Separate the lower control arm from the ball joint with the special tool. To avoid damaging the ABS sensor harness, do not let the knuckle hang by its weight.

5. Prelude Type SH only: Separate the radius rod from the ball joint with the special tool. Take care not to damage the boot. Replace the boot if it is damaged during separation.





6. Remove the axle from the front wheel hub. If the axle is stuck to the hub, go to step 7. If the axle comes out easily, go to step 10.





7. Reinstall the knuckle on the lower control arm and loosely install the castle nut.

8. Using a heavy-duty hub puller, free the axle from the hub. Do not press it all the way out.





9. Remove the castle nut, lift and support the knuckle (to prevent damaging the ABS sensor wire harness), and press the axle out of the hub.

10. Lift the knuckle, then place a block of wood (about 2-3/4" x 1-1/2" by 5") between the upper control arm and the damper assembly.





11. Remove the boot from the lower ball joint.

12. 1997 Accord and all Odyssey only: Remove the brake caliper mounting bolts and the caliper. Remove the four flange bolts, then remove the brake rotor/hub assembly.

13. Clean the recessed area around the ball joint with solvent and compressed air, then install the base remover adapter (Tool C or F).





14. Hold the remover installer adapter (Tool A) up to the ball joint, then install the castle nut to hold it in place. Install the remaining special tools on the lower ball joint and the knuckle. To avoid damaging the special tools, verify that they are correct for the vehicle you are working on and are aligned properly.

NOTE:
On the Prelude Type SH, make sure you are removing the ball joint that connects to the lower control arm. Do not remove the ball joint that connects to the radius rod.





15. Tighten the C-frame and press the lower ball joint out of the knuckle.

Ball Joint Installation

16. Position the new ball joint in the knuckle. Do not remove the boot from the ball joint.

17. Install the special tools on the ball joint and the knuckle.





18. Tighten the C-frame and press the ball joint into the knuckle.

19. 1997 Accord and all Odyssey only: Reinstall the brake rotor/hub assembly. Torque the flange bolts to 44 N.m (33 lb-ft). Reinstall the brake caliper. Torque the mounting bolts to 108 N.m (80 lb-ft).

20. Apply wheel bearing grease to the axle splines.

21. Remove the wooden block, then install the axle into the hub. To avoid damaging the ABS sensor harness, do not let the knuckle hang by its weight.

* 22. Distribute the grease inside the ball joint by moving the ball joint stud left-and-right and back-and-forth about ten times. Then rotate the stud in a circle several times. *

23. Install the lower control arm onto the ball joint.

24. Install the ball joint castle nut. Torque the nut to 49-59 N.m (36-43 lb-ft). Install the new cotter pin.

25. Prelude Type SH only: Reinstall the radius rod to the ball joint. Torque the castle nut to 69-78 N.m (51-58 lb-ft).

26. Apply oil to the threads and flange of the new spindle nut. Install the new spindle nut; torque it to 245 N.m (181 lb-ft).

27. Stake the spindle nut.

28. Repeat steps 2 through 27 on the other side.

29. Reinstall the front wheels. Tighten the wheel nuts to 108 N.m (80 lb-ft).

30. Lower the vehicle.





31. Center-punch a completion mark above the fourth character of the engine compartment VIN.