Hello, I have a 94 Accord EX that is having some front suspension issues. Currently, I know that both tie-rod end ball joints have gone bad, as well as the sway bar bushings. My Question is: Does this indicate that the other front joints and bushings are also near the end of their lifetime? Parts in question are the upper and lower ball joints on the steering knuckle, the radius rod bushing, lower arm bushing and damper fork bushing. The car has ~120k miles on it. Should I also replace the parts in question that have not yet failed? Any experience with how much longer these parts will last? Considerations: 1) Baring unforseen T-bones, I want to keep this car for another 5 years (if not 10). 2) Paying less up front is better, to me, than paying more over the next 1 - 1.5 years. 3) I know that if the lower ball joint is replaced I also get to buy new wheel bearings. (yay!) 4) The car is lowered ~1.5inches using Neuspeed Sport springs and Koni struts. I have driven about 40k miles since I lowered it. I'm considering doing this work myself. I know I'll need to get the special ball joint tools and small press to put the bearing over the axle. I would have a local shop press the bearing into the hub and press the rubber bushings into the lower arm. Any thoughts on this? How long do you think this would take to do? I appreciate any suggestions/comments that you might have about this problem. Thanks! ben bowes
The ball joints will all go bad within a few years of each other. I replaced all mine after I had a lower ball joint failure last spring. The other five (including the tie rod ends) were worn, but not so bad they would have come apart. They might have lasted a couple more years. My car had 200,000 miles at the time. I'd replace them.
