94 civic with squeeky turning

i hear a nasty deep sounding sqeal noise when turning the steering wheel and
when going over bumps. i've been told its the ball joint thats out of
grease. it's coming from the driver's side and i'm wondering which ball
joint goes bad the most on civics, the upper or lower? i'd like to get it
fixed as cheap as possible. i hear the noise from the front fender so i'm
thinking it is the upper ball joint. i know my old 1987 civic sedan had the
same noise from the driver's side and i never took care of it and eventually
sold the car. is it common for the upper ball joint to go bad on civics and
make that deep sounding sqeal noise? thanks for your help.


-jeff

 

Hmmm,
CV joint?

 

Lower ball joint.

Don't delay; fix it today. Or else...
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/lowerballjoint/index.html

 

Unlikely. Failing CV joints are characterized by clicking sounds when
turning.

 

the cv joint is fine. the boot isn't ripped and theres no crackling noise
when turning corners. the noise i hear is even with the car parked and
turning the steering wheel or getting in and out of the car sometimes to
i'll hear it. i do think it's the upper ball joint.


-jeff

 

thanks tegger. they seem more common because auto parts stores stock them.
the upper ball joints have to be ordered. thankyou. i'll be getting it
fixed.

-jeff

 

Hmmm.
It depends how it is failing.

 

No. CV joints click, not creak.

If you let them get bad enough, they CLUNK. Loudly. And vibratingly (is
that a word?).

 

Upper ball joints come as part of the upper control arm assembly. Usually
$100+ for this.

t

 

the auto parts stores sell them seperate though. maybe they can be replaced
without having to buy the control arm.

 

Its not recommended... even the factory control arm is made of pretty thin
steel (aftermarket parts even thinner), very difficult to press in the ball
joint without damaging or deforming it.

I did the Ball joint replacement on this control arm a few years ago on my
civic. The BJ only lasted 2 years, and then needed to be replaced again...

Aftermarket parts are generally about 1/2 the price of the dealer. Since my
autoparts store gave a lifetime warranty on the control arm, and its really
easy to do, I decided to go aftermarket on this part.

pop the taper of the upper balljoint, undo 2 bolts under the hood, and its
out. Back in within 10 minutes.

t