integra lower ball joint

I have a 90 integra LS 4 door, I am attempting to replace the lower ball joint.
I have gotten the lower ball joint from Advance Auto parts store, and also
managed to loan a ball joint separater which is like a pitch fork looking
gizmo. I have never tried anything like this before, I am able to replace
brake pads, caliper, rotors and bleed my brakes, so my skill level is average.
With that skill level, you guys think I will be able to do this job or is it
something I should let the pros handle it?

Now I have done my home work. I just purchased Helm shop manual and went over
the lower ball joint section a few times. It seems pretty simple, I would
remove rotor, pin, castle nut....pull the worn out ball joint, then install the
new one in and put the castle nut and the pin and thats it.

Now the Helm manual show other tools such as the "Ball Joint Boot Clip Guide",
"Ball Joint Installer Base", and the "Ball Joint Remover Base." Are these
tools necessary or is it something I can do without?

This site has something similar to what the Helm Manual shows:
http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=az/cds/en_us/0900823
d/80/1a/a4/49/0900823d801aa449.jsp

Also the Ball Joint Remover in the Helm Manual is completelly different. Its
nothing like the pitch fork looking gizmo, would that be a problem?

thanks in advance guys

 

those are pressed in, it takes a special tool to press in and out,
beating them in reduces there life greatly. i have one with the honda
sleeves, cost about 400.00.
Chip

 

Just "pull" then "install"... in a Helm manual? I'm pretty sure you need a
hydraulic press for both... meaning you have to take the steering knuckle
off the car... and take it a shop which will press the new one in. Your
Autozone procedure below seems to use a vise instead of a press - dunno how
well that works.

They're used with the hydraulic press to align and push the parts apart and
then back together. The clip guide is for putting a circlip on a new boot
without damaging the rubber - not sure if you need it with a new joint...
probably depends on which tools you use for installing the joint.

What you have is called a pickle fork I believe. People don't like them
because they wreck the balljoint rubber boot but if you're replacing it
anyway, it should be OK, though I've never used one.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

oh man I am feeling a bit incompetent to do this job already

 

Try calling some machine shops in your area to see if they will do the
balljoint replacement for you if you bring the steering knuckle in - a
quick job with the right tools if you have everything nicely cleaned up for
them. Also ask if they can do it without taking the wheel bearing/hub out;
at that age you might just want to have the bearing replaced anyway.

Taking the knuckle off the car is not that big a deal - just a little more
ambitious than some of the stuff you've already done. Do a search at
Google Groups for similar posts in the past - I'm sure you'll find
something.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

the tool looks like a giant c-clamp with multiple adapters, you don't
need to take the knuckle off the car.
Chip

 

All the Honda/Helm manuals I have, describe removal of the knuckle and use
of a vise, so apparently a hydraulic press is not necessary though the
Honda install/removal sleeve and "base" are necessary.

So is this special tool you have, a secret Honda tool or an aftermarket
job? Telling us it exists without a source is hardly in the spirit of this
newsgroup.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

So is this special tool you have, a secret Honda tool or an aftermarket

it's made by OTC, any real parts house can order them or all the
tool trucks sell them, same tool used on dodge ball joints, any
u-joint. very common tool.
Chip

 

Thanks.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??