imported_janz3n

how long are upper ball joints supposed to last on a car? iv got a 91 honda and i replaced both in the summer and the passenger side is already loose again. my car isnt even lowered.

imported_BlazeInEk

It depends on your driving and the driving conditions...but I'd say they should be good for like 5-8years? Maybe the one you had recently installed was defective? Try going back and seeing if there is a warrantee.

imported_janz3n

i bought the whole upper control arm from car quest in the summer and installed it myself.. 5-8years? holy crap .. i wouldnt be suprised if it was defective because i also got an axle from car quest and it was defective and had to go back and get a new one for free. i dont drive very aggressive. i could understand it not lasting long in a lowered car but mines stock .

Oldspower

maybe you didnt install it correctly.

imported_janz3n

its kinda hard to install them incorrectly

chris_si98

meh.. it highly depends on your car/driving style, etc.

You say your axle was a defect. But maybe you have a bad mount causing the axle to wear prematurely.. when a bad goes bad quickly it doesn't always mean its defective..

imported_janz3n

no my axle was defective.. there was a dent on the end making the clip no go down enough to push the axle in.

imported_kickz

AFtermarket parts arent good =) spend the xtra money get the OEM

chris_si98

right..

scott newman

Buy stock parts, for anything japanese, use oe parts. Thats why you pay more for them, they last!!

imported_janz3n

well back when i replaced the ball joints i didnt know the difference.. i just kinda thought the parts at car quest where oem. im gonna just buy a new honda oem ball joint and press it into the upper control arm i have from when i replaced it in the summer.. thanks for the help.

imported_kIeRaN

im pretty sure u cant press it in, its the whole upper control arm u need to buy

chris_si98

Yes you can.

I've done it.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

my upper control arms from NAPA on my '90 have been great the last 2 years. I suspect it's the last set of control arms this car will ever need... should be good for at least another 200K

imported_janz3n

88-89 civics the ball joint is part of the upper control arm. 90-91 they press in and out.

imported_janz3n

any possiblility the castle nut on my ball joint got loose somehow? i hope not

chris_si98

thats why theres a cotter pin there

imported_janz3n

ya i know. but anyway the cotter pin can snap? i know the nut is tight because i put it on. but ya i guess the cotter pin cant really snap.. the noise is getting worse.. so im gonna have to look at buying a new ball joitn and get it pressed into an old control arm soon.

chris_si98

okay

imported_janz3n

so i went to replace my ball joint today.. found out the hatch upper control arms are shorter then the sedans. before i took it apart i pulled on the top of the tire. it wasnt the ball joint moving it was the bushing. so i figured it just needed to be tighter.. so i did that and it still moved.. so i took the whole arm out.. replaced the piece with the bushings from the hatch control arm and put her in. everything is good now. and my bushing just fell out of the old one.. so ya, never buying from car quest again.