Sir_Civik

I have a few questions for anyone that could help me...

I hear a clunking whenever I go over bumps at very slow speeds.

Coming from this.....




There's about a 1/16'th of up & down play at the bushing where the arrow points.

I've noticed this clunking last summer and have been driving avg 50 km a day highway on it.

1. How serious is this?
2. How much does it cost to replace that part?
3. How big of a job is it? Looks fairly simple except for the fact that drive axle is right above it and it looks too big to try to slide out from under it...

chris_v2

It is a very serious problem. That is your lower balljoint. ANY play in that joint indicates a problem.

The part itself is about $50 (aftermarket, napa, ct, etc) to replace it, I believe its around the ball park of 1.2hr to change.. so around $100-120 labour. So, around a $200 job if you would take it to a shop.

It's not that easy to change. If you are persistent on wanting to change it, I can tell you excatly what to do. It's a bit of a hack way, but it will work.

d16y8

I would love to know how to change it.

k_r_a_c_k_e_r

iTrader: (3)

Balljoint..

somewhere in the $200+ to fix.

username

That's a hot avatar...

Oh yeah, $200 to fix your ball joint

rickytangimports

also, while your at it, check the outer tie rod for wear. On mine, I replaced the outer tie rod along with the ball joint as they were both pretty worn.

username

If you replace your tie-rod, get an alignment!

Mr.death

Go to one of the many used Japanese auto parts and buy the complete steering knuckle. They sell for around 60 bucks. This is your cheapest alternative to replacing just the balljoint.

chris_v2

I wouldn't recommend this. You could wind up with a knuckle with a noisy bearing or bad bearing.

danny1danny

Agreed.

this is what i would do.. when u have time.. take that knuckle hub off yourself.. meaning.. take the upper ball joint off.. the tie rod end.. and the axle nut off.. and of course ur caliper and rotor..
then take this to a shop with the new lower ball joint and have them properly press the ball joint in.

good luck.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

I've done this, it's not so bad. Worst part is getting that 32 mm nut off. Most regular impacts won't get it off, you need like a 500 torx impact gun or a massive breaker bar and someone to step on the brakes while you get it off. When I was trying to do it, I had the ebrake on, and I ended up pulling the car along, so I had to get my mom to step on the brakes So yeah, pull the knuckle and take it to a machine shop. Windsor Honda even sends the knuckles out to a machine shop, they won't press them in themselves. I used the Carquest machine shop.