Integra ball joints part of steering knuckle! WTF!!!

[deadbunny]

Problem. one of the joints on my 2 door 96 Integra ls decided to drop out the other day. I go to change it and find I have to change the entire steering knuckle because and the ball joint are the same part. This is also the case for the upper ball joint and control arm.

now auto zone sells replacement ball joints for the 96 integra so there must be a model integra that came with removable lower ball joints in the steering knuckle and upper control arms.

any thoughts or suggestions? I really don't want to have to go through a dealership.

 

[tofasttoslowforyou]

Get the whole spindle from a 94-01 teg from the junk yard and blot it in

 

[deadbunny]

Get the whole spindle from a 94-01 teg from the junk yard and blot it in

Ya but what year and trim level? snows coming here in NY and its not going to be too easy to inspect cars to see what kind of ball joints they have

 

[tofasttoslowforyou]

Are you illiterate?


Any 94-01 as long as it is not a type r which youll never find in the yard

 

[K2e2vin]

The ball joint is not part of the knuckle. You just have to remove a circlip and dust cap, and use a C-clamp press or frame press to press it out. A C-Clamp press would be easier to use so you don't have to completely take the knuckle out.

 

[deadbunny]

Are you illiterate?


Any 94-01 as long as it is not a type r which youll never find in the yard

As with many cars I have dealt with, different generations (in this case a third generation integra, 94-01) have gone through minor revisions, hence why I am wondering if the 3rd gen integra was ever "revised" to have or not have an interchangeable lower ball joint. So unless you have anything constructive to add that doesn't question my literacy, please GTFO.

 

[deadbunny]

The ball joint is not part of the knuckle. You just have to remove a circlip and dust cap, and use a C-clamp press or frame press to press it out. A C-Clamp press would be easier to use so you don't have to completely take the knuckle out.

There are no "circlips". That is why Im sure the lower ball joint is a part of the steering knuckle. However EVERYONE keeps insisting thats its only pressed in despite the absence of the circlips. I'll be taking off the steering knuckles at some point and beating the shit out of them with a hammer in hopes the ball joint that should come out, will come out. Till then I have 3 weeks of school left and don't have time to be fucking around with cars.

 

[K2e2vin]

The circlip, or snap ring, is on the bottom..; the ball point has to be pushed from the stud end. As repeated before, the ball joint is NOT part of the steering knuckle. You can go to an autoparts store and buy a new ball joint.

Luckily I had one wheel off due to a flat and was able to take this picture for you.

Honestly, it seems like you will be better off letting someone else work on your car or at least investing in a Helms manual.

 

[97hatch]

wow they are held in with a snap ring and have to be pressed out and in listen to us as we are right or get a damn book and do some reading. Well better yet you will probaly argue with it so just take it some where to have it done. You have to pay to be ignorant and it pays to be smart

 

[deadbunny]

wow they are held in with a snap ring and have to be pressed out and in listen to us as we are right or get a damn book and do some reading. Well better yet you will probaly argue with it so just take it some where to have it done. You have to pay to be ignorant and it pays to be smart

UM... Im not arguing with anybody. All Im saying is, there are NO snap rings on my lower ball joints. go back and read what I wrote.

 

[97hatch]

they are im 3000% sure of it

 

[deadbunny]

there are i 3000% sure of it

uh....what?

 

[HATCHET_HONDA]

Easy ppl.. Theres no need to yell at the guy. He just needs help with a balljoint. It is indeed pressed into the knuckle my friend. I would say beating the shit out of it with a hammer sounds plausible since you didnt see a snap ring. The balljoint should seperate from the knuckle. They are 2 pieces

 

[deadbunny]

Easy ppl.. Theres no need to yell at the guy. He just needs help with a balljoint. It is indeed pressed into the knuckle my friend. I would say beating the shit out of it with a hammer sounds plausible since you didnt see a snap ring. The balljoint should seperate from the knuckle. They are 2 pieces

Ya, Im gonna take your word on this. Hopefully I don't get too badly hung up on this. Im so pressed for time right now, I can't afford to be.

 

[HATCHET_HONDA]

Ya, Im gonna take your word on this. Hopefully I don't get too badly hung up on this. Im so pressed for time right now, I can't afford to be.

totally understandable....sounds like you need this done like yesterday eh? if you have a way to heat the knuckle before trying to beat out the balljoint it should come apart fairly easy. as this is what i had to do on my ef

 

[boostin4fun]

The easiest way to replace them is to pull the knuckle out completly. When I did my civic I put the knuckle in a bench vice with the ball joint facing up. I used a deep well socket that fit over the threaded stud and gave it 3 or 4 good wacks with a heavy hammer and it popped right out. I will tell you from experience you want to rent a tool from your local auto parts store to push the new one in. I tried to do without the tool and ended up getting it because it is a tight fit and you dont want to damage the new one trying to install it. What I have noticed in the past is some have circlips and some dont. Just make sure to check for one before you try to remove it.