Front, lower ball joint? HELP

[Minch]

Hi Guys,

Seems like I'm living here at the moment :)

The garage have alerted me to the fact that the front lower ball joints are shot and hence I need replacements. Any idea where, apart from OEM Honda, I can get these parts from? Not that I've even checked how much they are from Honda but I just wondered if anyone else has had to replace the ball joints on their car?

Thanks again
Nathan

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

Hi, Nathan.

If you are 100% sure that it is the 'Front Lower Ball Joint (FLBJ)', then this will be a massive task. I hope your mechanic is talking about other joints and not the FLBJ...

First of all, Honda doesn't sell FLBJ separately. It is part of the Knuckle Assy.
You can replace the boot and the circlip but...

Separating the FLBJ from lower A arm would be a majour task if your garage has never worked on NSX. If it was removed in the past, then you are very lucky. It may pop out easily.
You can't use pickele fork or other method such as applying big impact at the side of the FLBJ as most of the parts are in aluminium and simply, you don't have enough space around the FLBJ.
Even Honda released Technical Bulletin on similar case. It was not for the FLBJ but in fact, it was for the Rear lower ball joint. For the same reason above, Honda changed the engine removal procedure and recommended NOT to separate the rear ball joints.

Even using the Honda Special Tools (which is discontinued in Japan) or similar one for this task, I think your garage will struggle. Believe me how I learnt it... If they have ball joint separator for HGV with hydraulic pump and special adaptor to accomodate opening jaw of about 32mm, they may be able to carry out the task.

If this is my car, I'll spend ages again to try to separate the FLBJ.

For any other cars, I'll recommend buying the new/used knuckle, cut the FLBJ and use hydraulic press to save the A arm. This is to minimise the labour charge and also there is a high possibility of damaging the FLBJ during the process.

Once again, I hope your garage is talking about other joints and not the FLBJ...

Regards,
Kaz

[Minch]

Ouch . . . point taken :(

I will relay the info as I'm not expecting the local garage to did this but was hoping Plans Motorsport would take on the task seeing as they need to work on the suspension anyway.

Hmmm . . . have to get my thinking cap on!

[NSXGB]

...there is a guy on ebay selling some second hand suspension parts, you may be lucky...