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I would like to check the lower ball joint on my honda civic 2001.
I do not know the tools needed or where to "raise" the ball joint.
Any advice on this? (Pics would be great )
I searched the youtube for some videos, but I don't think it's the same procedure (different maker of cars).

Thank you. c

 
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Wheel do you want to seperate the joint or replace it??? You can replace them there not too expensive. Be prepared to use a hammer and a lot of time if you plain to replace them. If you have a press it will help speed the operation. You will have a lot of work in frunt of you, take it slow and remember to get the alinment checked after you are done. If you are a novice like me have someone there to walk you through it.

 
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I just need to do checks on them. I had them replaced before.
It's a maintenance that I want to do at oil change, but do not know the tool(s) needed to check.

 
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Ok, I'm going to bump this....

I did a lot of research on this... how to check ball joints to make sure that they are still good since it is part of the maintenance procedure.

These are the ways that people have suggested from different sites, and my opinions about them:
1.. Jack the car up and shake the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock (some say 3 and 9), and make sure there are no movements.
My opinion: I find that "no movements" by shaking is not sufficient. I tried it and I did not feel this is the correct procedure.

2.. Raise the car just a little bit, and use a 2x4 and jack the wheels up and down while the 2nd person watch for movement.
My opinion: I did this too, Can't see lower ball joint "movement" properly with this procedure.

3.. Use a fork and go between the ball joint, lift it, and see if will come out. Dealer actually did this to my car before, and I had my lower ball joints replaced after.
My opinion: I don't do this because it may ripe the seal and I would definitely have to change the ball joint then (I never went back to that dealer again).

Surely people do this on normally as part of the maintenance procedure.
Anyone has an opinion on how to check? Maybe I'm not doing something right.

Thank you

 
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Are you having any problems with the car that could be related to balljoints at all?!?

 
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Well, I got this click noise everytime I jump a small bump.
Big bump, no click. People say (at least from the forum I read) that it could be ball joints.
I like to check it myself before I get lied to....

 
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Ball joints don't click, CV axles click when they go bad. Best way to check those to stop the car, crank the wheel fully in one direction and slowly reverse. If you hear clicking you know for sure it's a CV axle, and it's pretty easy to tell which side it's coming from

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/4...joint-diy.html

 
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I have the same rattle which occurs only on certain bumps. Originally thought it was just my sway bar links and sure enough the right side (front and back) need replacing. But with the wheel off, I was able to gently pry at the ball join (as if to pop it off) and to my dismay, the ball join moved in the socket a few millimeters. I might have had a little pressure on the axel to make this happen - I've forgotten. To verify, I check the other ball joint and it was as tight as ever.

Incendently, both ball joint rubber boots were damaged so it's no surprise.

So now I'm investigating the special tools, Clamp, etc. shown in the service manual and wondering if I can get by with out. I can sure save a bundle but I can also make a big mess of it too!

 
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my 93 civic seems to be a 5th generation but i'll put my response here since this is what poped up when i did a search on "check ball joint". my 93 recently failed state inspection with bad lower left ball joint. before replacing it i want to confirm this finding which is how i found this thread.

1st i tried jacking up front end and doing the 6 oclock and 12 oclock pull and push on both right and left front wheels. i could not notice any difference. i know the 3 and 9 oclock push and pull are for tie rods but i did those anyway just to check. with steering wheel unlocked both right and left appeared tight with a 3 and 9 oclock rock back and forth. even though both wheels move you can still feel the absence of backlash when you reverse direction.

2nd i tried a pry bar between wheel rim and control arm. due to sloping geometry it was difficult to get pry bar to not slip out of position. so i went to 3rd approach

3rd i tried a pry bar under the wheel and applied a lifting pressure while observing lower ball joint directly with flashlight. Bingo!!!!! On the driver side i could easily see the play at the lower ball joint while on the passenger side there was no such play.

4th after observing this i then tried a new approach. i went back to the tire and this time with both hands at 6 oclock i just lifted up and down. although i was not looking at the ball joint i could feel the play and it made a clicking noise on the bad side.

for a video of this technique not by me google "honda ball joint and a song" after trying these tests i would say the giddeon brother is right on. he didn't bother with a 6 oclock 12 oclock test and went right to method 2 and 3

now time to replace the ball joint