BluNosr2

My 2006 RL has lately started making a slight knocking noise under the front end you can just barely hear/feel at lower speeds (like in a parking lot) when going over uneven pavement and bumps. Dealer checked it out and reported some minor play in both front lower ball joints (not enough yet to need immediate repair), so the fix will require replacing both front lower control arms and the front sway bar endlinks.


Those front lower control arms are NOT cheap, dealer price I was quoted in Canada is over $570 each, and there's a few hundred $ worth of labour to do the work. I checked a few independent Honda/Acura repair shops in the area and no one can source an aftermarket lower control arm for the RL.


Assuming I decide to go ahead with this at some point (it's not so bad it has to be done, more of an annoyance really, but of course the issue will get worse over time and eventually there will be enough play it's a safety concern), is this the ideal time to also replace the front sway bar with the A-Spec version? I've already done the rear sway, and IIRC from other posts on here when I was checking into the A-spec sways, the front is a major PITA to do as it requires dropping the motor.

RedRyder

iTrader: (1)

Someone else was just asking about lower ball joints (albeit for a different car) and they were told by a mechanic they had to replace the whole lower control arm, when in reality the ball joint itself could be pressed out and replaced. I don't know how the RL is set up, just mentioning that as it may be something to verify.


To replace a front sway bar at the most you may have to unhook the exhaust...can't imagine having to drop the motor...have a photo of the undercarriage?

Lowfategg

Cheaper options than OEM.

Front Lower Arm with bushings and ball joints:
BECKARNLEY 102-7676
BECKARNLEY 102-7677

Rear Lower Ball Joints (pressed into knuckles):
Febest #52210-SJA-010 (0320-KBR)

BluNosr2

Are these Beck-Arnley parts good quality? Or cheapo knockoff stuff?

Lowfategg

They looked pretty great to me. Great casting quality, bushings. Survived two rallycross events so far, so I am sure they will work great for street use. Also 1/5 the price so you could buy 5 of them, lol.

BluNosr2

This is true!

BluNosr2

Oh and my bad, just realized the sway bar upgrade is to get the 09 sways on the 05-08 models (not A spec sways), I did this for the rear bar on my 06 and didn't bother to do the front because of the work required to change it according to the posts on here. But if both lower control arms are going to be replaced (along with the end links) does that address the major labor for the front bar replacement?

oo7spy

IIRC, the RL ball joints cannot be pressed out. One member since I have joined claimed to have come up with a method, but most would call it ghetto-rigged at best.

Lowfategg

Front lowers can't. Rears and front upper are just like any other car.