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Stupid question- I'm trying to remove my lower control arm up front. I have all the bolts out and I took the castle nut off the lower ball joint, but the arm won't come off the ball joint- I'm assuming it's pressed into the arm? How the hell do I remove the lower arm now?
I can swing the whole thing around (pivoting on the lower ball joint), but I'm not sure how to remove it. Can anyone help?
Best low impact solution is to get a pitman puller. If you can get an adjustable one, that's the best. Not all pitman pullers fit. I have 3 and neither fit on the TL. Finally got an adjustable one. Butter. Make sure you have a set of cotter pins. A lot of guys reuse them but after you bang them out, they don't fit quite right going back in. Plus they're deformed.. there are a couple guys here that have eaten the wheel because they didn't properly secure the lbj.
Thanks Maj. I looked through the acura service manual to see how they do it. Of course, there's a honda specific tool for it which I'm not going to buy. I was looking online around here to see if anyone sold such a device and I happened to come across and eventually buy a pitman puller.
I was like "wtf is a pitman puller??" Lol. Regardless, it looked like it functioned in the same manner the honda tool did so I bought it- but like you said, the fucker won't fit
I'm gonna try and find an adjustable one tomorrow. I think I know a place that might have em
I'm not saying the archaic methods won't work, it's just not worth it to damage the knuckle or separate / damage the lbj just to pop it. The puller will do the trick with no hassle. Yeah, that damn dust cover won't let anything slip past.
I warned this derp a few years ago to not use a pry fork to separate it, and to just get a pitman puller. He replied back a couple days later that he needs a new lbj because he tore it all to shit with the fork.
You could try rattling it with a mallet on the lca, but they're a bitch to pop that way.
I borrowed a 5 piece balljoint separator kit from advance auto...tried the fork one and fubar'd the rubber seal...pitman adjustable was easy as pie, as Maj indicated.
Works for Accords, Civics, Odys and pretty much any Honda I've encountered. Many others also use this technique in a pinch. But what do I know, oh great omniscient Maj!
Lacking a proper tool to separate the lbj, this works wonderfully and is better than having at it with a hammer like a mad man. Takes 30 seconds, too. No need to put a lot of force on it.
As noted though, do not use a pickle fork. You'll just damage the boot. Everybody does and it's stupid.
For some reason a lot of people still recommend pickle fork for lbj and that has to be the least efficient way of doing it and sure to fuck it up. pitman/tierod/whatever puller works great if you can find an adjustable one or the size you need, usually stupidly difficult to source in Canada for an obscure reason.
bfh to the side of the LCA while pushing up on the hub way works if shit ain't rusty and full of grime (ha... right) and ideally on a lift for clearance or otherwise the video I linked to works great too for parking lot fixers.
Works for Accords, Civics, Odys and pretty much any Honda I've encountered. Many others also use this technique in a pinch. But what do I know, oh great omniscient Maj!
Lacking a proper tool to separate the lbj, this works wonderfully and is better than having at it with a hammer like a mad man. Takes 30 seconds, too. No need to put a lot of force on it.
As noted though, do not use a pickle fork. You'll just damage the boot. Everybody does and it's stupid.
From your difficulties changing the ATF and questions about suspension, I'm going to guess your experience goes as far as youtube university.
You see where the ratchet is wedged? You're applying a force against the knuckle. More than a few people have separated the ball joint because you're effectively pulling it free, rather than pushing it out.
For ball joint separation, loosen the bolt but leave it threaded on then bang the control arm where ball joint sits with a hammer. Works like a charm and less chance of damaging in the boot.
From your difficulties changing the ATF and questions about suspension, I'm going to guess your experience goes as far as youtube university.
You see where the ratchet is wedged? You're applying a force against the knuckle. More than a few people have separated the ball joint because you're effectively pulling it free, rather than pushing it out.
Always get the right tool..
Difficulties changing the ATF? Because now having questions regarding the mixing of Red Line products, something I've never done before, is considered difficulties?
Regarding the steering/suspension "issues" I am having, I'm looking for insight since everything is in working order as far as I can see. You can assume what you want.
Link to people who have separated the ball joint instead of freeing with this method. Never seen it happen. Force needed to separate the ball joint is higher than force needed to free the LCA & ball joint. Not impossible and it could happen in theory, but in practice, chances seem pretty slim. I suggested this method to Taco since he was in a pinch at 9 pm and access to any tool seemed improbable at that time. Getting hung on a job is lame, even more so after a long day.
Hitting the LCA downwards with a hammer has the same possible theoretical inconvenience of separating the ball joint too.
Anyway you don't need to have the holier than thou attitude with any of us. You have plenty of knowledge (which plenty appreciate I am sure) but the delivery method is abrasive and pointless.
Remember...how something is said and how it's taken are not the responsibility of the person giving the message.
Taking it poorly is usually a reflection of an internal thing. Ego kicks in...NOBODY TALKS TO ME LIKE THAT...but it's more about triggering something striking a nerve than the intent of a smart alecky comment.
Remember...how something is said and how it's taken are not the responsibility of the person giving the message.
Taking it poorly is usually a reflection of an internal thing. Ego kicks in...NOBODY TALKS TO ME LIKE THAT...but it's more about triggering something striking a nerve than the intent of a smart alecky comment.
I understand your point, but communication takes place between 2 or more individuals. It's not a one-way thing where no matter the delivery method it's on the listening/reading individual to decorticate.
There's a reason why there's better book authors than others, and it's not because their audience is better.
.. just don't miss when you hit it. 
