I have a 2005 acura tl automatic. I had to replace the ball joint on the front right side of my car. I took off the knuckle, removed the ball joint from the lower control arm. I then had acura press out the damaged ball joint and install a new ball joint from MOOG. I then went home to install everything back together and find out there is a lot of play between the ball joint and the lower control arm. Is there suppose to be a sleeve in the control arm? What am I missing? Maybe National auto gave me the wrong part?

 

i don't know about acura ball joint but,,,, do you mean the ball joint housing and LCA has play or the ball and the ball joint has play?????

the former,,,,, how does it stay in LCA? by the cotter pin?!

i guess the latter is normal......

 

Yup:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/how-get-lower-ball-joint-back-into-lca-860357/

 

I always just took the knuckle off and used big ass sockets and a bench vise to replace lower ball joints.

There is a snap ring that holds the ball joint in AFTER it is pressed into place. And if you don't remove the boot before installing you will rip the boot. Defeating the whole install.

That thread posted was a good read.

 

housing, i meant sleeve.