tpz76

So I'm getting ready to replace my front lower control arms on my 2008 TL-S. I'm all ready to go with the exception of not having said Honda/Acura ball joint separator and boot protector($600.00 bucks I don't have to spend). Yeah I know a couple whacks with a ball peen hammer and they usually come undone, but then I'm worried about the sleeve separating from the old arm and getting stuck to the ball joint stud. Am I over thinking this? Do local parts stores have these to rent, and if so are they worth it? Thanks!

peter6

Remove the ball joint nut, raise the knuckle by the rotor / hub with jack and piece of wood, and give lower arm smack with the hammer. You don't need to put a lot of pressure and you can leave the nut slightly threaded in so nothing falls apart when ball joint finally comes lose.

If sleeve gets stuck to the ball joint, I usually use adjustable claw puller (on the left) from set that looks close to
I'm pretty sure autozone and other parts store rent those. From my experience those sleeves are barely on there, like "almost" can get them off with just hands.

If you need to press in/out the ball joint as well, this set works really well for modern hondas

Bars

I replaced both lca’s last month with rockauto parts. The driver’s side hole for the stabilizer link had to be drilled larger. I used a tie rod puller to get the ball joint separated from the lca and ended up fuckin up the threads on the ball joint stud. Then on top of that the ball joint stud kept spinning. This was my first time changing lca. I found on youtube how to tighten the castle nut when the ball joint keeps spinning. Just lodge something (like the jack from your trunk) between the upper control arm and the wheel well, then jack up the lca. Finished the driver’s side.

now for the passenger side i used the tie rod puller again, but this time the sleeve got stuck to the ball joint. I bought a ball joint separator from harbor freight for $20 and cautiously kept tightening it until it exploded lol. I made sure all my limbs were out of harms way so nothing hit me.