Honda Car Forum

OK so I did the passenger upper control arm on my 98 civic yesterday. It
took about 20 minutes, very easy job. Torqued the bolts down as per my
Haynes manual (i know sometimes Haynes is wrong, but it was all I had at the
time).

Torqued the Upper Ball joint castle nut to 35 ft-lbs
Torques the Side bolts to 40 ft-lbs

When I was driving later, I took a left turn (I did the right control arm),
and heard a *CLANG*. Stopped, inspected it and nothing was wrong, and
everything was tight as could be.

Was this just the upper balljoint taper seating itself properly into the
steering knuckle? If so, I guess I should retorque the castle nut, right?

Thanks
t


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"T L via CarKB.com" <u10197@uwe> wrote in news:550c93721e37f@uwe:

> OK so I did the passenger upper control arm on my 98 civic yesterday.
> It took about 20 minutes, very easy job. Torqued the bolts down as
> per my Haynes manual (i know sometimes Haynes is wrong, but it was all
> I had at the time).
>
> Torqued the Upper Ball joint castle nut to 35 ft-lbs
> Torques the Side bolts to 40 ft-lbs
>
> When I was driving later, I took a left turn (I did the right control
> arm), and heard a *CLANG*. Stopped, inspected it and nothing was
> wrong, and everything was tight as could be.
>
> Was this just the upper balljoint taper seating itself properly into
> the steering knuckle? If so, I guess I should retorque the castle
> nut, right?
>


Did you make sure the suspension was at its normal (on the ground) position
before tightening everything up?

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

I had a jack under the lower control arm. Pretty much impossible to get in
there while the tire is on, it would be in the way. Or am I missing
something here?

TeGGeR® wrote:
>> OK so I did the passenger upper control arm on my 98 civic yesterday.
>> It took about 20 minutes, very easy job. Torqued the bolts down as
>[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>> the steering knuckle? If so, I guess I should retorque the castle
>> nut, right?
>
>Did you make sure the suspension was at its normal (on the ground) position
>before tightening everything up?
>


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If you have the jack under the lower control arm and jack it up JUST to the
point where it elevates the car, and then torque your bolts, then that
shouldn't be a problem. Sounds like you did it right.

"T L via CarKB.com" <u10197@uwe> wrote in message news:550ddcf0f2567@uwe...
>I had a jack under the lower control arm. Pretty much impossible to get in
> there while the tire is on, it would be in the way. Or am I missing
> something here?
>
> TeGGeR® wrote:
>>> OK so I did the passenger upper control arm on my 98 civic yesterday.
>>> It took about 20 minutes, very easy job. Torqued the bolts down as
>>[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>>> the steering knuckle? If so, I guess I should retorque the castle
>>> nut, right?
>>
>>Did you make sure the suspension was at its normal (on the ground)
>>position
>>before tightening everything up?
>>
>
>
> --
> Message posted via CarKB.com
> http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...-cars/200509/1

T L via CarKB.com wrote:
> I had a jack under the lower control arm. Pretty much impossible to get in
> there while the tire is on, it would be in the way. Or am I missing
> something here?

for the upper control arm? isn't that tightened from under the hood?
the swivel jount can be tightened in any position, obviously.

>
> TeGGeR® wrote:
>
>>>OK so I did the passenger upper control arm on my 98 civic yesterday.
>>>It took about 20 minutes, very easy job. Torqued the bolts down as
>>
>>[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>>
>>>the steering knuckle? If so, I guess I should retorque the castle
>>>nut, right?
>>
>>Did you make sure the suspension was at its normal (on the ground) position
>>before tightening everything up?
>>
>
>
>

Those are the side bolts. I don't think they are the issue here, I was
referring to the castle nut on the upper ball joint.

t

jim beam wrote:
>> I had a jack under the lower control arm. Pretty much impossible to get in
>> there while the tire is on, it would be in the way. Or am I missing
>> something here?
>
>for the upper control arm? isn't that tightened from under the hood?
>the swivel jount can be tightened in any position, obviously.
>
>>>>OK so I did the passenger upper control arm on my 98 civic yesterday.
>>>>It took about 20 minutes, very easy job. Torqued the bolts down as
>[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>>Did you make sure the suspension was at its normal (on the ground) position
>>>before tightening everything up?


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T L via CarKB.com wrote:
> Those are the side bolts. I don't think they are the issue here, I was
> referring to the castle nut on the upper ball joint.

that one can be tightened in any position - it's the bolts that fasten
rubber bushings that need to be tightened with the car on the ground.

>
> t
>
> jim beam wrote:
>
>>>I had a jack under the lower control arm. Pretty much impossible to get in
>>>there while the tire is on, it would be in the way. Or am I missing
>>>something here?
>>
>>for the upper control arm? isn't that tightened from under the hood?
>>the swivel jount can be tightened in any position, obviously.
>>
>>
>>>>>OK so I did the passenger upper control arm on my 98 civic yesterday.
>>>>>It took about 20 minutes, very easy job. Torqued the bolts down as
>>
>>[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>
>>>>Did you make sure the suspension was at its normal (on the ground) position
>>>>before tightening everything up?
>
>
>