Honda Car Forum

martin lynch wrote:
> On Apr 5, 6:27�pm, Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
>> martin lynch <odiegoo...@yahoo.com> wrote in news:09842c8d-26dc-434c-bf03-
>> 70809cb29...@w40g2000yqd.googlegroups.com:
>>
>>> I was quoted $600 for replacing both front ball joints on my 2001
>>> Civic. �The price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would
>>> be necessary with the job. �I live in Buffalo, NY. �Does this seem
>>> like a fair price? �A quick google search leads me to believe that the
>>> quote is high....
>> It appears the ball joints on this vehicle are integral with the steering
>> knuckle, at least with OEM parts. The price you've been quoted is probably
>> from a Honda dealer, and includes new knuckles.
>>
>> There are aftermarket ball joints that can be pressed into the existing
>> knuckle (closer to your $300 guess), but I think you would regret that
>> choice in less than two years. Ever had a ball joint break on you?
>>
>> --
>> Tegger
>>
>> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>
>
> The quote was actually from an independent shop. I failed to ask
> exactly what parts would be replaced.
>
> What would happen if the shop only replaced the ball joint and not the
> knuckle? Are you suggesting that pressing a new ball joint into the
> knuckle would weaken the interface and cause it to fail again
> prematurely?

1. what symptoms are you experiencing - why do you think you need to
have them replaced?

2. please learn to cross-post.

On Apr 5, 7:28*pm, jim beam <retard-fin...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> martin lynch wrote:
> > On Apr 5, 6:27 pm, Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
> >> martin lynch <odiegoo...@yahoo.com> wrote in news:09842c8d-26dc-434c-bf03-
> >> 70809cb29...@w40g2000yqd.googlegroups.com:
>
> >>> I was quoted $600 for replacing both front ball joints on my 2001
> >>> Civic. The price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would
> >>> be necessary with the job. I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem
> >>> like a fair price? A quick google search leads me to believe that the
> >>> quote is high....
> >> It appears the ball joints on this vehicle are integral with the steering
> >> knuckle, at least with OEM parts. The price you've been quoted is probably
> >> from a Honda dealer, and includes new knuckles.
>
> >> There are aftermarket ball joints that can be pressed into the existing
> >> knuckle (closer to your $300 guess), but I think you would regret that
> >> choice in less than two years. Ever had a ball joint break on you?
>
> >> --
> >> Tegger
>
> >> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>
> > The quote was actually from an independent shop. *I failed to ask
> > exactly what parts would be replaced.
>
> > What would happen if the shop only replaced the ball joint and not the
> > knuckle? *Are you suggesting that pressing a new ball joint into the
> > knuckle would weaken the interface and cause it to fail again
> > prematurely?
>
> 1. what symptoms are you experiencing - why do you think you need to
> have them replaced?
>
> 2. please learn to cross-post.

I took it to the shop for my mandatory NY State safety inspection, and
they told me the lower ball joints were loose, and recommended
replacement. Seems kind of early for a car with 70K miles, huh?

martin lynch wrote:
> On Apr 5, 7:28�pm, jim beam <retard-fin...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> martin lynch wrote:
>>> On Apr 5, 6:27 pm, Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
>>>> martin lynch <odiegoo...@yahoo.com> wrote in news:09842c8d-26dc-434c-bf03-
>>>> 70809cb29...@w40g2000yqd.googlegroups.com:
>>>>> I was quoted $600 for replacing both front ball joints on my 2001
>>>>> Civic. The price also includes wheel alignment, which I'm told would
>>>>> be necessary with the job. I live in Buffalo, NY. Does this seem
>>>>> like a fair price? A quick google search leads me to believe that the
>>>>> quote is high....
>>>> It appears the ball joints on this vehicle are integral with the steering
>>>> knuckle, at least with OEM parts. The price you've been quoted is probably
>>>> from a Honda dealer, and includes new knuckles.
>>>> There are aftermarket ball joints that can be pressed into the existing
>>>> knuckle (closer to your $300 guess), but I think you would regret that
>>>> choice in less than two years. Ever had a ball joint break on you?
>>>> --
>>>> Tegger
>>>> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>>> The quote was actually from an independent shop. �I failed to ask
>>> exactly what parts would be replaced.
>>> What would happen if the shop only replaced the ball joint and not the
>>> knuckle? �Are you suggesting that pressing a new ball joint into the
>>> knuckle would weaken the interface and cause it to fail again
>>> prematurely?
>> 1. what symptoms are you experiencing - why do you think you need to
>> have them replaced?
>>
>> 2. please learn to cross-post.
>
> I took it to the shop for my mandatory NY State safety inspection, and
> they told me the lower ball joints were loose, and recommended
> replacement. Seems kind of early for a car with 70K miles, huh?

somewhat. i'd get a second opinion.

here in kalifornistan, a lot of inspection stations are "test only" and
/not allowed/ to do repairs. thus they have no incentive to find things
wrong.

if you have something like that in your state, that's where i'd go.
especially now that money is tight, i expect more "problems" to be found
on otherwise healthy cars.

martin lynch <odiegoogle@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:4f573ec6-c9ed-4576-8014-6398e257961a@g19g2000yql.googlegroups.com:


>
> I took it to the shop for my mandatory NY State safety inspection, and
> they told me the lower ball joints were loose, and recommended
> replacement. Seems kind of early for a car with 70K miles, huh?



Yup. Way early. Get a second opinion.




--
Tegger

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

On 2009-04-05, martin lynch <odiegoogle@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I took it to the shop for my mandatory NY State safety inspection, and
> they told me the lower ball joints were loose, and recommended
> replacement. Seems kind of early for a car with 70K miles, huh?

Even around here, 70k seems a bit early. It isn't impossible, though,
if you hit lots of craters...

--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X

Seems kind of early for a car with 70K miles, huh?
>
> Yup. Way early. Get a second opinion.
>
> --
> Tegger

My '99 Accord LX 4 dr 5 spd has 157K miles, and in last couple of
months, I have wondered about the front end. On occasion it will track
slightly to the left. I had the alignment checked, it's okay, it did
not need adjustment. I rotate regularly every 6-7k miles, tire wear is
normal. When I go over harder bumps, I hear / feel more of a clunk
than before. I am concerned that someone needing to do more work, will
go ahead and recommend costly work I can't afford. I have jack stands,
is this something I can self diagnose? How do you really tell if the
ball joints need replacing?

Thanks,
Wade

Wade wrote:
> Seems kind of early for a car with 70K miles, huh?
>> Yup. Way early. Get a second opinion.
>>
>> --
>> Tegger
>
> My '99 Accord LX 4 dr 5 spd has 157K miles, and in last couple of
> months, I have wondered about the front end. On occasion it will track
> slightly to the left. I had the alignment checked, it's okay, it did
> not need adjustment. I rotate regularly every 6-7k miles, tire wear is
> normal. When I go over harder bumps, I hear / feel more of a clunk
> than before. I am concerned that someone needing to do more work, will
> go ahead and recommend costly work I can't afford. I have jack stands,
> is this something I can self diagnose? How do you really tell if the
> ball joints need replacing?
>
> Thanks,
> Wade

you need to get under the car and check stuff out. check all bolts are
tightened properly, check things like sway bar bushings are ok, then
check ball joints. i've actually had more problems with upper joints
than lower on civics, so check yours on the accord. jack the vehicle up
under the lower swing arm until the wheel is just off the ground, then
lever under the wheel with a crow bar. you should be able to see or
feel looseness if any exists. this works better if you have an
assistant carefully do this while you hold a joint - you can definitely
feel any looseness then.

Yes, the load should be taken off the lower control arm to check the
load-carrying ball joint (lower).

But Jim -- it's interesting that the non-load-carrying upper joints
were giving you more problems. If these don't run dry, I would think
they'll outlast the lower joints. No?


On Apr 7, 7:16*pm, jim beam <retard-fin...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> you need to get under the car and check stuff out. *check all bolts are
> tightened properly, check things like sway bar bushings are ok, then
> check ball joints. *i've actually had more problems with upper joints
> than lower on civics, so check yours on the accord. *jack the vehicle up
> under the lower swing arm until the wheel is just off the ground, then
> lever under the wheel with a crow bar. *you should be able to see or
> feel looseness if any exists. *this works better if you have an
> assistant carefully do this while you hold a joint - you can definitely
> feel any looseness then.

johngdole@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> On Apr 7, 7:16�pm, jim beam <retard-fin...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> you need to get under the car and check stuff out. �check all bolts are
>> tightened properly, check things like sway bar bushings are ok, then
>> check ball joints. �i've actually had more problems with upper joints
>> than lower on civics, so check yours on the accord. �jack the vehicle up
>> under the lower swing arm until the wheel is just off the ground, then
>> lever under the wheel with a crow bar. �you should be able to see or
>> feel looseness if any exists. �this works better if you have an
>> assistant carefully do this while you hold a joint - you can definitely
>> feel any looseness then.
>
> Yes, the load should be taken off the lower control arm to check the
> load-carrying ball joint (lower).
>
> But Jim -- it's interesting that the non-load-carrying upper joints
> were giving you more problems. If these don't run dry, I would think
> they'll outlast the lower joints. No?


well, they're not as big as the lower ones, plus, if you think about it,
because of the fact that they're on a much longer lever arm on the
steering knuckle from the wheel center compared to the lower one,
reaction force to braking and cornering is going to be much greater.
besides, as a crazed lover of 88-91 civics/crx's, and someone that's had
no fewer than six of them in higher mileage conditions [up to 300k!],
three have needed upper ball joint replacements - not one has needed
lower unless the boot has been trashed by a pickle fork.

jim beam <retard-finger@bad.example.net> wrote in
news:6cydncGqNKiKAEHUnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:


> and someone that's
> had no fewer than six of them in higher mileage conditions [up to
> 300k!], three have needed upper ball joint replacements - not one has
> needed lower unless the boot has been trashed by a pickle fork.



Up in the Rust Belt, it's weather that kills the lower ones.
They fail all the time here.


--
Tegger

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