Can a Lower Ball Joint Be Replaced on a 2002 Civic Si?

The high-performance Si trim level first appeared in the Civics lineup in 1985, in the form of the Civic CRX Si. The inaugural version of the Civic Si came fitted with a 95-horsepower, 1.5-liter engine, which pales in comparison to the 160-horsepower, 2.0-liter powerhouse driving the 2002 Civic Si. The 2002 Civic Sis four-wheel independent suspension has only one ball joint, a lower one. Replacing this ball joint is possible if you have the correct special tool.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the front wheel with the failed ball joint using a ratchet and socket. Lift the front of the Civic with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the vehicles sub-frame. Lower the Civic onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel from the vehicle.

2

Pull the cotter pin from the ball joint stud using needle-nose pliers. Loosen the ball joint studs castellated nut using a ratchet and socket, and leave the nut attached to the very end of the ball joint stud.

3

Position a ball joint puller Honda tool No. 07MAC-SL00200 so its lower paddle touches the base of the ball joint stud and its upper paddle contacts the steering knuckle around the ball joints head. Turn the ball joint removers adjuster bolt the bolt in the center of the tool until the adjuster bolts head is in a position that allows the two paddles to pivot easily.

4

Apply a thin coat of multipurpose grease on the threads of the ball joint puller, the threads of the pressure bolt the bolt on the end of the tool and around the fork on the top paddle.

5

Tighten the pressure bolt with a ratchet and socket until you hear the ball joint pop free from the lower control arm and steering knuckle. Loosen the pressure bolt and remove the puller from the Civics suspension system. Pull the ball joint from the vehicle.

6

Slide the new ball joints stud through its hole in the steering knuckle and lower control arm and hand-thread the new castellated nut, which comes with the ball joint, onto the stud. Tighten the castellated nut to between 43 and 51 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

7

Verify that a valley in the castellated nut aligns with the hole through the ball joint stud. If there is no alignment, slightly tighten the castellated nut until they do line up.

8

Slide a new cotter pin, which comes with the new ball joint, through the hole in the ball joint stud, then bend its legs in opposite directions to lock it into place.

9

Reinstall the front wheel and hand-thread the lug nuts. Raise the Civic off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to 80 foot-pounds.