i just wanted to spin my story and things i've learned along my very short beginning of work.

Where to begin...

So i swapped out my ball joint / tie rod dust covers to the Energy Suspension ones. These are NOT good as they don't really seal very well. This isn't to say that the other ES parts aren't good, just those dust covers. I have the rest of the bushings and they're great! but i digress...

so i went to the track (Streets of Willow) and i ended up sliding off the track and the dust covers for both tie rod and ball joints ripped off. i guess there was too much pressure on them. I was driving on them without the covers for a while, but now that they're all covered in dirt i decided it was about time for me to swap them out.

I've been working on it for about 15 hours and i have made almost no progress, but i have learned a great many things.

#1. Loosen the axle nut before you do ANYTHING else.
if you want to replace the ball joint, then you must remove the axle from the hub, there's no other way about it.

#2. Old parts will get stuck. Very stuck.
i've snapped 2 breaker bars (a 1/2" and a 3/4") trying to get the axle nut off and it's still not coming off. Hopefully the local shop can use their air impact wrench to get it off....

#3. In order to get the ball joint out, reference this thread:
Lower control arm / ball joint removal trick
Amazingly it works... but if it doesn't work too easily.. brute downforce can make it work. i had to jump on it to make the ball joint pop.

#4. Loosen the axle nut BEFORE you do anything else. If you start taking things apart (like i did) and then get to the axle nut that doesn't come off, you have to put it all back on so you can drive it somewhere to take it off.

#4a. I've read in many forums how you can use a really long pipe to extend the breaker bar. for me, this didn't work. I used a 5 foot pole from an old swing set, and the breaker bars just keep snapping at the drive nut, pivot point, or whatever else is not the handle. sucks.

#4b. I also used an electric impact wrench. smoked the motor on it and it didn't work.

#5. no matter how frustrating, infuriating and annoying your task may seem, always remember that you love your car.

#6. Plan ahead and do your research. Know what tools you are going to need for your specific task. I ended up going to the auto shop mid wrenching many times looking for the right sockets, bars, fluids, PB Blaster, etc.

#7. If you fail, try try again....

and so far, that seems to be the only things i can say about this. The reason i'm writing this is that hopefully if someone else is looking to do the same, they can learn from my mistakes. to be continued....

good write up...got any pics?

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Originally posted by Car And Driver Magazine April 1988
"The CRX Si is a magic combination of desperate entities part front-wheel-drive economy sedan, part utility wagon, and part Ferrari."

Oh man, this reminds me of the time we replaced the driver's side axle on my buddy's DA integra. A 6' breaker bar (that's six FEET, not six inches), three cans of liquid wrench, and two propane torch tanks later, we took it to the local shop, where they blew the bearings on THREE air impact wrenches and finally cut the axle out and popped the outer end out backwards.

I feel for you, buddy.

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Driven Daily. Visit. Read. Comment. Enjoy.

Yeah...those ES tie rod boot covers shouldn't be used as boots. I put them on over the boots (I had new tie rods...so boots were new). I'd actually suggest avoiding them altogether; even as just covers they are now cracking on my car so they're kinda worthless. As far as the axle nut...maybe someone torqued it on too much. I just used an electric impact wrench and that baby came right off (all 4 times I did it).