Honda Civic. Manual — part 653

Fig. 21: Identifying Area Applying Grease

4. Wipe the grease off the tapered portion of the pin (C), and pack fresh grease

into the base (D). Do not let dirt or other foreign materials get into the boot.

5. Install the boot on the ball joint, then squeeze it gently to force out any air.
6. Press the boot with the attachment until the bottom seats on the lower ball

housing (A) all the way around.

Fig. 22: Pressing Boot With Attachment Until Bottom Seats On Lower
Ball Housing

7. After installing a boot, wipe any grease off the exposed portion of the ball joint

pin.

8. Install the lower ball joint (see LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT ).

LOWER ARM REMOVAL/INSTALLATION

Special Tools Required

Bushing driver 07AAF-SVAA100

Receiver set 07AAF-SVAA200

REMOVAL/INSTALLATION

1. Raise the front of the vehicle, and support it with safety stands in the proper

locations (see LIFT AND SUPPORT POINTS ).

2. Remove the center cap and front wheel.
3. Remove the flange nut (A) while holding the respective joint pin (B) with a

2008 Honda Civic GX

2006-08 SUSPENSION Front Suspension Civic (All Except Hybrid)

hex wrench (C), then disconnect the stabilizer links from the lower arm (D).

Fig. 23: Identifying Respective Joint Pin With Hex Wrench (With Torque
Specifications)

4. Turn the stabilizer bar backward to gain easier access to the front side of the

lower arm mounting bolt.

5. Remove the flange bolt and flange nuts from the lower arm (A).

NOTE:

Use a new flange nut during reassembly.

NOTE:

During installation, install a new flange bolt and new
flange nuts. After lightly tightening all three fasteners,
tighten them to the specified torque in the following
order; the nut on the front (B), the nut on the rear (C),
then the bolt (D).

2008 Honda Civic GX

2006-08 SUSPENSION Front Suspension Civic (All Except Hybrid)

Fig. 24: Identifying Lower Arm Bolts (With Torque Specifications)

6. Disconnect the lower ball joint (E) from the lower arm.
7. Remove the lower arm mounting bolt (A).

Fig. 25: Identifying Lower Arm Mounting Bolt (With Torque
Specifications)

8. Remove the lower arm mounting bolt (B), then remove the lower arm (C) from

the front suspension subframe (D).

9. Install the lower arm in the reverse order of removal, and note these items:

First install all the components, and lightly tighten the bolts and nuts, then
tighten the lower ball joint to the lower arm to the specified torque. Raise
the suspension the lower ball joint to the knuckle and the lower arm to the
subframe to load it with the vehicle's weight before fully tightening to the
specified torque.

Tighten all mounting hardware to the specified torque values.

Before installing the wheel, clean the mating surface of the brake disc and
the inside of the wheel.

NOTE:

During installation, install a new mounting bolt.

NOTE:

During installation, install a new mounting bolt.

2008 Honda Civic GX

2006-08 SUSPENSION Front Suspension Civic (All Except Hybrid)

Check the wheel alignment, and adjust it if necessary (see WHEEL
ALIGNMENT ).

BUSHING REPLACEMENT

Fig. 26: Identifying Paint Mark On Lower Arm

1. Press out the bushing (A) with the bushing driver, receiver set (attachment A)

and a hydraulic press, and remove the bushing from the lower arm (B).

NOTE:

Replace the lower arm (A) as an assembly if the lower arm
has the paint mark (B) around the hole near the front
bushing. The paint mark can also be seen around a hole on
the bottom side of the lower arm in the same area. Paint
marks indicate a oversize bushing has been installed.

NOTE:

Be careful not to damage the inside of the bushing hole
when pressing on the bushing.

2008 Honda Civic GX

2006-08 SUSPENSION Front Suspension Civic (All Except Hybrid)