Honda Civic. Manual — part 652

Fig. 17: Installing Hub Onto Knuckle

LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT

Special Tools Required

Ball joint remover, 32 mm 07MAC-SL0A102

Ball joint thread protector, 14 mm 071AF-S3VA000

1. Remove the front wheel (see KNUCKLE/HUB REPLACEMENT ).

2008 Honda Civic GX

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

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

Fig. 18: Tightening Bolts (With Torque Specifications)

3. Disconnect the lower ball joint (E) from the lower arm.
4. Remove the spindle nut (see step 6 ), and remove the outboard joint (A) from

the knuckle (B) by tapping the driveshaft end (C) with a plastic hammer while
drawing the hub outward.

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).

NOTE:

Do not pull the driveshaft end outward. The inner
driveshaft joint may come apart.

During installation, apply grease to the mating
surface of the wheel bearing and driveshaft
outboard joint (see DRIVESHAFT INSTALLATION ).

2008 Honda Civic GX

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

5. Remove the lock pin (A) from the lower ball joint pin (B), then remove the

castle nut (C).

Fig. 20: Identifying Lock Pin And Lower Ball Joint Pin (With Torque
Specifications)

6. Install the ball joint thread protector (D).
7. Disconnect the lower ball joint from the knuckle using the ball joint remover

Fig. 19: Tapping Driveshaft

NOTE:

During installation, install a lock pin after tightening the
new castle nut.

2008 Honda Civic GX

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

(see BALL JOINT REMOVAL ), then remove the lower ball joint.

8. Install the lower ball joint 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 to load it with the vehicle's weight before fully tightening
the lower ball joint to the knuckle to the specified torque values.

Tighten all mounting hardware to the specified torque values.

Use a new spindle nut during reassembly.

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

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

BALL JOINT BOOT REPLACEMENT

Special Tools Required

Attachment, 40 mm 07GAF-SE00200

1. Remove the lower ball joint (see LOWER BALL JOINT

REPLACEMENT ).

2. Remove the boot clip and the boot.
3. Pack the interior and lip (A) of a new boot with grease. Keep the grease off of

the boot-to-lower ball housing mating surfaces (B).

2008 Honda Civic GX

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