Ball Joint - Lower

This procedure covers removal and replacement of the lower ball joint on the front suspension of a 2018-2024 Honda Accord with 1.5L turbo engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Lower ball joint assembly × 1 — 51220-TVA-A01 or aftermarket equivalent
• Cotter pin × 1 — 4.0mm x 40mm split pin
• Pinch bolt × 1 — Use new OEM bolt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground but do not remove
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer frame lift points
4. Remove wheel and tire assembly completely
5. Spray all fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove cotter pin and loosen ball joint nut
   Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut using pliers. Discard the old cotter pin. Use a 22mm socket to loosen the ball joint nut but do not remove it completely yet - leave it threaded on a few turns to protect threads during separation.
2. 2

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Using a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork, insert between the lower control arm and steering knuckle at the ball joint taper. Strike the separator firmly with a hammer or use the screw-type separator to break the taper seal. Once the joint releases, remove the castle nut completely. If the knuckle will be reused, avoid damaging the boot seal area.
   ⚠The ball joint may release suddenly. Keep hands clear of pinch points.
3. 3

   Remove pinch bolt (if equipped)
   If your ball joint design uses a pinch bolt through the knuckle fork, remove this bolt using a 17mm socket. The pinch bolt clamps the ball joint stud and must be removed before the joint can be extracted. Discard this bolt as a new one must be installed.
4. 4

   Remove ball joint from control arm
   Depending on design, the ball joint may be bolted to the control arm with fasteners, or pressed into the control arm. If bolted, remove the mounting bolts and extract the ball joint assembly. If pressed, use a ball joint press tool or hydraulic press to remove the old joint from the control arm bore. Clean the bore thoroughly with a wire brush if pressing in a new joint.
   ℹ️Many Honda Accord models use a non-serviceable control arm where the entire arm must be replaced. Verify your specific configuration.
5. 5

   Install new ball joint
   If using a serviceable design, press or bolt the new ball joint into the lower control arm. Ensure the joint is fully seated and oriented correctly with the grease fitting accessible. If replacing the entire control arm assembly, proceed to install the new assembly with the integrated ball joint.
6. 6

   Install ball joint stud into knuckle
   Position the lower control arm so the ball joint stud aligns with the hole in the steering knuckle. Insert the stud through the knuckle. If using a pinch bolt design, align the split in the knuckle fork with the groove on the ball joint stud.
7. 7

   Install and torque pinch bolt
   If equipped with pinch bolt design, install the NEW pinch bolt through the knuckle fork. Torque the pinch bolt to specification using a torque wrench.
   Torque spec

   Pinch Bolt58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Install and torque ball joint castle nut
   Thread the castle nut onto the ball joint stud. Torque to the lower specification of 84 Nm (62 lb-ft) first. If the castle nut slots do not align with the cotter pin hole, continue tightening up to the higher specification of 97 Nm (71 lb-ft) until alignment is achieved. Never loosen the nut to align the cotter pin hole.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Install new cotter pin
   Insert a NEW cotter pin through the castle nut slots and ball joint stud hole. Bend the ends of the cotter pin over in opposite directions to secure. Ensure the cotter pin cannot work loose.
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel and perform final torque
    Install the wheel and tire assembly. Thread all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Torque lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Lower vehicle and perform weight-loaded torque
    Lower the vehicle until the suspension is at normal ride height with full weight on the wheels, but keep the jack supporting slightly. If control arm bolts were loosened or removed during this procedure, torque them to specification with vehicle weight on the suspension. Completely lower vehicle and remove jack.
    ⚠Control arm fasteners must be torqued at ride height or premature bushing failure will occur.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Perform final check of all fasteners for proper torque
2. Verify cotter pin is properly installed and secured
3. Inspect area for any tools or parts left behind

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or unusual noises from front suspension
• Perform steering lock-to-lock test while stationary to verify full range of motion
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment as suspension geometry has been altered
• After 50-100 miles, re-torque all fasteners and inspect for any looseness

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