Ball Joints - Upper and Lower

Replace the front upper and lower ball joints on a 2018-2024 Honda Accord 1.5L Turbo, including knuckle removal and reassembly with proper torque specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front upper ball joint × 2 — Use OEM Honda specification
• Front lower ball joint × 2 — Use OEM Honda specification
• Cotter pins for ball joint nuts × 4 — 3mm diameter
• Pinch bolt (knuckle to ball joint) × 2 — Use new OEM bolt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and set parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer-specified jacking points
5. Remove front wheels completely
6. Spray all ball joint nuts, pinch bolts, and control arm fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link
   Locate the sway bar link connected to the lower control arm. Hold the ball stud with an Allen key to prevent spinning, then remove the lower nut. Swing the sway bar link upward and secure out of the way with wire or a bungee cord.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove lower ball joint pinch bolt
   Locate the pinch bolt securing the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle at the bottom of the knuckle. This is a single horizontal bolt with a nut. Remove the pinch bolt and nut completely. Note this bolt must be replaced with a new one during reassembly. Use a punch to tap the bolt out if seized.
   ⚠The pinch bolt is a one-time use fastener and must be replaced with a new bolt.
   Torque spec

   Pinch Bolt58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate lower ball joint from knuckle
   Use a pry bar to spread the pinch slot in the steering knuckle slightly. Tap the knuckle with a hammer while prying to separate it from the lower ball joint stud. Be patient and avoid excessive force that could damage the knuckle casting.
   ⚠Do not strike the ball joint stud directly as this will damage the joint.
4. 4

   Remove upper ball joint castle nut
   Locate the upper ball joint at the top of the steering knuckle where it connects to the upper control arm. Remove the cotter pin by straightening the ends and pulling it out with pliers. Remove the castle nut from the upper ball joint stud. Do not reuse the cotter pin.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Separate upper ball joint from knuckle
   Use a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork between the upper control arm and steering knuckle. Strike the tool firmly to separate the taper fit. The knuckle assembly (with hub and rotor) is now free and can be maneuvered away from the control arms. Support the knuckle to prevent axle damage.
   ⚠️The knuckle assembly will drop suddenly when the ball joint separates. Support it to prevent damage to the CV axle and brake hose.
6. 6

   Access upper control arm mounting
   From the engine bay, locate the three nuts securing the strut tower to the chassis (if upper ball joint is integral to strut mount). For models with separate upper control arm, access the upper control arm mounting bolts from underneath. Determine your vehicle's configuration before proceeding.
   ℹ️The 2018-2024 Accord uses a strut-type front suspension. The upper ball joint is part of the damper fork assembly, not a traditional upper control arm.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Press out old ball joints
   Using a ball joint press kit or hydraulic press, remove the old upper and lower ball joints from their respective mounting locations (control arm for lower, damper assembly for upper if applicable). Note the orientation and depth of each ball joint before removal. Clean the bores thoroughly with a wire brush and inspect for damage or excessive wear.
   ⚠Ensure the press is properly aligned to avoid damaging the control arm or housing bores.
8. 8

   Press in new ball joints
   Apply a light coat of anti-seize to the outer diameter of the new ball joints (not the stud or boot). Using the ball joint press, install the new ball joints to the same depth as the originals. Press until the ball joint is fully seated against the shoulder in the bore. Verify the ball joint sits flush and rotates smoothly.
   ⚠Do not press on the ball joint stud or housing threads. Use only the proper press adapter on the outer bearing race.
9. 9

   Reinstall knuckle to upper ball joint
   Position the steering knuckle assembly back into place. Align the upper ball joint stud through the hole in the top of the knuckle. Thread the castle nut onto the upper ball joint stud hand-tight. Do not fully torque yet.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect lower ball joint to knuckle
    Align the lower ball joint stud into the pinch slot at the bottom of the steering knuckle. Ensure the stud is fully seated in the knuckle taper. Install the new pinch bolt and nut, ensuring proper orientation matches the original installation.
    ℹ️Use only the new pinch bolt supplied with the ball joint kit or purchased separately. Do not reuse the old bolt.
    Torque spec

    Pinch Bolt58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Torque upper ball joint nut and install cotter pin
    Torque the upper ball joint castle nut to 97 Nm (71 lb-ft). Align the castle nut slots with the hole in the ball joint stud by tightening slightly further if needed (never loosen to align). Install a new cotter pin through the stud hole and bend the ends to secure.
    ⚠Always tighten the castle nut to the next slot alignment, never loosen it to align the cotter pin hole.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Torque pinch bolt and reconnect sway bar link
    Torque the lower ball joint pinch bolt to 58 Nm (43 lb-ft). Reconnect the sway bar link to the lower control arm and torque the nut to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft) while holding the ball stud with an Allen key.
    Torque spec

    Pinch Bolt58 Nm (43 lb-ft)

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle partially
    Install the wheel and thread lug nuts hand-tight. Lower the vehicle until the tires just contact the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. This allows the control arm bushings to settle in their natural position.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Final torque with weight on suspension
    Torque the wheel lug nuts to 129 Nm (95 lb-ft) in a star pattern. If any control arm bolts were loosened during the procedure, torque them to 165 Nm (122 lb-ft) with the vehicle weight on the wheels. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.
    ⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on suspension to prevent premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Repeat all steps for the opposite side of the vehicle
2. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification
3. Check that all cotter pins are properly installed and bent
4. Ensure no tools or parts were left in the wheel well or engine bay

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area and verify no clunking or unusual noises from the front suspension
• Verify steering returns to center properly and there is no binding
• Perform a complete front-end alignment at a qualified shop immediately after ball joint replacement
• After 50-100 miles, re-torque all lug nuts to 129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
• Visually inspect ball joint boots for proper seating and no tears

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