This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the front upper and lower ball joints on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic with the 1.5L turbocharged engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Upper ball joint (per side) × 2 — 51220-TBA-A01 or equivalent
• Lower ball joint (per side) × 2 — 51210-TBA-A01 or equivalent
• Cotter pins × 4 — Use OEM specification
• Pinch bolt (if reuse not possible) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage 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 secure on jack stands at proper jacking points on frame rails
5. Remove both front wheels completely
6. Spray all ball joint nuts, pinch bolts, and castle nuts with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link (if necessary for access)
   If the sway bar link interferes with ball joint access, remove it from the lower control arm. Hold the shaft with an Allen key while loosening the nut to prevent spinning. This step may be optional depending on your specific approach.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove upper ball joint cotter pin and castle nut
   Locate the upper ball joint where it connects to the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin using pliers. Remove the castle nut from the upper ball joint stud. Do not discard the nut yet as it can be used to help extract the stud.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate upper ball joint from knuckle
   Use a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork to separate the upper ball joint stud from the steering knuckle. Position the separator carefully to avoid damaging the CV boot. You may need to partially reinstall the castle nut (not fully tightened) to protect the threads while striking with a hammer. Once separated, support the knuckle to prevent strain on the lower ball joint and CV axle.
   ⚠Support the knuckle and hub assembly after separation to prevent damage to CV axle boot or ABS sensor wiring.
4. 4

   Remove upper ball joint from control arm
   The upper ball joint on this vehicle is typically secured to the upper control arm with bolts or may be pressed in depending on design. If bolted, remove the mounting bolts. If pressed, you will need a ball joint press or take the control arm to a shop with a press. For this generation Civic, the upper ball joint is typically riveted or bolted to the upper control arm. Remove the fasteners and extract the old ball joint.
   ℹ️Some aftermarket ball joints may use bolts instead of rivets. If original has rivets, drill them out carefully.
5. 5

   Install new upper ball joint
   Clean the mounting surface on the upper control arm with a wire brush. Install the new upper ball joint according to manufacturer instructions. If using a bolt-type replacement, apply thread-locking compound and torque to specification. If press-fit, ensure the ball joint is fully seated and properly aligned. The ball joint stud should move freely in its socket.
6. 6

   Remove lower ball joint pinch bolt
   Locate the pinch bolt that secures the lower ball joint stud to the steering knuckle. This is typically a through-bolt with a nut on the back side. Remove the pinch bolt completely. Note that Honda recommends replacing this bolt as it is a stretch-type fastener.
   Torque spec

   Pinch Bolt58 Nm (43 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Separate lower ball joint from knuckle
   Using a pry bar or spreading tool, carefully spread the pinch joint on the steering knuckle to release the lower ball joint stud. You may need to tap the knuckle with a hammer while prying. Once freed, carefully lower the knuckle assembly and support it to access the lower ball joint mounting on the control arm.
   ⚠Do not over-spread the knuckle pinch joint as this can crack the casting.
8. 8

   Remove lower ball joint from lower control arm
   The lower ball joint is typically pressed into the lower control arm. You will need either a ball joint press tool or hydraulic press to remove it. Alternatively, remove the entire lower control arm from the vehicle by removing the control arm mounting bolts (note these must be torqued with weight on suspension). Press out the old lower ball joint, being careful not to damage the control arm bore.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Install new lower ball joint
   Clean the bore in the lower control arm thoroughly. Using a ball joint press, press the new lower ball joint into the control arm until fully seated. Ensure the ball joint is aligned correctly - the stud should be perpendicular to the control arm mounting surface. Apply a light coating of anti-seize to the ball joint housing before pressing if desired.
10. 10

    Reinstall lower control arm if removed
    If you removed the lower control arm completely, reinstall it to the chassis. Install the mounting bolts but do NOT torque them yet. They must be torqued with the vehicle weight on the suspension to prevent bushing bind.
11. 11

    Reconnect ball joints to steering knuckle
    Position the steering knuckle onto the lower ball joint stud first. Ensure the pinch joint is properly aligned. Install a NEW pinch bolt and torque to specification. Next, raise the knuckle to connect the upper ball joint stud. Install the castle nut and torque to specification. Align the castle nut slots with the stud hole and install a new cotter pin. Bend the cotter pin ends to secure.
    ⚠If castle nut slots do not align with cotter pin hole at proper torque, tighten further to next slot. Never loosen to align.
    Torque spec

    Pinch Bolt58 Nm (43 lb-ft)

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

    Reconnect sway bar link if removed
    If you disconnected the sway bar link, reconnect it now. Hold the shaft with an Allen key and torque the nut to specification.
    Torque spec

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

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall both front wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the tires just touch the ground but the suspension is not yet compressed. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Then lower the vehicle completely to the ground.
    Torque spec

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

    Perform final torque with weight on suspension
    With the vehicle on the ground and weight on the suspension, torque the lower control arm bolts to specification. This is critical - torquing these bolts with the suspension hanging will cause premature bushing failure. Rock the vehicle side to side a few times to settle the suspension before final torque.
    ⚠️Control arm bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels. This is a critical specification for bushing longevity.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all cotter pins are properly installed and bent to prevent backing out
2. Verify all fasteners have been torqued to specification
3. Check that CV axle boots were not damaged during ball joint separation
4. Confirm brake lines and ABS sensor wiring are properly routed and not pinched

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or unusual noises from the front suspension
• Perform a visual inspection underneath to confirm no loose fasteners or damaged components
• Schedule a professional front-end alignment - ball joint replacement will affect camber and toe settings
• After 50-100 miles, re-check all ball joint fastener torque and wheel lug nut torque
• Monitor for any pulling, vibration, or unusual tire wear that would indicate alignment issues

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