Ok, after reading the fantastic HOW TO on the hub and hub bearing replacement by nobody yesterday... I read the part where he mentions not to use pickel fork to separate the ball joints for the hub removal less you want to repair them too. At that time I thought to myself, "hmmm the boot on the ball joints were already damaged before I replaced my axle shaft and hub bearing last week, I hope they hold together." Well they didnt, later that afternoon my car started making this loud, cringing, metal on metal bones cracking sound. I'm pretty sure that the cause would be the ball joints. Ok, if you guys agree that this is probably it what options do I have for fixing them? Can the boots simply be replaced and filled with grease, if not... can a new set be pressed in... and if not that do I have to buy a whole new hub assembly (which Id rather not seeing as to how I just spent money on a new bearing last week). Also, coud anyone give a guestimation on how much the ball joints (left rear side only) would cost as well as how much I could expect to pay to get it fixed (probably not at Honda dealership). Thanks!

 

Anyone Anyone? Xviper, nobody, etc etc... ? Need to order parts today.

 

Ok, so replacing the upper and lower control arms may be the only option if the damage has been done. Would pressing the balljoints in be jsut about as much?

 

I would think that replacing the arms would be very expensive. Those ball joints can be replaced. The labour may be similar but the cost of those arms, I'm not so sure would be cheap unless you can find a salvaged S2000. Try going with the suggestions I gave you in the PMs first.

 

Yea, I was thinking the same thing, I did manage to find an upper control arm for $75 but whether or not that is the whole assembly... I dont know I have not called yet. There were also some lower control arms up in NJ/ NY but there was no price listed so Im expecting them to not be so cheap. I'll go along with the PMs you sent Xviper in the meantime, Im going to take it to a shop tomorrow just to make 100% sure thats the cause of all the racket. Eitherway tho, those joints/ boots need to be replaced.

I think Im going to call the dealership where I bought the car from and let them know they sold me a car that was improperly repaired after the wreck it was obviously in (which the didnt tell me about either). Soooo unfortunate that a car like this has been treated so poorly, quite depressing. So far since Ive owned the car 4 months, I have repaired the AC system, replaced the rear left axle and now I am replacing the ball joints and/ or control arms on the left rear. I also am beginning to suspect some suspension damage in the front as well. ALL of those issues are due to mechanic neglect. The rear axle... the hub bolt was cross threaded, from there you can imagine. The ball joints... I suspect at the same time the hub bolt was cross threaded, someone used a pickle fork with no reguard for the boots and busted the crap out of the upper and lower ones. The front I have yet to inspect, Ill follow through with that more when its on the lift.

I am suspecting front suspension damage because my car has leaked a thick, gooey gelataneous substance from up front, kinda smells like urine but its obviously not as it has a dull red tint to it. Any ideas??

Thanks once again Xviper for your help and guidance!!

 

Minor update, not going to replace control arms, just ball joints only if they are damaged otherwise I am going to replace the boots and grease them up.

 

Check around the two rubber, liquid filled, engine mounts. They have been known to leak and if memory serves me, the fluid inside is reddish. If they leak (and they usually don't on their own), it is possible that extensive damage occurred with this car previous to you owning it. You should try to search out any previous collisions.

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Jul 28 2004, 10:07 AM] Check around the two rubber, liquid filled, engine mounts.

 

Hate to say it, but this is more a case of buyer beware.

Lemon laws only apply to new cars, with used cars, it's up to you to get it inspected.

As far as not telling you it's wrecked, they can only be actionable if they specifically said that it has never been in an accident or such. They have to say something that is a lie, lies of omission are not legally actionable.

The only option you have is to try and ask them to return the car. And that's a really long shot.

 

Isnt it also true tho that if a car has been damaged to a certain extent or is a salvage that by law the dealership must notify the buyer before purchase?