Aluminum A-arms

[LORD MORTIS]

I have a 91 NSX and I need to replace the small ball joints at the forward end of the passenger side top and bottom a-arms.
The dealer said the ball joints are only available with the a-arms ($400.00 top and $700.00 bottom) Ya right. I'm not a genius but I know a steel ball joint and an aluminum a-arm didn't grow on the same tree. Right now I'm thinking a little heat and an arbor press will do the trick, but where do I get replacement ball joints?
Any help would be great.

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

You are correct that they are not available separately. Honda specifies to not press our the ball joints as they fear the a-arms will be damaged due to the press fit. Too bad the a arms are expensive... makes the eventual required replacement a tough pill to swallow. We've been trying to source aftermarket or OE ball joints from another model with no luck so far. Please let me know if you find a source. Keep in mind though to take extreme care with removing the ball joint to avoid damage to the arms.

-- Chris

 

[nsxtasy]

Are those the ball joints that are right next to the brake splash shields, that sometimes fail because they get too hot when people remove the splash shields?

 

[Larry Bastanza]

I think you are refering to the ball joints that connect the front arms to the honeycomb looking front suspension member, correct? I believe you cannot press them out, since they are installed in a "blind" cavity in the a-arm.

The ones that Ken mentions above (two in the knuckle) can be pressed out, but Acura does not sell the replacement ball joints, you have to buy the knuckle.

Sorry for the bad news. I will check some a-arms I have at home and verify the blind mount.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[Soichiro]

The Lord Spoke:
>>I'm not a genius but I know a steel ball joint and an aluminum a-arm didn't grow on the same tree.

Kudos to you for uncovering this secret. Other little known NSX facts:

-car needs no maintanance. never adjust valves, never change timing belt. it's amazing!
-car can be driven over 250mph. simply pull e-brake up 171 clicks to unlock hidden computer program
-car comes standard with HID lighting, even in 1991. sorry i cannot tell you how to deploy
-engine is V-12 with special 'double cylinder' technology so it appears and sounds like a 6 cylinder engine
-all NSX's sold in USA came as NSX-R's. Acura dealers remove unwanted parts and sell them on eBay

>>a little heat and an arbor press

Correct. If a little heat does not work try more heat. Don't worry. When the aluminum arm melts the ball joint will slip right out. Honda also put diamonds in some ball joints, if one of these falls out you are a winner!

Finally it's well known that Acura NSX's grow on magnesium trees.

 

[JoeSchmoe]

Right now I'm thinking a little heat and an arbor press will do the trick...

In case you do try this, DONT overheat it as it may ruin the temper of aluminum. Im not sure which series alloy it is, but I would stay under 250F to be safe. If you end up annealing it, you may lose 50% the strength...