lower ball joint snap ring

[starchland]

im having a hard time installnig the snap ring on my lower ball joint, any tips getting it on?

I have the snap ring pliers with the various attachments...maybe i need pliers that open it bigger?

[starchland]

I was reading about some of the newer style ball joints, honda doesnt even make a place for the c-clip, is it necessary?

[GreenMadness]

You are correct, the new honda ball joint for our car dosn't even have the ring. im running with out them, no problems so far.

If you think about it a snap ring really wouldn't do much, that nut is whats holding it in, and the tollerances are pretty tight.


EDIT: unless you are talking about Aftermarket ball joints have such loose tolerances that the snapring holds it in place until you assemble the hubs, as for the honda ball joints you shouldn't have any problem without that.

[starchland]

its an aftermarket lower ball joint, decent tolerances, no looser than the one that came out, this is the lower balljoint on the front of the car to clarify.

those snap rings are a bitch, ill see what i can do, i might try to put part of it on by grinding some of the ring away, just for piece of mind,

[bruno8747]

Once the ball Joint is pressed into the socket it wont come out. The snap ring is just there for an extra insurance.

[GreenMadness]

If you think about it the ball joint shouldn't have effective force in that direction. the ball joint will be in tension, with the knuckle pushing upward against the ball joint and the nut/arm will pull down. when ever any force is applied upward the lower control arm will transfer it to the knuckle, not the ball joint.

[trah]

eyah the new new ball joint from honda about 27-35 bucks has no clamp just press it on and PRESTO.