1999 Honda Civic, front suspension disassembly

Any trustworthy on-line information on taking down the front suspension
on a 1999 Honda Civic? Or recommendations on a good book?

#1 son sideswiped a car a few months ago, I'm finally getting a chance to
take a look at things -- it'll need a lower A-arm and some steering
components, at the least.

--
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Tim Wescott wrote:
> Any trustworthy on-line information on taking down the front suspension
> on a 1999 Honda Civic? Or recommendations on a good book?
>
> #1 son sideswiped a car a few months ago, I'm finally getting a chance to
> take a look at things -- it'll need a lower A-arm and some steering
> components, at the least.

Three days of online access to factory documents for 10 bux.
https://techinfo.honda.com/Rjanisis/logon.asp?Region=US

I used the Toyota sister site years ago to download the
complete electrical wiring diagram for one of my Camrys.
Saved my bacon it did. Worth the money for sure.

--Winston

Tim Wescott wrote:
> Any trustworthy on-line information on taking down the front suspension
> on a 1999 Honda Civic? Or recommendations on a good book?
>
> #1 son sideswiped a car a few months ago, I'm finally getting a chance to
> take a look at things -- it'll need a lower A-arm and some steering
> components, at the least.
>
Check your mail

--
Steve W.

On Mar 9, 1:24*am, Tim Wescott > wrote:
> Any trustworthy on-line information on taking down the front suspension
> on a 1999 Honda Civic? *Or recommendations on a good book?
>
> --http://www.wescottdesign.com

I have both the factory shop manual and the Haynes book for my Honda.
The Haynes descriptions are quite similar and tell you when to seek
professional help and sometimes gives work-arounds for special tools
(which I make).

The factory manual assumes you ARE the professional help.

jsw

"Steve W." > wrote in
:

> Tim Wescott wrote:
>> Any trustworthy on-line information on taking down the front
>> suspension on a 1999 Honda Civic? Or recommendations on a good book?
>>
>> #1 son sideswiped a car a few months ago, I'm finally getting a
>> chance to take a look at things -- it'll need a lower A-arm and some
>> steering components, at the least.
>>
> Check your mail
>


What did you send him?


--
Tegger

On 03/09/2011 04:23 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> On Mar 9, 1:24 am, Tim > wrote:
>> Any trustworthy on-line information on taking down the front suspension
>> on a 1999 Honda Civic? Or recommendations on a good book?
>>
>> --http://www.wescottdesign.com
>
> I have both the factory shop manual and the Haynes book for my Honda.
> The Haynes descriptions are quite similar and tell you when to seek
> professional help and sometimes gives work-arounds for special tools
> (which I make).
>
> The factory manual assumes you ARE the professional help.

I should just get the Haynes manual -- it's the work-arounds and the
"this is when you need professional help" that, well, helps.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

On Mar 9, 11:51*am, Tim Wescott > wrote:
> On 03/09/2011 04:23 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>
> > On Mar 9, 1:24 am, Tim > *wrote:
> >> Any trustworthy on-line information on taking down the front suspension
> >> on a 1999 Honda Civic? *Or recommendations on a good book?
>
> >> --http://www.wescottdesign.com
>
> > I have both the factory shop manual and the Haynes book for my Honda.
> > The Haynes descriptions are quite similar and tell you when to seek
> > professional help and sometimes gives work-arounds for special tools
> > (which I make).
>
> > The factory manual assumes you ARE the professional help.
>
> I should just get the Haynes manual -- it's the work-arounds and the
> "this is when you need professional help" that, well, helps.
>
> --
>
> Tim Wescott
> Wescott Design Serviceshttp://www.wescottdesign.com
>
> Do you need to implement control loops in software?
> "Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
> See details athttp://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

I think you will find that Honda front suspension dis assembly to be a
straightforward mechanical process.
I bet you can look at it for 5 minutes and have it down.

Remove the brake caliper mount w/caliper, disconnect hose.
Remove outer tie rod end from steering knuckle (back the nut off,
smack the side of the joint smartly with a hammer)
Remove the strut nuts at top, under hood.
Remove strut bolts at the knuckle.
Remove sway bar at lower arm.
Remove lower arm.

Rex > wrote in
:


>
> I think you will find that Honda front suspension dis assembly to be a
> straightforward mechanical process.
> I bet you can look at it for 5 minutes and have it down.
>
> Remove the brake caliper mount w/caliper, disconnect hose.


No need to do this just for the lower control arm.

If the damper is being replaced as well, just remove the 14mm bolt and move
the hose aside. No need to open the hydraulics.


> Remove outer tie rod end from steering knuckle (back the nut off,
> smack the side of the joint smartly with a hammer)


No need to do this just for the lower control arm.

Tie rod end is best disconnected using the correct tool.
<http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/disconnect.html>


> Remove the strut nuts at top, under hood.
> Remove strut bolts at the knuckle.


No need to do this just for the lower control arm.

It's a damper, not a "strut". And you need to undo the bolt that joins the
damper fork to the lower control arm. The steering knuckle is not connected
to the damper. Honda did not use struts on the Civic until 2001.

Some pics here, complete with a mistake by me. You get to guess what the
mistake was.
<http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/new_front_bushings/>


--
Tegger

"Tegger"
> Some pics here, complete with a mistake by me.
> You get to guess what the
> mistake was.
> <http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/new_front_bushings/>
>
>
> --
> Tegger

Cotter pin?

"Phil Kangas" > wrote in news:ilbrk9$j23$1
@news.eternal-september.org:

>
> "Tegger"
>> Some pics here, complete with a mistake by me.
>> You get to guess what the
>> mistake was.
>> <http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/new_front_bushings/>
>>
>>
>>
>
> Cotter pin?
>



Failure to put the nut back on before applying pressure to the stud.

The stud collapsed, requiring me to file the threads down before the nut
would fit back on the stud again.


--
Tegger