N.E.R.D. Racing

Articles » How To Install SPC Adjustable Ball Joints **INCOMPLETE**

I needed more negative camber in the front of the S2000 so I installed these adjustable ball joints (a.k.a. camber kit). While I was at it I removed the brake dust shields which necessitates removal of the brake caliper and rotor. The SPC Honda S2000 adjustable ball joints will give you plus-or-minus 1.5 degrees of additional camber adjustment (if you can get -1.5° with the stock adjuster, you can get over -3° using this kit). I actually got 2.2° of additional negative camber from my kit. I got my ball joint kit from www.iapdirect.com for $165 (front kit only).

Note: The same SPC ball joint kit, SPC #67220, fits in the front and rear of the S2000, but 17 inch wheels or larger are required for installation in the rear. Since you can usually get about -3.3º of camber in the rear of the S2000 using the stock adjusters, a camber kit normally isn’t needed in the rear.

Warning: The alignment will be out of spec after installing these ball joints, and grossly so if you change the camber. The more camber you add the more toe out you’ll have. You will need an alignment after this install.

The stock front upper ball joint:

The SPC Adjustable Ball Joint:

Special Tools Needed

For the ball joint install you will need a generic ball joint separator or a puller (what I used) and a ball joint press. This $13 ball joint separator should work to separate the ball joint from the wheel hub: Ball Joint Lifter.

The stock ball joint is press fit into the upper control arm and must be pressed out and the SPC bottom plate must be pressed in. I purchased SPC’s #4920 Honda specific ball joint press and used it to press out the old ball joint and press in the bottom plate. The SPC ball joint press’s receiver measures at 1 7/8″ inside diameter (goes over the top of the stock ball joint for removal). The SPC ball joint press was $114 from Jegs SPC Ball Joint Press.

These generic ball joint presses look like they have the correct size receiver and may work: Harbor Freight Ball Joint Press $30 or Tool Warehouse Ball Joint Press $67.

To remove the brake disks you may need an impact driver to remove the two Phillips head screws securing them.

These are the instructions included with the SPC ball joint kit:

Here’s SPC’s Video of a Honda Civic install. The video shows the use of the SPC Honda Ball Joint Press.

You can install the SPC ball joints without removing the brake caliper or rotor so if that’s all you’re doing then disregard the info on removing the brake rotor, caliper and dust shields.

Start by removing the two 10mm bolts holding the ABS Line Bracket in place. This will allow slack in the line so you can move the wheel hub out of the way for the ball joint install.

If you’re removing the brake caliper, rotor or dust shield then remove the two 10mm bolts securing the brake line bracket so you can move the brake caliper out of the way. You’ll also need to use something to support the caliper with once it is unbolted. I used safety wire.

WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW THE CALIPER TO HANG BY THE BRAKE LINE

Here’s the safety wire to support the caliper. I attached it to the upper control arm:

Remove the two 17mm bolts securing the brake caliper, slide the caliper off the rotor, and let it hang by it’s support.

With the caliper off it’s easy to remove the brake rotor and brake dust shield.

This is the stock Honda clip used to keep the ball joint castle nut in place. Remove it from the castle nut by inserting a thin blade screwdriver into the “hook” to pry it away from the castle nut while pulling it out with needle nose pliers.

With the castle nut retaining clip out, remove the castle nut. I used a 1/2 inch breaker bar and a 17mm socket.

Here’s what the S2000 Service Manual shows for ball joint removal:

This $13 ball joint separator should work to separate the ball joint from the wheel hub (especially if you don’t care if you damage the stock ball joint during removal): Ball Joint Lifter

You’ll need a ball joint separator to pop the wheel hub lose from the ball joint. I used a generic puller from a suspension tool kit.

To be continued…