1998 Accord EX upper control arm & Lermo ball joint replacement
 

Doing overhaul, new hub, wheel bearings, lower ball joints, upper control arm with ball joint. I have a reference from a 2007 that says to use a 3/16 steel rod as a guide when positioning the upper arm... Is this applicable to the 1998? So far I have removed the wheel bearing & lower ball joint, the hub support is removed and I'm waiting on my new parts to arrive which should be here tomorrow. I haven't removed the upper control arm yet, I think it looks pretty easy just want to get some feed back as to once I remove it for how to reinstall i.e. Torque/positioning... Read a write up to use the steel rod to position but don't know if this applies for the 1998.

The 07 and the 98 are different so not an exact match but the "theory" of the steps are the same. Never seem or heard of a "rod" that is used as a guide, so I don't know what that is about.

For the upper arm, yes I would get the bolts started in the upper mount then "rest" the ball joint into the knuckle before the final torque of the upper arm mounts.

Then at the end, as best I could I would re-check everything once the weight of the car is on the ground.

Thanks, I was looking at a link off the web for installation on a 2007 Honda Accord and a 12" steel rod 3/16 diameter was inserted into holes fore/aft to position the arm so that the bolts could be torqued. i was hoping that I could prevent removing pinch bolt on the fork and just loosen remove the nuts on the upper end of the strut to give me clearance to remove the upper control arm bolts, hoping wife will leave me alone today so that I can get this done. I also may have to take the new hub to base auto hobby shop to use their arbor press...one more tool that I wish I had room for in my garage.