I need to replace upper right ball joint, 98 honda civic

• Remove the cotter pin.
• Loosen the castle nut
  
• Strike it with a pickle fork
  
• Remove the castle nut and tie the knuckle up to prevent it falling all over.
  
• From under the hood, remove the 2 bolts that hold the upper control arm.
  
• Either replace the entire arm or take the arm to a automotive store and have them press in a new one
  

http://www.ehow.com/video_2327952_use-pickle-fork-remove-upper.html

RAISE VEHICLE PLACE ON JACK STANDS. REMOVE COTTER PIN FROM CASTLE NUT LOOSEN CASTLE NUT BUT DO NOT REMOVE COMPLETELY. TAKE A BALLJOINT SEPERATOR OR PICKLE FORY AND SEPERATE JOINT FROM KNUCKLE. STRICKING JOINT SOLIDLY WHERE CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT MEET KNUCKLE WILL ALSO POP JOINT LOOSE. REMOVE CASTLE NUT LET BALL JOINT LIFT OUT OF KNUCKLE ASSY. REMOVE UPPER CONTROL ARM REAR MOUNTING BOLTS. REINSTALL NEW CONTROL ARM/JOINT ASSY BY FIRST ATTACHING REAR MONTING BOLTS, THEN PLACE JOINT INTO KNUCKLE ASSY ,INSTALL CASTLE NUT,CAREFUL NOT TO OVERTIGHTEN AND TURN TILL YOU CAN INSTALL NEW COTTER PIN THROUGH JOINT STUD.(UPPER CONTROL ARM/JOINT COME AS ASSY,JOINT IS NOT REPLACEBLE SEPERATELY)

This is a pretty easy job.The way i do it is take the two 14mm bolts louse from the strut on the inner fender well,then take the 17mm bolt out of the bottom of the strut on the lower control arm this will make it drop down.Then take the 14mm bolt louse that fastens the ball joint to the spindle take a hammer and hit the upper spindle and it all will come apart.Now you will have the two bolts that holds the upper control arm in place these are 17mm bolts drop the strut down and remove the upper control arm now you can go in with the new one.Hope this helps !!!

The Ball joint on a 1996-2000 civic is not a servicable part from Honda; the entire upper control arm must be replaced as a whole unit. Although some places may carry an aftermarket ball joint but quality may differ from an OEM part because the part was never ment to be serviced.

Ball joints are a tough replacement. The old ones are pressed in place, and you will need a BIG hammer to bust them free. Installing the new ball joints can also be difficult to accomplish. It's not an impossible task if your mechanically inclined, and the parts are relatively inexpensive compared to other car parts.