While I'm updating this project, while doing the torsion bars I found the hubs were showing bearing issues. So I pulled the knuckles off, and fitted new bearings. That went well, but one tie rod end was past code, as was one ball joint on the radius arms. While I have acceptable replacement radius arms, both crx and integra ones, I had to order tie rod ends. Another evening or two coming up on the front suspension.
But it was an opportunity to pull the ball joint apart on the radius arm. Very interesting comparision with the later ones from the gen 2 crx. The later ball joints are a complete unit that drop into a prepared hole and are secured by circlips. The gen 1 has the end of the radius arm as the cartridge for the ball joint. Inside that end there are a series of stepped sections, with a plastic sleeve fitted over the ball joint that fits between the stepped sides and the ball joint. The bottom of the section is filled with grease and a metal plug. I'll post a picture later which explains this structure. The really interesting part of this is that it looks rebuildable. A new sleeve and end plug (welsh plug maybe) and regrease should allow us to rebuild the unit. My guess is that if I pull a gen 2 crx unit apart the sleeve and maybe the ball joint will be the same as the gen 1. I have an old gen 2 unit to destroy. After the engine rebuild I'll explore that.