To grease or not?
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,470
Likes: 1
From: Westchester, NY
To grease or not?
So what is the general consensus on greasing ball joints?
On one hand they are sealed, so sticking a grease needle in can lead to water getting in or the seal tearing over time.
On the other hand, having grease in there will keep the water out and the joints lubed.
So which is it?
On one hand they are sealed, so sticking a grease needle in can lead to water getting in or the seal tearing over time.
On the other hand, having grease in there will keep the water out and the joints lubed.
So which is it?
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
From: Gatineau (Ottawa area), Canada
I'm not a mechanic but it seems to me that if they're sealed then there should already be lube in there. I don't see the need to puncture a seal to insert what should be in there already.
.....of course I'm a IT geek so what do I know about greasing ball joints.
.....of course I'm a IT geek so what do I know about greasing ball joints.
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,568
Likes: 3
From: Denver, CO
So what is the general consensus on greasing ball joints?
On one hand they are sealed, so sticking a grease needle in can lead to water getting in or the seal tearing over time.
On the other hand, having grease in there will keep the water out and the joints lubed.
So which is it?
On one hand they are sealed, so sticking a grease needle in can lead to water getting in or the seal tearing over time.
On the other hand, having grease in there will keep the water out and the joints lubed.
So which is it?
I think I'm going to be leaving mine as-is.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,904
Likes: 185
From: Maine
So what is the general consensus on greasing ball joints?
On one hand they are sealed, so sticking a grease needle in can lead to water getting in or the seal tearing over time.
On the other hand, having grease in there will keep the water out and the joints lubed.
So which is it?
On one hand they are sealed, so sticking a grease needle in can lead to water getting in or the seal tearing over time.
On the other hand, having grease in there will keep the water out and the joints lubed.
So which is it?
It will also compromise the rubber seal.
Replace them with grease-able ball joints when they wear out.
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 974
Likes: 0
From: Canisteo, NY
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,665
Likes: 4
From: Hammond Louisiana
I didn't do my ball joints but I did do the tie rod ends to get some amount of grease in there. They were really dry the first time I did it and suspect the ball joints are the same way. At least on the tie rod ends you can rock the rod back and forth and get some amount of grease where it's supposed to be. I wouldn't do it with the ball joints , no way of trying to get the grease worked in where it needs to be. I'll change um out sooner or later along with the tie rod ends and get some greaseble ones. I grease the tie rod ends once a month to keep the water out. How did I know they were dry? ERRK, ERRK, when rotating the drag or rod, no play in it so far, but bet there woulda be by know if I hadn't greased them. Again I say I would not do this with ball joints as there is no way to get any of the grease worked in.
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Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,470
Likes: 1
From: Westchester, NY
Yeah thats what I did as well. The tie rod ends but not the ball joints and worked it in to the tie rod by rotating it back and forth. You could feel it get stiffer. And what do you know, 13K miles and my ball joints are bad but my tie rod is fine.