Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
#880977
12/15/10 05:50 PM
12/15/10 05:50 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,982
Ansonia, CT
CJK440
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,982
Ansonia, CT
|
My 05 Dak has non greasable pivot points thruout. Lower ball joints are shot and are getting replaced. Hopefully the lowers are just shot because they take the brunt of the load and that the uppers and tie rod ends are OK.
I know they make a needle adapter to pierce the boot and fill with grease. I'm wondering if this is a good idea or bad?
I will have all that stuff disconnected and will try supplementing lubrication by sneaking the needle in between the boot and stud while they are disconnected but always wondered about puncturing the boots.
The new lower ball joints are Moog with grease fittings.
2017 Contusion Blue Challenger T/A 392 M6 "BLKNBLU"
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: CJK440]
#880979
12/15/10 06:01 PM
12/15/10 06:01 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
|
I have done it with a needle for yrs the boot will eventuly rot,but not from the needle if its apart you can pull it up/off or your idea works take it from some one that has had the wheel flop off and bang up the fender and door,then slid down a ditch ball joints need replace when bad..its your call on how bad you think they are,for the price it cheaper in the long run now I understand if you have to have a shop R&R them,it can get pricy,but thats why i leard a few tricks and do them my self and just pay for alinement my 85 truck just got 4 new ones for 100 bones + alinement..well worht my life at highway speeds 
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: hemi-itis]
#880980
12/15/10 06:01 PM
12/15/10 06:01 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
|
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
|
Prob planned obsolescense (sp). Need to get grease between the rounded ball and the base as opposed to inside the boot as the boot is more to keep road splash out. Drilling/tapping would be easy/simple/effective & work great IF you got ALL the shavings back out
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#880982
12/15/10 06:05 PM
12/15/10 06:05 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,982
Ansonia, CT
CJK440
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,982
Ansonia, CT
|
Quote:
ball joints need replace when bad..its your call on how bad you think they are,for the price it cheaper in the long run
now I understand if you have to have a shop R&R them,it can get pricy,but thats why i leard a few tricks and do them my self and just pay for alinement
I'm doing it myself and as long as things go as planned, I don't need to mess with anything that could affect alignment in theory. $50 a pop for lowers. Service manual says replace at .020" play, mine measured .030". The suspension was squeaking, thats what alerted me to the wear. These trucks apparently have an issue with bad joints.
Upper joints are integral to the control arm and can only be replaced by replacing the arm.  I will check play tonight and am crossing my fingers that they are OK for now.
2017 Contusion Blue Challenger T/A 392 M6 "BLKNBLU"
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: hemi-itis]
#880983
12/15/10 06:07 PM
12/15/10 06:07 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
|
it not only save $$$ but sells more new BJ/TRE and the same with u-joints they dont last near as long as a well serviced front end thats greesable same reason the big 3 are going broke all the time,new stuff is junk that a poorman cant work on no need to buy a new car when the 40-50 yr old car I have is still going fine with almost the same mpgs of new cars...and it been paid for a long time and I can fix it in the yard on a poormans budget 
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: dOc !]
#880985
12/15/10 07:58 PM
12/15/10 07:58 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,167
Maryland
GO_Fish
master
|
master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,167
Maryland
|
That's what they are saying to the gullible that will believe. It's really a desire to pinch penny's at the customer's cost, and to help push vehicles back into the dealership for service (or preferably a trade in and new vehicle purchase). That's a win/win for them (unless the owner goes over to brand X, which must happen a lot). They make a new sale, and pick up an otherwise good vehicle that they can flip cheaply on their lot. In their mind, if you buy a new vehicle every 3 or 5 years, you won't have these problems.
Last edited by GO_Fish; 12/15/10 08:05 PM.
Scott B.
"I'm a self-made man... I started with nothing, and I still have most of it!"
68 360 rusty B'cuda 'vert (GO Fish)13.59@ 98.72 mph
69 340 GTS stock 14.18@ 95.60 mph
01 5.9L Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4
01 3.5L 300M 16.23@ 86.97 mph
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: GO_Fish]
#880986
12/16/10 12:09 PM
12/16/10 12:09 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,982
Ansonia, CT
CJK440
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,982
Ansonia, CT
|
Another thing that bothers me is lack of castleated nuts and cotter pins on the BJ/TRE's.
2017 Contusion Blue Challenger T/A 392 M6 "BLKNBLU"
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: 360view]
#880988
12/16/10 09:53 PM
12/16/10 09:53 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,424
Florida STAYcation
dOc !
The village idiot's idiot
|
The village idiot's idiot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,424
Florida STAYcation
|
Quote:
If you want to re-seal the small hole the needle makes,
The NEEDLE HOLE in the rubber boot? ... but doesn't the grease need to be in the opposite end ... like where the grease-fitting SHOULD BE ?
I have never tried to put-in grease-fittings into a part that does not have them .. but I sure am going to try in the spring ... on my diesel dually.
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#880989
12/16/10 10:19 PM
12/16/10 10:19 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,941
WI
Dcuda69
master
|
master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,941
WI
|
Quote:
it not only save $$$ but sells more new BJ/TRE and the same with u-joints
they dont last near as long as a well serviced front end thats greesable
same reason the big 3 are going broke all the time,new stuff is junk that a poorman cant work on
no need to buy a new car when the 40-50 yr old car I have is still going fine with almost the same mpgs of new cars...and it been paid for a long time and I can fix it in the yard on a poormans budget
While I'm sure they save $$ on the fittings,I believe the intent was lowered maintenance costs(no "lube"job) It didn't work out that way.I doubt they counted on increased BJ/TRE sales as most failures occur out of warranty so most of those purchases go to aftermarket vendors(I know I use Moog or equivalent replacement parts and avoid OE suspension parts when possible)
It has NOTHING to do with the big 3.....imports have been doing this for as long as I can remember(I've been wrenching for a living for 30 yrs) but it's good to know people are still comfortable taking a shot at them whenever possible. 
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: dOc !]
#880990
12/16/10 10:24 PM
12/16/10 10:24 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 515
Bolingbrook, IL
HemiRunner
super street
|
super street
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 515
Bolingbrook, IL
|
Your best bet is to get a joint with the fitting in it when the sealed units fail. The so called lifetime or sealed units have a thin nylon disc in the bottom that that the ball pivots on with the grease. If you drill through the metal cap & damage the nylon disc it will fail & now you have metal on metal, it is just a matter of time before the joint will fail & you won't get much more life out of it. The OEM's design them with a limited life span contrary to their lifetime designation they give them.
Blown & Injected, need I say more?
71 Road Runner
04 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 CTD
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: hemi-itis]
#880993
12/17/10 09:24 AM
12/17/10 09:24 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
GoodysGotaCuda
5.7L Hemi, 6spd
|
5.7L Hemi, 6spd
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
|
Quote:
I think it's a JOKE that several manufacturer's do this to save a 10 cent grease fitting.I think you can drill a small hole amd install a zirk fiting 
Shavings from the hole gotta go somewhere 
I've got four ball joints dead on my 2009 25,000 mile wrangler. Thanks to the nylon backed design on a solid axle/"off-road" vehicle. 
|
|
|
Re: Lubricating non greasable ball joint / tie rod ends
[Re: Dcuda69]
#880994
12/17/10 09:32 AM
12/17/10 09:32 AM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
|
yep,I take a cheap shot at them every chance i get I have had my taxes bail them out at least 4x in my lifetime and have never bought a new car so I am haveing to pay them for not buying a new car anyways  so either way they are sticking me with a bill to pay in some way shape or form never bought an import either,but at least I dont have to help bail them out...yet 
Last edited by scratchnfotraction; 12/17/10 09:34 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
