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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: neale_rs on September 08, 2013, 03:48:59 PM

Title: Greasing lower ball joints
Post by: neale_rs on September 08, 2013, 03:48:59 PM

How can the lower ball joints be greased?  Needle through the rubber boot?  These seem to have a plug on top.  Maybe it could be removed to screw in a zerk temporarily for greasing?

Thanks

(http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q277/neale_rs/95%20YJ/95421bf2c0ccabf7f8c6b716d164fc1b_zpsae1d9ed9.jpg)

Title: Re: Greasing lower ball joints
Post by: Jeffy on September 08, 2013, 07:15:35 PM

Needle tip or maybe see if you can rotate the yoke so you can use a needle tip.  Otherwise take the caliper off then pell the wheel hub.  The lower joint isn't usually serviceable.

Title: Re: Greasing lower ball joints
Post by: neale_rs on September 08, 2013, 10:22:54 PM

Thanks.  Maybe it's not something to worry about, but it just bothers me that the upper joint can be greased and not the bottom one.  I'll try the needle tip.

Title: Re: Greasing lower ball joints
Post by: Jeffy on September 09, 2013, 10:29:17 PM

Oh that's just a plug on top and not a zerk?  I'd unscrew it but really I've never had issues with the lower joints on my jeep.

Title: Re: Greasing lower ball joints
Post by: neale_rs on September 09, 2013, 11:06:17 PM

It's just a plug.  I might try that.  Thanks

Title: Re: Greasing lower ball joints
Post by: jagular7 on September 10, 2013, 08:18:47 AM

You be best to take the front end apart, replace plug with grease fitting, fill with grease, replace fitting with plug and reassemble. Do this once a year if you wheel and have bigger tires on the axle. Do it every other year depending how much you drive on the street. It like changing your diff fluids, its a maintenance requirement but the how you drive your Jeep that makes up the time interval.

Over time, you will be required to change out the ball joint.

By taking apart your front end, you can also inspect other components as well; ie steering tres, brake pades, caliper movement, shock, brake line, unit bearing, ujoint/yoke, axle splines, and the knuckle itself for cracks.

As the newer vehicles were developed, a lot of the interval maintenance requirements were changed due to the 'inconvenience' of owning a vehicle. Older vehicles (70s) required maintenance every 6 months. Today's vehicles it can be every 5 yrs (or when the computer tells you). The vehicle mfrs basically took away owning/operating a vehicle from the owner's garage to a service garage.

Title: Re: Greasing lower ball joints
Post by: neale_rs on September 10, 2013, 10:49:37 AM

Thanks.  Also, if it is ever apart for any other reason, then take the opportunity to grease it.