Greasing front end?
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Greasing front end?
My wife has a 98 Ranger 4x2 that sounds like it could desperately use some grease in the control arms up front, but I can't find any grease fittings anywhere. Suggestions?
New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Mine was making a squeaking noise up front as well. I thought it was the bushings on the upper control arms. After a little more thorough searching I found out it was the upper ball joints. I had to remove the upper control arms and have new ball joints pressed in at a machine shop. I tried to locate replacement upper control arms but no one carried the right ones. Mine has coil springs and the replacement control arms everyone carried were for a Ranger with torsion bars. They only stocked the replacement ball joints for my Ranger. Even the Ford dealer did not stock the control arms. They would of had to be special ordered. I now have ball joints that I can grease. 
You may have to replace the ball joints.
GreenBoonie
You may have to replace the ball joints.GreenBoonie
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Thanks for the tips.... I don't think anything is worn out, I think it's just got some dust in it from a 3 month vacation. Time to break out the WD40! 
The truck only has 93K easy miles on it, so I doubt ball joints are an issue right now.
The truck only has 93K easy miles on it, so I doubt ball joints are an issue right now.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: poughkeepsie ny
Whoa. Be careful with that Wd-40 or other petroleum based lubricants you might think of using up there. Though they might provide some lubrication, they may also serve to eventually eat away at rubber(like) bushings and components. Try silicone instead. Its much more friendly to those kinda materials.
New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Mine only had 80K miles on it. Mostly city and highway driving. Parked in a garage every night. The lube in the ball joints dried up and there is no way to relube them. I would look closer at where the noise is coming from.
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Originally posted by seagull369
Whoa. Be careful with that Wd-40 or other petroleum based lubricants you might think of using up there. Though they might provide some lubrication, they may also serve to eventually eat away at rubber(like) bushings and components. Try silicone instead. Its much more friendly to those kinda materials.
Whoa. Be careful with that Wd-40 or other petroleum based lubricants you might think of using up there. Though they might provide some lubrication, they may also serve to eventually eat away at rubber(like) bushings and components. Try silicone instead. Its much more friendly to those kinda materials.
I'll try and check into the ball joints as well. I also noticed a kind of "popping" while going down the road... could be ball joints after all.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
Re: Greasing front end?
Originally posted by superduty4x4
My wife has a 98 Ranger 4x2 that sounds like it could desperately use some grease in the control arms up front, but I can't find any grease fittings anywhere. Suggestions?
My wife has a 98 Ranger 4x2 that sounds like it could desperately use some grease in the control arms up front, but I can't find any grease fittings anywhere. Suggestions?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
Originally posted by seagull369
Whoa. Be careful with that Wd-40 or other petroleum based lubricants you might think of using up there. Though they might provide some lubrication, they may also serve to eventually eat away at rubber(like) bushings and components. Try silicone instead. Its much more friendly to those kinda materials.
Whoa. Be careful with that Wd-40 or other petroleum based lubricants you might think of using up there. Though they might provide some lubrication, they may also serve to eventually eat away at rubber(like) bushings and components. Try silicone instead. Its much more friendly to those kinda materials.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
My 91 2 wheel drive Ranger squeaks more in cold weather. In the past I'm fairly sure that it was the bushings because I could spray lub and it would stop it for a while. And yes I made the mistake of using WD40. I've also used the silicone and will stay with that from now on. I was unaware about the WD40 until I read these posts. I haven't been getting any popping so hopfully my ball joints are okay. Since I'm at about 120 thousand I guess I need to be more watchful. What about installing grease fittings. I haven't looked to see if there is enough access for drilling and tapping.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
On my 97 F-150, I drilled and installed self tapping zerks in the balljoints and tie-rod ends. I really don't understand why ford doesn't, other the huge replacement parts thing. Doesn't take long to do and it really helps. Good luck.