I've recently changed my front springs (right one broke and car was hanging) and while at it, I finally decided to change the lower balljoints. I have bought the balljoints a few years ago but never got down to do the job. The balljoints were an aftermarket brand, I bought them in Germany back then. I never opened the boxes before. I was suprised to find the balljoints had no grease at all. Since grease won't evaporate I suspect that this was intended. So I greased them and installed them. Now, two weeks after the job, they are squaling like crazy and steering is quite stiff (power steering pump whining). Looks like I made a bad deal back then. I greased them again as good as I could but that only lasts a few days.
I have replaced lower balljoints on my Mercedes cars and they always came fully greased and I never had this kind of trouble. I guess I'll replace them again and I'll ask a friend in Florida to get them for me. Can you guys give me some recommendations what brand to buy? Oh and I will also order upper balljoints since I want to replace them as well. What brands should my friend look out for? I want fully greased and ready-to-install balljoints, not such crap like the ones I had. I'll fully appreciate any suggestions.

Tom (who is facing another multi-hour session at the diy shop)
1993 3.0 XL Ext
Sins, Switzerland

 

Hi Tom,
Bummer about the ball joints, that's pretty unheard of with after market parts here. Federal-Mogul and TRW are the two most common after market parts suppliers in the USA. According to some of the parts guys, these firms are also OEM suppliers but I've never been able to verify that. In any event, I've used both brands and find them of equal high quality and reliability. The lower ball joints generally are of the permanently lubed variety while the upper replacement joint (ball joint only) have a lube zerk.

 

Any time I order front end parts here in canada they always ask me If I want non-grease-able or self grease-able, ..I always maintain my vehical and trust no one to change oil or grease it. I know they wont do it right. Id really like to know whats going on there. Thats strange.

 

Hi Aerocolorado,

what's a lube zerk?

Tom
1993 3.0XL Ext.
Sins, Switzerland

 

Its like a soda jerk, only smaller. No, just kidding. Its the small nipple on a greaseable fitting the grease gun attaches to and allows the grease to be pumped in.

 

Tom! Your ball joins may be still OK, if you did not drive much without grease. As I've understood, you greased them before installation, so the quation: why are they squaling? The answer is only one: they are not lubricated well. You have to regrease them, but before, please tell us how did you grease them? Is there fittings? Have you removed seales and greased under rubber seals?

 

Yes, they have that little nipple on the bottom to be greased. I pushed in as much grease as possible plus I applied grease on the ball from the top under the rubber seal while twisting the ball joint. It moves very hard and after a week it runs dry so I have that awful sound when making turns. Plus it's gonna kill my power steering pump judging from the noises even when freshly greased.
I asked around: no one has a grease gun that will fit the grease fitting. Obviously, the grease has to be pumped in under great pressure since the balljoint sits very tight in the base.

 

I assume that you unscrewed the nipple and pushed grease in through the hole as your grease gun did not fit. Can you replace the nipple with a new one (or even an old one from a junkyard, or perhaps swap in the nipple from your upper ball joint) that does fit your gun? Here in the USA grease nipples differ in length, angle and thread - but the ball ends that go into the gun are all the same size.

Jan Richter

 

Hi Tom,
you should be able to get metric size zerk grease fittings that will fit your ball joints and a metric nozzle grease gun....take out one fitting from joint and take to auto parts store or industrial repair parts store to get correct size for hole in joint
Ford dealership in Sw should be able to help you obtain metric zerk grease fittings

 

Thanks guys, I'm in Germany tomorrow so I'll look into this. Forget about Switzerland, it's good for tourists only. No parts places, nothing.... You go to Ford and ask about something special you might as well ask one of those skinny cows they have standing around everywhere - you get the same look and the answer's quality is equal.