balljoint life?

[Nellie]

ball joints

my ball joints also seem to be worn-out also, i hope this is not

going to be like the rear axle noise abuse that I've been subjected

to. my 97 did not give me any trouble no rear Axel noises or bad

ball-joints at 78k my 03 has 25 k and both sides are pretty wore out . I hope this is not a bad thing, I hope this is not a trend with

the rest of the truck

 

[Yo Hoot]

I think there are joints that get out without grease. That would explain erratic occurrances.

 

[jchapin]

Moog BJ's

Moog makes what appear to be some quality balljoints for our trucks with zirk-fittings for periodic greasing.

However, they do seem to have a lag on releasing for our production years; last year there weren't any available for my 2001 2500. I suspect they delay design & manufacturing until they can get a decent ROI, and that won't happen until the majority of owners reach about 70K.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary - can you post a link to the hypodermic grease gun fitting you use (or one similar)?



A pretty common item in the grease/greasgun section of many auto parts stores - 2 types are common, one that is about 1/8 in diameter and about 3 inches long - too big for this application - and one that is actually like a hypodermic needle, also about 3 inches long - both are attached to a grease fitting so they snap right onto the grease gun. I insert the needle fully up and into the fitting to direct the flow as far away from the puncture site as possible. Then, carefully pump grease until the boot shows slight indication of "plumping", then STOP! you do NOT want to overfill the boot, it helps on the suspension parts like steering and tierods, to twist and move the joint to help spread the grease around inside. A small flow might be seen draining back outta the puncture point after you remove the needle - no big deal, just wait 'til it stops, and wipe excess off...

 

[4xquadrod]

30,000 and all is still tight and keeping good alignment. I also do a little off roading in the sand? I am driving from CA to the Mopar Nats in August, so thats when my front end will fall out.

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

This must be 3G problem cause I have 235K on my 95 4x4 2500 x-cab that still has a tight front end and I've ran 33x12. 50 x16. 5 BFG's on 16,5x9. 75 mags since it was new!!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

This must be 3G problem



Seem to be hearing a lot more about it from the 3G owners - but a potential problem on any "lubed and sealed for life" joint...



Trust a minimum-wage non-english speaking illegal immigrant to properly apply lube during manufacture? Hell - they probably can't even SPELL lube...



Does the manufacturer really care? Hell no - a few miles down the road, he'll just get to sell you ANOTHER one just like it!

 

[MikeKelley]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

This must be 3G problem



Trust a minimum-wage non-english speaking illegal immigrant to properly apply lube during manufacture? Hell - they probably can't even SPELL lube...

I see absolutly no constructive reason for this idiotic comment.

MK

 

[DIESELMAN]

Originally posted by SGBARRACUDA

This must be 3G problem cause I have 235K on my 95 4x4 2500 x-cab that still has a tight front end and I've ran 33x12. 50 x16. 5 BFG's on 16,5x9. 75 mags since it was new!!

This is the 3G Forum, Imagine that... ...



¡Pongo el lubricante en el coco y lo sacudaro todo alrededor!

 

[JWaters]

grease

injecting grease in the boot does nothing buy make you feel better, the grease needs to be under the ball in the joint in order to work where the load is. You cant inject the grease where it needs to be! The boot is nothing but a dust boot!

 

[Yo Hoot]

Originally posted by JWaters

injecting grease in the boot does nothing buy make you feel better, the grease needs to be under the ball in the joint in order to work where the load is. You cant inject the grease where it needs to be! The boot is nothing but a dust boot!

It may not get there immediately but since grease squirts out the boots if you overgrease ... . wouldn't a loaded boot possibly get some where it needs to be. Until I see an internal view or someone takes a picture of a bad one with the boot taken off, I'm not so sure.



I've also heard of adding grease fittings by drilling and pressing or tapping them in. Is this possible with these by removeing the tires and getting access? I'm too lazy to look right now.

 

[JWaters]

grease

If you would add a fitting to the bottom of them by drilling and inserting the fitting in then it would get to the joint because you use pressure to fill it. That is the reason it comes out of the boot when you over grease them. It will not leak down into the joint by putting grease in the boot, it would have to be under pressure and the boot cant handle pressure so there is no way to pressurize it.