Suspicious Holes in Lower Ball Joints

[MP in WA]

I recently had my '97 3500 4X4 aligned at a reputable local shop. The repair tech showed me where there had been a small hole drilled into the bottom of both lower ball joints (presumably to be lubed) and then plugged with a silicon material. He stated that he had never seen this done before. The local dealer is the only other place to have done any work on the truck (transfer case shaft seal replacement and steering box adjustment per TSB to address slight wander). Has anyone ever heard of this being done and/or the reason why?

 

[illflem]

I've done this but have screwed in a self tapping zerk fitting instead of silicone in order to lube the "lubed for life" joints. Never heard of a dealer even caring about the life of anyone's joints.