On 9 Aug 2004 08:01:51 -0700, misterfact@yahoo.com (misterfact) wrote:

>I've had two mechanics tell me that wether its a dry front end ball
>joint or one that is enclosed in grease-
>
> If you coat the ENTIRE assembly -the rubber boot included-with a
>great big gob of grease- you will keep dirt away from the ball and
>socket. They say road dirt tends to adhere to the outer surface of the
>grease and since the grease is not moving around and can get into the
>ball and socket surfaces- the ball joint is pretty much protected and
>GOOD FOR LIFE ! As long as you don't move the grease off by washing-
>you can carefully re-coat it with grease if necessary.

The grease will not "get into" the ball joint unless you force it there -
laying it on just makes a dirt attractor, making more mess to clean up when
you have to work on it.

> Three mechanics told me that grease DOES NOT degrade a dry ball joint
>socket (like on Saturns)- so there is nothing to prevent you from
>poking a small hole in the rubber boot and injecting grease into the
>socket itself-then coating the whole thing on the outside with grease.
>
> Anyone want to agree or disput this?

Yup - poking a hole in the rubber boot, just gives the grease somewhere to
escape from - it oozes out little by little every time the rubber boot gets
slightly deformed... i.e. every time you go over a bump. If you can get a
grease gun needle adaptor past the collar of the rubber boot, that's the
only way to add grease to a sealed balljoint... though I do regret the
passing of grease nipples.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??