I cured a squeaky arthritic joint with a hypodermic needle and Free All
 

My LF lower ball joint has been squeaking everytime I hit a bump as of a few months ago. I just noticed it's not squeaking anymore. About a month ago, I took a hypodermic needle and drew in 1/2 oz of Free All, a very good penetrating oil, and injected it into the ball joint boot. It still squeaked, even after a few days and I thought I wasted my time and forgot about it until tonight when I realized it no longer squeaks. I guess the medicine just needs some time to take effect?

At least it will give you time to save up for a replacement part :)

-J

I already have the part. I bought 2 Lemforder LBJ's when my RF LBJ was squeaking 2 years ago. That was my first LBJ job.

The penetrating oil is not nearly the right lube for that, you need a high-pressure grease. Likely the ball joint is on its way out, but sometimes you can inject a good high-pressure lube (I have used CV joint grease) with a hypodermic needle accessory for your grease gun, and massage it into the ball. The tough part is getting lube to the bottom of the ball inside the joint, would be nice to have a zirc on the joint wouldn't it?

I think some joints have been drilled and added a zirk to them...

The replacement joints on my VWs have zerk fittings on them :D Took 250,000 miles to need them though ;)

-J

If you have thirty seconds, a drill, and some zerk fittings any joint can be greasable...

If you have something to compress the Spring and pop the Ball Joint loose from the LCA you can remove the boot and add Grease. More complicated and More work but if the Joint is otherwise good it is better in the long run.

Several years ago one of our Members used a Meat Syringe (for injecting flavors into Meat) that has a larger ID needle and injected Grease Through the Boot. The Meat Syringes show up at the local 99 cent stores sometimes.

In the past they sold Needles that would attach to your Grease Gun.

I didn't mention it but I did try injecting grease first when the squeak first started- it didn't work. 2 months later I injected the penetrating oil and the squeak is now gone.

Getting the boot off the LBJ is not as simple as you described. The LBJ is pressed into the steering knuckle, not the lower control arm.