New ball joint....very squeaky!?

[MarkM]

Not actually brand new, but almost...I put new ball joints, and all other front suspension parts, in my 300D just two years ago. Now the passenger side front ball joint squeaks terribly...I know its the ball joint because I felt all suspension components with my hand while my son bounced up and down on the bumper....its the ball joint. It also squeaks when turning the wheels. Is there any way to get some lube in there to stop this?

Note: The rubber dirt cover is intact, and the ball joint has no play, and like I said, only 2 years old. When installing, I used the proper press to install them, so I don't believe there is any problem related to how they were installed.

Thanks,

Mark

[Brian Carlton]

Two years and the damn ball joint has failed already!!!!!

That's BS.

What is the brand?

I don't think your efforts to put grease into it will be successful in the long run. You would need to remove the boot to try it. I haven't done that yet, however, I'm planning the same thing on the SDL to replace the split boot. The joint is still good.

[TimFreeh]

I agree with Brain, lubing the joint will not fix it long-term, of course since you replaced it two years ago I'm not sure what the long term fix it

I bought a zerk fitting that attaches to a needle at a local NAPA, You can puncture the boot with the needle and deliver a substantial amount of grease directly into the joint. I recently used this trick to delay replacement of the ball joints in my car for about 2 months - the joints were still nice and quiet when I finally changed them out.

[TomJ]

Originally Posted by MarkM

Not actually brand new, but almost...I put new ball joints, and all other front suspension parts, in my 300D just two years ago. Now the passenger side front ball joint squeaks terribly...I know its the ball joint because I felt all suspension components with my hand while my son bounced up and down on the bumper....its the ball joint. It also squeaks when turning the wheels. Is there any way to get some lube in there to stop this?

Note: The rubber dirt cover is intact, and the ball joint has no play, and like I said, only 2 years old. When installing, I used the proper press to install them, so I don't believe there is any problem related to how they were installed.

Thanks,

Mark

The squeeking is still likely coming from the sway bar busing, but...

You can pry up on the lower part of the boot (held on with a spring wire) and inject some grease into the boot without puncturing it.

[oldnavy]

Originally Posted by TimFreeh

I agree with Brain, lubing the joint will not fix it long-term, of course since you replaced it two years ago I'm not sure what the long term fix it

I bought a zerk fitting that attaches to a needle at a local NAPA, You can puncture the boot with the needle and deliver a substantial amount of grease directly into the joint. I recently used this trick to delay replacement of the ball joints in my car for about 2 months - the joints were still nice and quiet when I finally changed them out.

I used the same trick on a '81 Datsun PU for about 5 years till I sold the truck in fall of '89. I still have the zzerk fitting & needle in the garage on the shelf.