ball joints
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Joined: Aug 2004
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ball joints
I noticed when lubing the upper and lower ball joints on my 95 that some of the grease had oozed out round the rubber seal. Its been like this for some time as some of the grease is old. Is this a bad thing which may lead to premature ball joint wear or not unexpected on an 11 year old car
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Originally Posted by mike t
I noticed when lubing the upper and lower ball joints on my 95 that some of the grease had oozed out round the rubber seal. Its been like this for some time as some of the grease is old. Is this a bad thing which may lead to premature ball joint wear or not unexpected on an 11 year old car
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
No thats fine. Packing new grease in forced out the old stuff. As you use the car, more new grease will be forced out as the balljoint makes the free space it needs to work. So that's normal to have to wipe em up twice after lubing them, once now, once later.
If you really run the car hard, it'll bleed out too much grease, as it heats up. Speaking of that, I should relube mine, a whole bunch squirted out at the last autocross.
If you really run the car hard, it'll bleed out too much grease, as it heats up. Speaking of that, I should relube mine, a whole bunch squirted out at the last autocross.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Great help, thank you. Getting the vette ready for an almost nonstop run from Boston MA to Hiltonhead SC and back in may. Some people love autocross, dragestrip or track, I love longdistance endurace. Not cheap with the price of gas.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 178
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From: Thornton CO
Originally Posted by 87 rag
I had a coujple of cracked boots so I just replaced all 4 ball joints and the tie rod boots with energy suspension boots today.
Innexpensive, didn't take long and they fit fine.
Innexpensive, didn't take long and they fit fine.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 1
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
Originally Posted by stearnman
I've got a couple of upper cracked boots as well. How much for all the parts? Did you replace the bushings too?
I bought them on ebay for under $10 (I think around $7) plus shipping. You get a pack of 4 with two upper and two lower to do the whole car.
I actually got confused and bought 2 sets then only used one set.
I bought the tie rod boots locally at a performance shop for $8 CAN for a set of 2.
No, I didn't buy the bushings. I'm not sure if I'm going to get bigger sway bars. I'm going to wait to replace the bushings until I decide about the sway bars.
You can find all the part numbers on the energy suspension website.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 804
Likes: 5
From: Fresno CA
I'm in the process of replacing the lower ball joint boots with the Energy Suspension poly replacements. My question is on the lower ball joints I removed the rubber boots and the retaining rings around them but the new ones seem thicker and the rings don't want to go back around them without some real persuasion...is this correct?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
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From: VA
Originally Posted by eguyett1985
I'm in the process of replacing the lower ball joint boots with the Energy Suspension poly replacements. My question is on the lower ball joints I removed the rubber boots and the retaining rings around them but the new ones seem thicker and the rings don't want to go back around them without some real persuasion...is this correct?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 804
Likes: 5
From: Fresno CA
Yeah, they didn't include the retaining rings so I figured you need to reuse the original ones. I compared the two boots side by side and they are shaped the same at the bottom so I was thinking the retaining rings would still be used otherwise I don't think they would seal very well around the joint. I could make a collar in the lathe that might help me press the ring back on without damaging it but that seems a little involved...and of course Energy didn't include any instructions with them...If I can't figure it out I'll try calling them on Monday I guess.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 1
From: Port McNicoll Ontario
Mine seemed to fit on fine in place of the retaining rings. Obviously not as tight but I figured tight enough. Now with the pressure put back on them they seem fine to keep dirt and water out and grease in.