ball joints

[rob76]

Is there some way to lube the ball joints on an 88 mustang? Mine don't seem to have nipples or anywhere to screw nipples on. There's like metal cap on the bottom of them but I couldn't seem to pry it loose or anything.

 

[Aaron]

Hmmm - strange. My '87 has a spot on the bottom center plate to screw a nipple on...

 

[rob76]

on mine there's like a 1cm diamter cap in the center but It didn't budge at all when I pried on it with a screwdriver. I didn't want to wreck anything.

 

[fastford91]

if they are stock from the factory !! they have no grease fittings! they are factory sealed ones no need to grease! but if they are making noise or anything like that you might want to replace them with new ones! James

 

[rob76]

Ah I see, well my steering is very stiff and doesn't center itself. It may just be the rack, I have no idea. I thought if the balljoints could be lubed it would be something to try. My car has 60K miles on it. The ball joints are still tight and have no play in them.

 

[fastford91]

its not your ball joints then! it could be what you said! or my money is on it needs an alignment! James

 

[rob76]

I recently aligned it myself and experimented with different toe settings on the highway. I found having it slightly toed in was best, maybe 0.4 degrees total toe.

There's no way to adjust caster on these cars right? I mean, without buying adjustment plates.

 

[Roland69]

you can adjust camber and caster with factory stuff just not much...CC plates give you alot more adjustment.

 

[94fordmustanggt]

doesn't sound like it's the ball joints but if you want to grease them you need to get a grease needle and stick it into the boot. I wouldn't do that unless you're having issues with the balljoints that are on there now.

 

[rob76]

Hmm grease needle! sounds interesting.
I also noticed today as I drained, filled and drained the power steering fluid again that the steering is very stiff even with both tires off the ground. It's a bit better with the engine running but still pretty stiff. I'm putting a new PS pump in it tomorrow (just gotta get this damn pully off, renting a puller) but I don't think it's gonna help the stiffness issue. I'm replacing it cause it was noisy. The fluid was pretty clean, no weird chunks or bits in the fluid.

It shouldn't be stiff at all with the wheels off the ground should it? It could be the rack, ball joints, tie rod ends, maybe the struts since they have to pivot/rotate as well? I'd like to inject the tie rod ends and ball joints to see if it helps. I really don't want to replace the rack. Do you have inject hot grease? How does it penetrate the pivot point otherwise?

I think I will try to grease everything I can just to see what happens. wish me luck!

 

[hemi_fan]

If your car isnt centering then you should replace those BJ's asap... they're cheap anyway! My car wasnt centering and last year the front ball-joint pulled right out of the socket! Car just dropped onto the road, luckily i didnt damage anything. These ball-joints had about 120,000km or 75-80,000mi on them so i was surprised they were so worn. Mine didnt have grease nipples either btw, they were pretty damn dry when they broke.

 

[ninety15.0]

I dont think your centering problems have anything to do with the struts. Even beat up stockers with 200k on them should still spin/rotate easily. I would wait for the results of the PS pump change...then re-test/diagnose from there.

 

[rob76]

last year the front ball-joint pulled right out of the socket! Car just dropped onto the road

Yikes! Ah Ford quality