Very basic question about tie rod ends

[The Shape]

Ok in all of the cars I have owned I have never had to replace a ball joint or tie rod end so I have never had any with grease fittings. Last year I had to replace the tie rod ends on my 5.0 and since I didn't have a grease gun I just had the guy grease them who I took it to for the alignment. So I bought a grease gun and did it myself yesterday while changing the oil. Question is how do you judge how much to put in? I pumped it untill a little oozed out from the bottom edge of the boot. Too much???

 

[stangnutlx]

thats fine dont worry

 

[04sleeper]

Sounds about right to me.

 

[HISSIN50]

James, that is how I do it. Be glad you have zerk fittings - half the cars out there dont. Grrrrrrr.

 

[The Shape]

Cool , having never done this before when I saw it ooze out around the bottom I thought I had busted the boot or something. I know my 4-popper has no fittings to apply grease and the factory tie rod ends on the GT didn't either. Why are the factory ones not greasable??

 

[wildstang87]

most car manufacturers quit putting grease fittings in b/c people would put too much grease in them and then they wouldnt keep moisture, dirt, grim out.

 

[The Shape]

That's what I have heard. I Was afraid that was what I had done.

 

[HISSIN50]

Also some joints use better coatings on the metal, necessitating less frequent need for new lubrication.

The one I like is that many cars have an official recommendation to replace the arms when needing new ball joints, but the Dealer will sell replacement ball joints alone.

I have used a needle adapter on my grease gun to grease sealed joints. One can also tap their own zerk fitting.

 

[89MustangGX]

I have seen some factory ones that you can tap for fittings as well.

Once they are setup to grease, there seem to be a couple schools of thought. Some poeple pump them until just a little grease comes out. Some people pump the grease until clean grease comes out. I have done it both ways and can't say I've really seen a difference, except one is messier than the other.

 

[The Shape]

Yeah after doing a little internet research I see what you mean. There are those that say if any comes out the lip of the boot you have pumped to much the seal on the boot is ruined and you need a new one. But I trust what you guys say more so I am gonna stick with the way I did it.

 

[HISSIN50]

James, if you rip a boot, you can pop the Tie rod off the spindle (using a pitman puller, etc) and just toss a new boot on. I got poly boots for like 5 bucks/pair when I stripped the front end to the frame.

I have a couple rubber spares I can mail you if you need them (they are new - I used the poly instead).

I am never happy unless I have grease coming out the boots myself. I have had a couple seem like they stretched a little. I cleaned it up and put silicone on the spot where the boot had the small leak. It worked.

 

[The Shape]

I appreciate it J.T. but I am sure they are fine. It isn't like I blew the boot off the tie rod end some just squeezed out from under the lip so it should be fine. It didn't rip the boot I don't believe.

 

[wildstang87]

i just pump them til the boot starts to expand. but you truthfully cant over grease them.