Ball Joint orientation ?

[livid4dirt]

Rebuilding a10 Bolt for my eight lug swap. I have all my new parts and getting ready for reassembly. Now, which direction to point the grease zerk on a Moog upper? Obviously in a direction to gain best access behind the knuckle, I get that. But, towards the front or rear?
Just looking to see what the masses have done .
Thanks,

 

[K85 Octane]

Rear
Only cause it protects it more. Like having some freak branch come up and smack it. Also, there is no tierod in the way of greasing it.

 

[livid4dirt]

Good answer, I was leaning towards them same direction.
Thanks

 

[K85 Octane]

I can't remember what the bottom one looks like. Does it come straight down?
My D60 has a zerk pointed straight down. I welded a small piece of pipe around the zerk to protect it some, just enough that landing on a rock wont crush it.

 

[livid4dirt]

Bottom is straight down. I might just see if I can get a threaded plug of some sort. Then just grease it well, remove the zerk and thread in the plug. Just something a person would have to repeat on a regular maintenance routine..

 

[diesel4me]

Welding on a ball joint can melt the nylon in the ball socket on some brands,and make it loose!..there is a coil spring to hold preload inside many ball joints that can lose tension from being heated up also...

I see a lot of Mopar thread in type ball joints that someone tried tack welding in place when the threads fail to hold it securely...usually the ball stud comes out a few thousand miles later..

 

[K85 Octane]

I think I remember there being a plug.

haha, not advocating welding on the BJ either. Could end up worse than the loose U-bolt threads

 

[big dan]

my moog ball joints came with plugs. Never used them and never had an issue on the bottoms. Lost the tops the first time an axle u-joint broke though so it may be wise to get plugs for tops and bottoms.

 

[paratrooper307]

I've had some u joints and ball joints come with a needle grease fitting. While it's more of a hassle to use, seems like it would be less susceptible to damage thanks to the lower profile.