ball joints

[Greenie]

I just had a shop put upper and lower ball joints in my 89.
They put a grease fitting in the lower, easy to do, but they did not put one in the upper. It looks kind of close in there. It would need a 90 degree fitting. Are the replacement ball joints sealed or do they need grease?

 

[Bushwhacker]

Most have a plug for the upper to be installed after you grease it. Most come with a zerk also. You put the new joint in and tha zerk, put the knuckle back on and before you slide the shafts back in grease the top and then swap the zerk for the plug. There is not enough clearance for a zerk in there with the shafts in place also. real tight.

Clay
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[rampage]

The ones I got from Napa have the zerk fitting it the bottom and a plug in the top that screws in. When you need to grease the joints you need to remove the plug and put the 90 deg fitting in there. If you leave the 90deg fitting in there the axle shaft will shear it off.

 

[Greenie]

how often should they be greased?

 

[fireinthehole]

I bought Moog brand balljoints and the upper's had the zerk on top and the bottom was inside, but at an angle that was accessible and wasnt in the way of the shaft. They were not cheap, around $45 each, but worth it.