What is the correct way to lube a ball joint or tie rod end?

I tend to fill them up until the rubber looks to be bulging, but they are supposed to be re-lubed with each oil change, so what happens to the overflow?

Are you supposed to fill less than that, or fill till it comes out the sides?

How much do you squirt in at each re-lube?

 

ive never heard of any specifications on how much. i always do it till i see the bulge or grease comes out. the important thing is to make sure they dont go dry.

 

I fill until I see them bulge a little, but not so much they pop out grease. I'm not sure if that's the "spec", but just the way I've always done it.

 

same here

 

My dad always told me to keep pumping, and when grease just started to come out, he told me to stop.

Fine, keeps fresh grease in there all the time, but makes a mess under the car if you don't wipe up all the escaped grease.

But, if the grease comes out, eventually, you will replace all the grease with fresh grease over time.

 

only one problem with that philosiphy. you may not see it so much with your mav but from offroading i know you want a good clean boot with with no leak out.if it is not overbulged it keeps mud and water out better when your suspension is under water for a few feet. not perfectly just better. i always fill until bulge then squeeze it to get out the excess then wipe up the excess off.... not critical i am sure, just what ive heard to do.

 

Sierra, sounds reasonable to me. I like the "squeeze and wipe" idea as it lets the boot close back up and shouldn't get to overflowin' as things get hot and start moving and squishing around.

 

Sorry, after re-reading that, I didn't mean for it to sound like a stag film.

 

Okay... Some has to quote that in their signature!

 

Were you watching porn while typing this?

 

You would think I was...But honestly, I just wrote it and then looked back and recognized how it sounded. But rather than fix it, because I couldn't write like that if I meant to, I just posted another thread trying to beg forgiveness for my blunder.

 

Be proud Scoop!!!! That was a great blunder

 

Still no expert has popped in and told us the correct way to do it. I was afraid that would happen when I noticed my blunder...