ball joints and tie rods

[green94camry]

hey all,

Well I got my new drivers side axle in today after breaking 3- 3/8" ratchet wrenches and splitting a 17MM socket on one ball joint nut! I had to buy a 1/2" 17MM socket and use my 17" breaker bar with the 2FT handle of my floor jack on the end to get the leverage to break the nut loose! THe breaker bar was bending before the nut cracked loose!
Other problem I ran into was when I put the spring clamp over the boot after greasing; the crimp happened to line up with a bolt hole and I didnt realise it until the bolt head snagged on it when installing, it was the last bolt of the 6 too! Weird. Iam going to try and grab it with the crimping tool and turn rotate the clamp just enough to get the bolt past.

Anyway that was most of my weekend couldnt finish or start the other side because it started raining! Few questions: I bought new TRW lower balljoints, are these already greased? Or do I need to fill them? Also I posted earlier regarding the tie rod ends and the ones advanced auto sold me dont have a threaded rod on them?? Its just what looks like a ball joint and there is a long bolt totally seperate, it is not a one piece tie rod end that screws onto the tie rod? I think it's the wrong part.

[marc780]

Sounds like you had a tough time, if i were changing the piece i'd just cut the nut off with grinder or air chisel, if i had enough working room to do it without mangling anything else.

1. The ball joints are pre-lubed, or should be anyway. If they've got a grease fitting i'd grease em anyway for good measure though, do it till you feel or see the rubber seal swell and then stop greasing. 2 or 3 pumps should do it. Dont overgrease or the seal can break and that you do not want.
2. If the parts look wrong, they might be wrong, as you suspect - most parts are pretty much identical to the parts they replace, of course. A,t the least id call the parts people you got em from and have em double check the number (even though this is no guaranty, auto parts companys can and do make plenty of mistakes like everybody else).
Hard to go wrong with NAPA parts i have found. (And no i dont work for them)

[burnbomber]

The ball joints I just got with new lower control arms don't have a grease fitting. They also feel empty, as in not much resistance when I squeeze the rubber cover.

Is it common with cheap aftermarket ball joint for them to skimp on the zerk grease fitting?

A more important question is--How to I install a fitting? I've never had to do that before. I've got a drill press. I can safely drill the hole in the bottom plate, but that's below the ball and maybe the grease bladder won't fill. Are those fittings self tapping?

[marc780]

Most ball joints etc. dont come with grease fitting and no way to add one. I wouldnt try drilling holes in the new one, this sounds like more trouble.
Id just install em and next time try to specify replacement parts that do come with a grease fitting.