Some folks say that using them to go through or under the rubber cover on a tie rod end doesn't get grease into the joint itself. Sound reasonable?Many ball joints these days don't seem to be greasable with them at all -- am I missing something?Can the needles lubricate sealed bearings, and if so, what's the technique? Thanks much
If the joint/part has a zerk fitting, then it needs to be greased.. If no fitting then no need to worry about greasing them. If it has a fitting though, I would pass up the needle injector. Get a real grease gun with a flexable hose on it.. Shouldn't be but about $15 for the gun, and $5 or less for a tube of good moly grease.
If a unit is a sealed unit, it is not meant to be greased, it is greased for life. The grease used is a little different then grease used in greasable joints. The grease has chemicals added so the grease does not wear down as fast. It is not practle to use this type of grease in greasable bearings, as they are not fully sealed and tend to seap gread from around seals and seams. Since they shoudl be greased every oil change (as a rule of thumb) they tend to keep grease this way. Sealed units don't need to be greased as they are sealed so the grease has no where to go, chemicals are added to keep the grease from breaking down as fast so it lasts longer. You should not have to use a needle through the boot or seam to grease these, if they are leaking or seaping grease, they should be replaced. Sealed units are, in a sence, superior to non-sealed units as they are maintance free and tend to last just as lone, or longer then non-sealed units. Sealed bearings are the same way, the grease that is in the unit is there for the life of the unit and does not need to be changed, and grease does not need to be added. Do no puncture or break seals to any sealed unit , even to grease, this will create a place where grease will start to seap, or it can actually damage the unit, and it will actually, decrease the life of the unit. A sealed unit is sealed for a reason, It is sealed from the elements, and from comtamanents, non-sealed units need greasing because since they are non-sealed dirt and debris can enter the unit and cause wear, greasing these non-sealed units is how the contamants are removed or reduced from the unit. Long story short, non-sealed units, greasing is good for the unit, sealed uints, greasing is bad and can cause damage to the unit.
Ball joints and tie rod ends are like the joint in your hip. The BALL of your hip rotates around in a lubricated depression. Many BALL JoiNTS and TIE ROD ends have lubricant fittings for grease to get pumped into. It prevents damage to the metal ball and cup. OTher cars are totally sealed. Either way is just fine. I prefer sealed opnes on most cars, but only if they have an UNLIMITED warranty. NO MUSS,NO FUSS!
