Ball Joint - Grease

bbade · 08-10-2009, 06:11 AM

I took apart the front suspension to do some work and am getting ready to put things back together. I ordered replacement dust boots for the ball joints on the upper and lower control arms and plan to clean them up and put in some fresh grease. What type of grease should be used in ball joints? Is regular white lithium good or is there a specialty grease for automotive applications like this? Thanks!

bbade · 08-15-2009, 04:10 PM

Got a few responses elsewhere, but I figured I'd post the info here as well.

One suggestion was to use wheel bearing grease. I was also told that wheel bearing grease is lithium based and that white lithium grease would probably work fine for my purposes.

I went ahead and used white lithium grease as I already had some.

IR Performance · 08-19-2009, 11:02 AM

Wheel bearing grease is fine. White lithium would NOT be good for this application.

bbade · 08-19-2009, 04:17 PM

Please elaborate. I have put everything back together already and would be very hard pressed to change out the grease by next weekend when I will be tracking the car. I am not an expert on grease by any means, does it not hold up well or something?

bbade · 08-27-2009, 04:29 PM

Ihor or anyone else that wants to chime in please elaborate on grease and its uses.

rx4ur7 · 08-29-2009, 04:37 AM

I have used Kendall super blu for all wheel bearings, tie rods and ball joints in all client and race cars for nearly 40 years and never had a grease related failure.
Would not recommend anything that was not specific for wheel bearings. Yes there are lithiums that are high pressure wheel bearing specific. The white I have is not, and it works great for door slides and latches.
I would recommend changing it out especially if it is a track car. One time should not hurt anything. You may have to sacrifice a couple of boots though.
Then again if it is a quality grease and the manufacture specifications say that it can be used in ball socket joints then you should be all right. Especially if they can back it up with race proven or long term testing.
That is my two corner seals thrown in.

bbade · 08-31-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rx4ur7

That is my two corner seals thrown in.

08-10-2009, 06:11 AM	#1
bbade Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Macungie, PA Posts: 163 Rep Power: 18	Ball Joint - Grease I took apart the front suspension to do some work and am getting ready to put things back together. I ordered replacement dust boots for the ball joints on the upper and lower control arms and plan to clean them up and put in some fresh grease. What type of grease should be used in ball joints? Is regular white lithium good or is there a specialty grease for automotive applications like this? Thanks! __________________ Proud owner of a base 1993 Montego Blue FD. PFC, RB single tip, Koyo Radiator, KDR rebuilt motor, polished OEM front strut bar, FEED replica sideskirts, OEM 99 spec rear spoiler, SuperPro Bushings Many thanks to Dave at KDR for sparking my rotor addiction.

08-15-2009, 04:10 PM	#2
bbade Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Macungie, PA Posts: 163 Rep Power: 18	Got a few responses elsewhere, but I figured I'd post the info here as well. One suggestion was to use wheel bearing grease. I was also told that wheel bearing grease is lithium based and that white lithium grease would probably work fine for my purposes. I went ahead and used white lithium grease as I already had some. __________________ Proud owner of a base 1993 Montego Blue FD. PFC, RB single tip, Koyo Radiator, KDR rebuilt motor, polished OEM front strut bar, FEED replica sideskirts, OEM 99 spec rear spoiler, SuperPro Bushings Many thanks to Dave at KDR for sparking my rotor addiction.

08-19-2009, 11:02 AM	#3
IR Performance Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Metuchen, NJ Posts: 249 Rep Power: 18	Wheel bearing grease is fine. White lithium would NOT be good for this application. __________________ Providing rotary engine rebuilds, porting, turbo installs, parts installations, full maintenance, etc. We work on all cars. www.irperformance.com www.myspace.com/rotaryexperimentseven irperformance@live.com 732-662-1794

08-19-2009, 04:17 PM	#4
bbade Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Macungie, PA Posts: 163 Rep Power: 18	Please elaborate. I have put everything back together already and would be very hard pressed to change out the grease by next weekend when I will be tracking the car. I am not an expert on grease by any means, does it not hold up well or something? __________________ Proud owner of a base 1993 Montego Blue FD. PFC, RB single tip, Koyo Radiator, KDR rebuilt motor, polished OEM front strut bar, FEED replica sideskirts, OEM 99 spec rear spoiler, SuperPro Bushings Many thanks to Dave at KDR for sparking my rotor addiction.

08-27-2009, 04:29 PM	#5
bbade Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Macungie, PA Posts: 163 Rep Power: 18	Ihor or anyone else that wants to chime in please elaborate on grease and its uses. __________________ Proud owner of a base 1993 Montego Blue FD. PFC, RB single tip, Koyo Radiator, KDR rebuilt motor, polished OEM front strut bar, FEED replica sideskirts, OEM 99 spec rear spoiler, SuperPro Bushings Many thanks to Dave at KDR for sparking my rotor addiction.

08-29-2009, 04:37 AM	#6
rx4ur7 Rotary since 1972 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tucson Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	I have used Kendall super blu for all wheel bearings, tie rods and ball joints in all client and race cars for nearly 40 years and never had a grease related failure. Would not recommend anything that was not specific for wheel bearings. Yes there are lithiums that are high pressure wheel bearing specific. The white I have is not, and it works great for door slides and latches. I would recommend changing it out especially if it is a track car. One time should not hurt anything. You may have to sacrifice a couple of boots though. Then again if it is a quality grease and the manufacture specifications say that it can be used in ball socket joints then you should be all right. Especially if they can back it up with race proven or long term testing. That is my two corner seals thrown in.