04 grease-able ball joints?

[Ferris Bueller]

Assuming at 75,000 miles the ball joints on my 04 are factory. Are they greasable? And when they wear out are they hard to replace?

 

[metalmacguyver]

probably not. most items like that are designed to be lubricated for life. this is aka, designed to fail. some people drill little holes and put thier own grease fittings in anyway. they are not easy to replace for a first timer. its not impossible either. a little guidance and proper tools are all thats needed.

 

[lil red]

personally i like to greace EVERYTHING every other oil change, but if there isnt fittings i dont worry
its personal prefrance
if its somone elses car, i usually do(im a vo-tech student)
but if you dont have them
dont worry
unless its leaking out

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

They aren't hard to replace with the right tools and plenty of time. 2WDs are a less expensive since the upper control arm ball joints can be knocked out unlike 4WDs where the ball joint is part of the arm.

I'm still riding on all 4 factory ball joints at 123K miles, non greaseable. No problems yet.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

I have a fair amount of mechanical experience and tools. I've done ball joints on an 84 2wd F150 before as I have a ball joint press. But never on a double A-arm suspension Ranger.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

IF you've done them on the F150, these will be cake. IIRC you won't even need a press, they should just be able to be knocked out after removing the nut that secures the shank to the control arm.

 

[snake]

Not greasable. I noticed last time i rotated the tires that I lost the rubber boot on my lower passenger side joint. They say you can't just buy the boot, so I guess it will be replacement time for me as well. Not even 60K on my 2002, so a little disappointed with that- but oh, well.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

The 2WDs seem to have more problems with the ball joints that 4WDs do, not sure why.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Well I deliver pizza and I think its the ball joints and not tie rods that are loose. Front end wanders when on highly travelled roads that are cupped where the tires go.