How do you "properly" lube your tie rods and steering joints?

[OilPatch197]

I've always kept putting grease into the fitting until the dust cover goes "pop" and grease oozes out the top around the rubber boot..

I've always been taught it flushes out the old grease, but won't dirt work it's way back in since the seal has been compromised?

 

[97ranger4x4]

In my mind thats right. I think that is why you need to regrease them often. I am not sure how often you are supposed to. But it reminds me that I need to do it. I should get in the habit of doing it every oil change or 5k miles. Realistically I probably do it 10-15 k mile intervals. I would be interested how often you are supposed to do it. I will check my shop manual and get back to you on this one to see how often it reccomends it.

 

[canyoncritter]

really, you should pop the boot off first, then pump then full of grease till it comes out clean then put the boot back on and fill up the boot with a squirt or two.

pain in the ass I know...but thats how I do it.

 

[Bray D]

I grease em just enough for the boot to swell. if you grease it until it oozes out you could rupture the boot itself, rendering it useless and allowing dirt in.

 

[97ranger4x4]

^^^

That is interesting to know! I have never really thought about just letting it swell up. do you turn the wheel to one side when you do it, or do you just leave it straight on?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

whenever i grease mine, the extra grease oozes out between the boot and the TRE...no damage to the boot and as soon as the extra pressure is gone the boot is sealed again.

 

[bottledgt]

this is really not that big of deal to worry about

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I regrease mine with every oil change, 2K/2mo, I also rotate my tires then too. you can't over mantain your truck.

I "over" grease mine till i see new grease coming out. You can see all the old dirty grease come out and sometimes even mud and water. Then I just wipe up all the old grease with a rag.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

I regrease mine with every oil change, 2K/2mo, I also rotate my tires then too. you can't over mantain your truck.

I "over" grease mine till i see new grease coming out. You can see all the old dirty grease come out and sometimes even mud and water. Then I just wipe up all the old grease with a rag.

+1

That's how I've always done it.

 

[almostclueless]

I grease em just enough for the boot to swell. if you grease it until it oozes out you could rupture the boot itself, rendering it useless and allowing dirt in.

Thats the way I do them.

 

[triumphrider-1]

really, you should pop the boot off first, then pump then full of grease till it comes out clean then put the boot back on and fill up the boot with a squirt or two.

pain in the ass I know...but thats how I do it.

So how do you get your boot back on(yeah, it sounds like a noob question...I know)? I popped mine off, but it refuses to go back on (been like this for half a year now).

 

[LearjetMinako]

I regrease mine with every oil change, 2K/2mo, I also rotate my tires then too. you can't over mantain your truck.

I "over" grease mine till i see new grease coming out. You can see all the old dirty grease come out and sometimes even mud and water. Then I just wipe up all the old grease with a rag.

That was how I use to do mine. Now I just lube them every 5k miles (oil change time) and pump only once. I use to do the whole pump till they explode, but that created a mess. You really only need enough to lube and seal the ball joint. Every seen a straight from the factory ball joint. Hardly any grease, but it still works.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I always grease mine till dirty grease comes out, usually get water out of them aswell when you do this.

 

[Kona]

The ones that expose the surface they are protecting you grease till the old stuff comes out the sealed ones till the lose their dimples

 

[krugford]

I grease em just enough for the boot to swell. if you grease it until it oozes out you could rupture the boot itself, rendering it useless and allowing dirt in.

that's how i do mine too.