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Question regarding grease on ball joints

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May 06, 2019, 10:03 AM
stzd8
Question regarding grease on ball joints
Say, I got a 13 Jeep JK. And since I got greasable ball joins, tie rods and draglink I decided to grease them every few months.

Now as the humidity and heat approches I know grease can get little softer but whenever I pick the hand grease pump it drips. Even after applying it to all joints after few days; I go under to inspect and notice the zerg fittings with clear drops.

Are grease bad or is that normal? I asked people and they tell me that most greases now are like that, specially synthetic. I use the Chevron all purpose, Valvoline synthetic, etc.
May 06, 2019, 11:03 AM
Gear.Up
Have you checked for the manufacturer recommendations?

I find a lot of synthetic grease too light for many applications.

I use CRC PTFE dry lubricant on the uniballs and Super-Lube synthetic on the control arms. That's what my mfr says to use but a lot of people use red & tacky and swear by it.

A while back, I learned about the Prothane lube that's supposed to stay put, but it's very pricey!
May 06, 2019, 11:15 AM
henryaz
 
I've always used a good moly grease for ball joints and steering joints, like Valvoline Palladium.



When in doubt, mumble
May 06, 2019, 11:39 AM
220-9er
Lithium or Moly?
You need to find out what they were originally packed with and stick to the same stuff.
They don't mix.


___________________________
Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible.
May 06, 2019, 12:05 PM
stzd8
Oh Darn it,

Most grease I find is synthetic. gonna keep hunting
May 06, 2019, 12:24 PM
rburg
I've been using Mobil 1 for about 40 years now. Because that was the only synthetic I could find in the late 1970s and I was using Mobil 1 oil, again because it was so available. My grease gun is usually sitting in a puddle of red oil that has leaked out between uses.

I've been told that grease is just oil suspended in soap. I've figured the soap breaks down and lets the oil go its own way. Regardless, I've not encountered any failures due to my grease failing. Could be because I grease stuff to death. Then trade the jeep in on a new one. The only failures I've seen are in axle and drive shaft u-joints. Mostly other peoples jeeps who didn't bother to grease anything and bacon fat would do a better job than nothing.


Unhappy ammo seeker
May 06, 2019, 02:26 PM
cruiser68
I too have been using the Mobil 1 red for decades. And yes when it sits fro a long time it will leak some liquid out. No worries.
May 06, 2019, 03:04 PM
egregore
What kind of grease is this? Confused I have seen a clear liquid separate out of synthetic gun greases like TW25B. I can't recall ever seeing this on automotive chassis greases.
May 06, 2019, 03:31 PM
Oz_Shadow
I use Lucas X-tra Heavy Duty in my boat trailer hubs. It's the green stuff. Waterproof supposedly.
May 06, 2019, 03:33 PM
Vanwall
1965. The year Ford quit putting zerk fittings in cars. I was working in a gas station and people were removing plugs and installing fittings.
May 06, 2019, 03:35 PM
Rinehart
I'm with Oz_Shadow-

I've used the Lucas X-tra Heavy Duty stuff for years. It's waterproof as well.