Ball joint leaking

[slpro1207]

I noticed today on the inside of my LF wheel grease dripped down from ball joint. Does this indicate this new joint is defective and need replacing? Or maybe I overgreased it.

72220

[jrcuz]

I would say it might be a split or not properly seated ball joint boot. It may be over greased if so just clean it up and see if it still drips.
JR

[edwardb]

Are you sure it's the ball joint? The factory lube on my front hubs weeped like that for awhile after they were installed. Ran down the spindles and dripped onto the inside of the wheels. It eventually stopped. Not sure mine had quite that much, but just throwing it out there as something to check.

[JRL16]

I have the same issues with mine. I think it's the kind of grease more than anything else as all areas I greased are doing it. I used synthetic on mine. Don't remember offhand which one. I think the old traditional chassis grease wouldn't do that. Just my opinion. Future greasings will be with regular chassis grease.

[slpro1207]

Are you sure it's the ball joint? The factory lube on my front hubs weeped like that for awhile after they were installed. Ran down the spindles and dripped onto the inside of the wheels. It eventually stopped. Not sure mine had quite that much, but just throwing it out there as something to check.

I never thought about the hubs. I'll have to check and identify exactly where the grease is coming from. I don't believe it's the same color as the chassis grease I used.

[Dave Howard]

A quick check on the front end. Jack the tire off the ground. using two hands at 12 and 6 oclock in the tire, force the tire back and forth towards you. Do the same with your hand at 3 and 9 oclock. If you feel any play, you more than likely have an issue with a ball joint

[mikeinatlanta]

This is a common issue for grease and some are better than others. Over time oils will separate and seep past seals, especially when the part sits for an extended time. The only fix is to drive the car or get a different grease.

My grease gun sits on a wall mount. The mount has a tray to catch what drips. Over the years the tray fills with oil, not grease.

[CraigS]

Wipe it off and forget about for a while. Ball joints always leak a little. I grease mine until grease comes out and wipe it off. That usually blows up the boot a little. Then you drive it and that thing is moving all around so part of it gets extended, part of it gets compressed, and some more grease comes out. usually the second wipe-off is the cure.

[slpro1207]

I finally had a chance to pull the wheel and take a look under the ball joint. Should it leak from the bottom like this?

72904

[KegMechanic]

Like mikeinatlanta said, the grease is separating. I would buy some new quality grease and grease it until the new grease starts to come out. Then clean it up and everything should be good. I would recommend re-greasing everything if you used that grease on all the joints.

I wouldn't worry about the grease leaking out the bottom. It's just because the grease turned to liquid.

[Just puttering]

Does it come out that location when greasing it? If it did not run down the outside, how do you get enough pressure to push grease out (or run out if it liquified) at that location?

[AC Bill]

Looks well greased anyway..:p

I suspect it's a bit that has liquefied slightly ,and is just seeping past the threads. You would need to put quite a few miles on the ball joints before they would wear out.

I use a silicone grease on my polyurethane control arm bushings, and see the odd drip. Seems more common in the hot weather.

[10LCobra]

Mine leak in hot weather, but the gun tends to leak as well so I just figured it was the grease I chose... Mobil 1.