Heavy Grease Seeping from Ball Joint

Noticed today that both my ball joints are leaking grease. The drivers side slightly, but I pulled a quarter sized chunk of dirty grease from the passenger side.

Previous threads on this topic have stated nothing to worry about, a little seepage is natural as mileage grows (I’m at 66k). However someone mentioned to make sure it wasn’t “globs of grease”. I need a second opinion as to whether or not this constitutes a glob a grease...thanks!

Pictures -

passenger side AFTER removing quarter size of grease and throwing it away:


drivers side:

 

as long there is no play that is normal.

especially if u lift your truck. u will see even more leakage

 

Good to hear. I’ll check for play this week. I have 1.5” on front, 5100s at lowest setting with new coils.

 

Remember, on non-greaseable joints like that, the grease that leaks out is no longer available to lubricate the joint. Once it's gone, your joint will wear faster. Worse yet, if the grease can leak out, water and dirt can leak in. This just makes a bad situation worse.

 

Yeah it’s not ideal. I’ll troll around looking for ways to slow this. I remember reading through a thread where someone was asking if they could inject the top of the boots with grease.

 

That rubber boot looks pretty crispy. I don't think poking a hole in it or trying to get a grease needle in there is going to do it any favors.

 

Looks like it’ll be safe as long as I continue to monitor the wheel. I found some new complete LCAs for $200...not as bad as I would have thought.

 

Replace the joint.

 

That’s normal. If you want you can buy a needle that attaches your your grease gun. Just poke it in the boot and regrease it

 

Just be careful with aftermarket (Dorman, cough, cough) Lower Control Arms. Although OEM costs more, there are some pretty significant differences in quality and part life.

 

Maybe I could even melt the boot hole back together afterwards. If I go this route, thanks for the input, we will see..

Having trouble finding new OEM LCAs with LBJs already pressed in. I’ll stay on the lookout.

 

It's a sealed part if grease can leak out water can leak in it's a lot thinner than grease poking a hole in it just makes it worse. If it's "normal" mine should be greasy at a 125K. You do realise "lifting" a truck changes the steering geometry so that plays into this also.

 

Yes I'm aware about the geometry change. I will probably take it in for an alignment soon here and get a second opinion.