92 civic dx sealed ball joints
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Honda-Tech Member
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92 civic dx sealed ball joints
i have some newer beck arnley / moog ball joints without a zerk fitting so there for they are sealed.. i came across this youtube video
the guy adds zerk fittings on sealed ball joints.. is there a down side to doing this? the negative i can think is that maybe those boots are "sealed" and would not push out old grease.. maybe only a good idea in a last ditch effort to buy more time when your joints are shot?
the guy adds zerk fittings on sealed ball joints.. is there a down side to doing this? the negative i can think is that maybe those boots are "sealed" and would not push out old grease.. maybe only a good idea in a last ditch effort to buy more time when your joints are shot?
RTFM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,267
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From: Conroe, TX
Re: 92 civic dx sealed ball joints
The ball joints are designed to be sealed and yes pushing grease into them will push into the boots until it has too much volume and the boot opens and now you no longer have sealed ball joints. But I'm not sure why you would do this unless you are so deep into the third world you can't get parts. I usually see Honda ball joints last well over 100k...
Hysterically Calm
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,439
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Re: 92 civic dx sealed ball joints
The ball joints are designed to be sealed and yes pushing grease into them will push into the boots until it has too much volume and the boot opens and now you no longer have sealed ball joints. But I'm not sure why you would do this unless you are so deep into the third world you can't get parts. I usually see Honda ball joints last well over 100k...
Has the internal design changed so radically that being able to grease them is a liability? Did the zerk fitting ones not actually last longer if greased appropriately?
I've heard the argument made that tie rod ends and ball joints etc went sealed so part makers could get more sales as you can't grease them so they don't last as long.
I am personally of the opinion that having a zerk fitting is beneficial. However knowing how to grease and to not over grease is of course critical too. That being said, I have no data to support my opinion or support the opinion of sealed joints and ends should stay sealed.
It would be interesting to have actual data to support one or the other.
Seagull Management
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 15,150
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From: Miramichi, NB, Canada
Re: 92 civic dx sealed ball joints
Greaseable ball joints suck. People either never grease them or put too much grease in them and pop the boots. I have yet to see a greaseable ball joint or tie rod end outlast a sealed unit.
If you really want front end parts that last go buy OEM Honda parts. You'll generally get well over 100k out of them, upper ball joints especially tend to last 200+k.
If you really want front end parts that last go buy OEM Honda parts. You'll generally get well over 100k out of them, upper ball joints especially tend to last 200+k.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 22
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Re: 92 civic dx sealed ball joints
Agreed. Honda sealed ball joints and tie rods ends last well over 100K miles. Add a grease fitting, and the boots will eventually get popped, and then the grease gets out and water and dirt get in. Unnecessary to add fittings.
lrhtech
lrhtech
Hysterically Calm
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,439
Likes: 597
Re: 92 civic dx sealed ball joints
Greaseable ball joints suck. People either never grease them or put too much grease in them and pop the boots. I have yet to see a greaseable ball joint or tie rod end outlast a sealed unit.
If you really want front end parts that last go buy OEM Honda parts. You'll generally get well over 100k out of them, upper ball joints especially tend to last 200+k.
If you really want front end parts that last go buy OEM Honda parts. You'll generally get well over 100k out of them, upper ball joints especially tend to last 200+k.
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