so i have been collecting parts to complete a jdm 5 lug conversion on my 97 del sol and im down to only 2 more small issues before install. i purchased new JDM swap axles and moog lower balljoints for the integra type r knuckle, but when i went to test fit my axles into the hub the outter CV casing hits the grease nipple standing off the top of the ball joint. are you supposed to remove the nipple after greasing or is there supposed to be a plug that sits lower installed on the ball joint or what? ive never done this kind of work before and am unsure now of what to do.

And one more off question what usdm cars have the 36 mm axle nut that would fit? i was told a prelude but the dealership told me they had a 24 mm nut so now im trying to figure that one out too.

 

The nipples are supposed to stay in place. Just sounds like a bad design. If you are hellbent on keeping the Moog ball joint's, try to find a plug or even an angled nipple may work? if you remove the nipple, make sure you cover the hole with something that won't allow dirt, water, etc..inside.

 

Also, the nipple is called a grease or zerk fitting, which should yield more results when searching.

 

You can install the grease nipples, pump the ball joints full of grease and then remove the grease nipples and replace with a plug before putting the knuckles on the car. Personally I'd recommend using OEM Honda ball joints which are sealed. They'll tend to outlast anything aftermarket by a wide margin.

 

This guy for the win.

Don't know why it didn't occur to me to check out OEM style. i just assumed Honda's would have a fitting on them as well. I would prefer OEM myself i just bought these cause they were lower cost and supposed to be good quality and i was on a stupidly tight budget. unfortunately i bought these well over a year ago so there's no chance in returning them, go figure the first parts i cheap out on are the first to bite me in the *** before they're even installed. but fortunately i have more money now enough to hopefully get it back on the road this year this just means ill have to move an extra like $200 from the other budget to the car budget, maybe less if my mechanic is nice to me.

 

OEM anything is usually better quality!

I ran the sealed Moog balljoints for a race season without issue, before I switched them out for OEM.

 

I just got these ball joints off of amazon, beck arnley, they are actually 555 ball joints

 

is that 555 basically OEM just without the Honda label? or would i still be better just buying OEM wanting purchase or order tomorrow afternoon.

 

555/Sankei aren't OEM, I'd take them over Moog, but I'd still take OEM over anything else.

Musashi is the OEM manufacturer for Honda, company profile here: Company Outline | Company ? Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.

 

Many Moog parts for Hondas are also re-boxed 555. At least my CRX upper arms from SummitRacing (drop shipped directly from Moog) were. I was kinda pissed at first, but they cost less from Summit than the 555 boxed version (Summit was local to me at the time too).

 

ya just ordered new oem from the dealership. supposed to arrive on monday then i can get the whole shebang put in. thanks for the help guys.