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Topic: Ball joint??? (Read 5109 times) previous topic - next topic

Ball joint???

Hello!
My T-bird started to make a strange squeaking noise comming from the front right wheel. First I thought that's a brake pad squeaking (they sometimes do strange noises). Than I noticed that this sound comes from the suspension. It's mosly audible while turning the wheels at low speeds, but also on road bumps. I tried to "bounce" this side of car in the garage and the sound was horrible!
You can hear it on this short video: http://www.thunderbird.org.pl/squeaking.AVI

I think it's a ball joint, but I'm not sure about it. If it's a ball joint, can I lube it? Where is the grease fitting?


Ball joint???

Reply #1 –
I think you are right about the ball joint. Mine sueaked when they went bad. The OEM joints do not have a grease fitting. The replacements will have fittings.

Ball joint???

Reply #2 –
You're right, it's a ball joint. The factory ones can't be greased and tend to go dry. If the ball joint isn't worn you can make it last a bit longer by making a very small hole in the rubber boot and injecting some grease in with a needle-point grease gun tip, and do it again at every oil change. I did this on both my 88 Cougar and 87 Sport - both cars were low mileage and sat for months, which seems to cause this problem.

Now, that being said, it appears from the pics that your ball joint is worn. That metal "disc" in the center bottom of the joint, where it looks like there should be a grease nipple, is actually a wear indicator and should stick out further than the rest of the bottom surface. If it is flush or recessed (as it appears to be in those pics) the ball joint is worn out and needs replacing.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Ball joint???

Reply #3 –
Quote from: softtouch;129321
I think you are right about the ball joint. Mine sueaked when they went bad. The OEM joints do not have a grease fitting. The replacements will have fittings.

Is there a way to lube it temporarly anyway? Can I drive with squeaking ball joint for next few hundred miles?

I've just checked RockAuto for ball joints and found that they have Motorcraft and Moog fo about 50 bucks and Spicer RED for... $9.00? Do you have any experience with Spicer - it's hard to believe they have a ball joint for 1/5 of normal price?

Think I'll have to replace the control arm bushings along with the ball joints. Do you think that a set from MOOG is a good idea? Or maybe some kind of poly bushings you can recommend?

Ball joint???

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;129324
If the ball joint isn't worn you can make it last a bit longer by making a very small hole in the rubber boot and injecting some grease in with a needle-point grease gun tip, and do it again at every oil change.

I'll do it tomorrow, to get rid of that sound just for a while before I'll replace it. Good idea!
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;129324

Now, that being said, it appears from the pics that your ball joint is worn. That metal "disc" in the center bottom of the joint, where it looks like there should be a grease nipple, is actually a wear indicator and should stick out further than the rest of the bottom surface. If it is flush or recessed (as it appears to be in those pics) the ball joint is worn out and needs replacing.

I thought someone plugged a grease nipple hole there! :D You're right it's flush. OK, let's spray some WD-40 on the suspension bolts :(

Ball joint???

Reply #5 –
Here's a place if you haven't seen yet.
http://www.cheperformance.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?scat=56
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Ball joint???

Reply #6 –
By the way what do they drive in Krakow?
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +
 

Ball joint???

Reply #7 –
Quote from: kitzdnm;129332
By the way what do they drive in Krakow?

Krakow is 3rd biggest city in Poland with about 1 million citizens (that's a lot here) and there are four Thunderbirds here: my '87, two MN12's and one from 1962 in perfect condition. On the roads here you can find all the cars available all over Europe. Fiat and Daewoo (now Korean-Chevy) are very popular here. Euro-Ford (Escort, Focus, Mondeo), Opel (GM in Europe: Astra, Vectra) Peugeot (206, 307), Citroen, Renault (Megane, Kangoo), Honda (mostly Civics and HRV's), Toyota (usually Corolla or Avensis), Skoda (Fabia, Felicia) and VW (mostly Golf, Passat) are pretty common too. There are many Ford Focus' used as fleet cars. In the 'snobbish' parts of the city you can find Mercedes, Volvo, Subaru, Audi, Alfa-Romeo. I noticed that Mazda RX8 is gaining on popuarity too.

Ball joint???

Reply #8 –
They must get mad when you park your boat.Go fox!
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Ball joint???

Reply #9 –
Quote from: kitzdnm;129351
They must get mad when you park your boat.Go fox!

Yeah, but I guess they are happy when they hear my squeaking ball joint! :flame:

Ball joint???

Reply #10 –
Hold your head up high, You got the cure.
Shipping got to be high for your parts?.though!
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Ball joint???

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Shevretti;129328
I'll do it tomorrow, to get rid of that sound just for a while before I'll replace it. Good idea!

Keep in mind the squeak will not go away instantly - you'll have to drive it a bit to get the grease worked into the joint. This greasing method doesn't force the grease into the joint the way a normal grease nipple would - you have to rely on gravity and seepage :hick:
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Ball joint???

Reply #12 –
You're gunna want to be careful.  Mine squeaked and only lasted ~4000mi before one let go.  Thankfully I was only going 20mph when it happened.

Ball joint???

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;129459
Keep in mind the squeak will not go away instantly - you'll have to drive it a bit to get the grease worked into the joint. This greasing method doesn't force the grease into the joint the way a normal grease nipple would - you have to rely on gravity and seepage :hick:

What about mixing the grease with eg. axle oil?

Ball joint???

Reply #14 –
Quote from: kitzdnm;129368
Hold your head up high, You got the cure.
Shipping got to be high for your parts?.though!

USPS air mail priority shipping for two ball joints and set of control arm bushings may be around $50.00! But a set of those parts will be about $150.00.