so I took off an axle today, and in the process I had to take of the lower ball joint on my rear suspension.


I didn't know a pickle fork couldnt be used, but I used it, and fortunately I did not do any damage to the boot, just lost a bit of grease.


Now is it okay if I just put some grease in the ball joint and put it back together?



Also, will I need a ball joint press to connect the ball joint to the lower arm or can I just thread it through?


Thanks!

 

I seem to recall that you need some sort of special tool to put the rubber boot back onto the seating ring of the ball joint. If you have that tool, then sure you can re-load grease into it and put it back together and use it. You may still be able to re-seat the rubber without that tool, but it may be a real bugger to do.
As for putting the ball joint back onto the arm, no press is needed. The joint is pulled into the arm by doing the nut up to specified torque, then installing the cotter pin.

 

I once used a pickle fork on an 86 CRX to separate a ball joint from one of the front lower control arms.

About 4-5 weeks of driving later, it broke, and the right front corner collapsed

 

That rubber boot has some kind of ring to lock it onto the ball joint.
It almost looks like a double layer key-ring, but it is very thin.
With a small screwdriver I managed to remove it and install it again.
Try to get one end off and work your way around.
I did put some new grease in the boot.
Check the boot for damage!
Also, make sure the tapered hole is clean.
Put no grease in there.
The tapered design is self-locking, it doesn't work as well when it is too slippery with grease.


edit : typo.

 

Why no grease? Grease or no grease, once the castle nut is torqued to spec, the mofo will be on there tight as hell.

 

After reading the helm manual, it says to wipe off excess grease off of the tapered portion of the ball joint.

 

Use no grease for a secure union.

 

I made that "special tool" out of PVC pipe.

 

well I dont need to replace the boot, its fine from what I can inspect, Im just gonna put some more grease in there.


What kind of grease is safe for ball joints?

 

The Helm manual does not specify any particular grease for the ball joints. You could go to your local dealer and see if they have the same exact grease thats in there already so you don't have to mix two different types of grease.