2002 Caravan Ball Joints

I was trying to shoot grease into the lower ball joints today and the
grease wasn't going in. I unscrewed the grease fitting and found out
that it didn't have a hole in it. In fact, it really didn't look like
a normal fitting. Are these ball joints maintenance free or do I have
to go out and buy fittings so that I can apply the grease?

 

There are no grease fittings in the ball joints

 

Maybe you're trying to inject grease into the brake caliper bleeders?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

YIKES!

Good God, I hope not.

--Geoff

 

Definitely not brake caliper bleeders. My ball joints must be lubed for
life.

 

I was wondering the same. I have a 2003, and on the lower ball joints there
is a grease fitting installed. However they are supposed to be maintence
free? Why the Grease Fitting?????

 

This is too funny. There are no grease fittings on these.


Matt

 

Are you sure it is a grease fitting? Some have plugs where grease
fittings used to/should be, but I haven't seen a grease fitting on
either of my minivan lower ball joints (96 and 03).


Matt

 

They stopped using grease fittings in 96, this was the TSB released at that
time
NO: 02-09-95
SUBJECT: Ball Joint Grease Fitting "Broken" Appearance
DATE: Jul. 7, 1995
DISCUSSION:
The lower control arm ball joints on the 1996 NS/GS vehicles are lubricated
for life during the manufacturing process. After the ball joints are filled
with grease during assembly, the ball joint grease fittings are snapped off
to prevent more grease being added to the joint. Grease will not leak from
the fitting.

Installation of new grease fittings into the ball joints and adding grease
may result in seals rupturing making seal replacement necessary.

DO NOT REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT GREASE FITTINGS BECAUSE THE TIPS
ARE SNAPPED OFF.

 

If that were the case, I hope no-one ever sends him into the barn that
has both cows and bulls in it to do any milking! 8^)

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Excellent. Many thanks goes to maxpower for clearing this up.

 

Yes, it is a grease fitting. Lower control arm. i,ll take apicture today
hopefully and post it. I thought it was odd, But the control arm maybe used
on another vehicle that has a greasable ball-joint.

 

I'm a city boy, so I don't know for certain, but I'm told that if you
milk a bull, you've made a friend for life!



--Geoff