I am an Idiot.

[Gav240z]

Long story short I installed new lower ball joints about 6 months ago and about a 2 weeks ago I installed new tie rod ends.

Now both have grease nipples but when I installed them I didn't grease them up as I assumed stupidly that they were pre greased. Driving home last night I heard that same noise I was hearing when I had to replace my tie rods. It's a creaky noise when u move the steering wheel especially when the car is stopped or moving slow.

Tonight I greased them up with the grease gun but my grease gun won't fit under the ball joints so I have to get another. I can still hear that noise I would have only driven 80miles and most of it would have been straight driving along a highway.

I'm wondering if anyone here believes I've done irreversable damage to my tie rods? I know it's a difficult question but I paid $200 for both sides and I don't really wanna get another set because I was so dumb.

Oh well in the end I guess we live and learn and I'll be getting a grease gun after this.

[Zpeed]

hahahah.... u live you learn ehh...

when i installed mine i didn't do it either, untill my dad told me to do it, i didn't even know they had to have greese in there, now i know... and now you'll remember to double check

[TKR514]

I installed a set (Moog) of joints and ends a few months ago. They came pre lubed and NO GREASE FITTINGS. I thought that all the after market stuff came that way. I would have prefered the ones with fittings, just could not find them....

[Gav240z]

Yeah I can only learn from this I guess. Problem is I assumed as most things come pre lubed these days. I hope the noise is slight wear only, I feel so daft but I'd prefer it to be the ball joints and not the tie rods they were so expensive grrr and I had to get an alignment done afterwards more $$$.

I should stop complaining I guess and just face facts its just so fun to complain .

One thing though the tie rod seemed to get full of grease after just 2 pumps so either it doesn't take much or it's full anyway.

I guess I'll have to find out.

[peterc]

Ball joints...PPPFFFTTT!!

If you really want to screw up, "forget" to add tranny fluid to your professionally (read expensive) rebuilt transmission when you reinstall it. :stupid: :stupid: :stupid: How professional can they be if they don't even add tranny fluid??

Trust me, no matter how noisy your ball joints are you'll never hear them.

Cheers

Peter

p.s. Doesn't it always make you feel better when you hear about someone screwing up worse than you?

[Arizona240z]

Grease them up good and keep them that way and they should be fine. When I bought 240Z in November, they were bone dry for who knows how long... I greased them up and they are fine now.

I think everybody has made a mistake or two like that in their life. It's called DOH! learning...... because when you realize what you've done you say DOH!

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by Gav240z

Now both have grease nipples but when I installed them I didn't grease them up as I assumed stupidly that they were pre greased. Driving home last night I heard that same noise I was hearing when I had to replace my tie rods. It's a creaky noise when u move the steering wheel especially when the car is stopped or moving slow.

1. The noise that you hear may be the steering rack bushings squeeking and not the tie-rods or the ball-joints.

2. Both the tie-rods, and the ball-joints probably did come with some grease in them. I doubt that a few weeks or months of driving damaged anything significantly, but keep them greased well and they will last a long time.

BTW some part DO now come without grease fittings. Mine didn't have fittings either, but I would rather have ones that I can keep adding grease to as time goes on.

[ZmeFly]

they are what they call lifetime joint replacement parts. they dont last a lifetime though.

with your ball joints and tierod ends that you purchased that have the grease fittings they do come with a little lube inside them already.

with the limited mileage you have driven i wouldnt think that you did any real damage.

grease them up well and check to see if you have any play in the joints you installed.

you should be alright

[Gav240z]

Well thanks PeterC I do feel better, I greased them up and I can't hear it but I just drove today to Uni and the carpark is usually the giveaway and I couldn't hear anything.

You could be very well right BambiKiller I have some slack in the steering from worn out steering bushings. I'll be replacing these soon.

Good to know it's not the ball joints making noise and I'll still apply grease to them, I guess they can just wear your tyres when there shot.

Well I'll keep you posted on what happens anyway.

Thanks again.:classic:

[Ben]

But just to clarify...

Gav, you are an idiot

But a lucky idiot all the same!

[Gav240z]

Isn't it funny how if you name a topic something like this it's bound to get people interested. I mean everyone wanted to know why I was an idiot and what i did to classify myself as an idiot.

I just felt like an idiot because it's obvious if something has a grease nipple it should be assumed that it would need grease I should never assume but that's what happens when you do.

Joke taken none the less .

[sjcurtis]

Hey Gav nice effort, I agree with everyone else your damage should be minimal, if you are not sure elevate the wheels and pull it around you can tell if you have killed one quite quickly.

Don't change the grease gun, change the grease nipples they are cheaper fit a 45 or 90 degree nipple and then you will get your grease gun on clean. Next trick don't explode the rubber boot from to much grease. Saw a true professional do that in Sydney took him awhile to get the grease and egg off his face, Z16 was full house about ten people saw it and laughed someone was paying him to work on Zeds.

good luck

Steve:classic: