Squeaky Moog Balljoint

[Horatio]

Hi all, the upper balljoints were pretty worn out on my '95 Odyssey so I replaced the upper control arms a few months ago with new Moog parts. Things seemed OK for awhile but as temperatures dropped here, they started squeaking like crazy when going over bumps and turning the wheels left to right. Should I pull these and replace with something else?

Thanks,

Greg

 

[The_Jeff]

Probably your control arm bushings (at the frame) not your ball joints. I figure they'll squeak less when they break in some more. You could try some silicone spray but IDK how long it would last.

 

[Horatio]

I was originally thinking bushings but decided against that because the noise happens when I turn the wheels left/right and it's a continuous screeching noise when I do that.

 

[Trav]

Are these sealed or do they have grease fittings?
Is there a threaded plug on the bottom where a fitting could be installed?

 

[daman]

I have all greasable MOOG steering parts in my Z71 and never a squeak issue,you sure it's them?

 

[Horatio]

yup, they're sealed - no hole to install a fitting and no fitting.

 

[Horatio]

thanks for the replies all. I admit I'm not 100% sure it is the balljoint but it seems the most likely culprit.

parts replaced at the time I did my fontend work;
- upper control arms on both sides which includes balljoints
- swaybar endlink bushings - replaced with poly bushings
- passenger side outer tie rod end

the sound appears to be coming from the drivers side and happens when the suspension moves and seems to be most prevalent in cold weather. The sound is in short bursts when going over bumps or even when I climb in and out and it's a continuous sound as I turn the steering wheel left or right.

The cold weather correlation seems to be proved out (at least to me) as I've tried parking in a heated parkade for a couple of hours and the noise disappears. In fact it disappeared shortly after getting inside and stayed away for a short time once I left the parkade.

 

[mechtech2]

Did you use poly bushings? They require lube. Stock rubber flex types do not.

 

[The_Eric]

Agreed, try lubing the sway bar bushings with some silicone based grease, such as caliper slide lube.

 

[dailydriver]

I was always told (by Energy Suspensions, etc.) NOT to lube the poly end link 'donuts', which is all the o.p. mentioned.
(But I'm not sure that is 100% correct, and I would probably throw some of the E.S., or silicone grease on them myself if they were that annoyingly noisy.

)

If he did replace the center bar bracket bushings then yes, by all means, slather away!