ball joint wear indicator ?

[Stick_man]

is that nipple like thing -- sticking out the top of the ball joints -- a wear indicator?

 

[chefduane]

No. It's a grease fitting AKA zerk fitting used to grease the joint.

 

[SoNic67]

What amazing thing is the human brain...
So somebody looks at something and has no clue what it is. Instead of asking "what is that?", he asks "is that a...?" and fills in with a random word.

Why is that happening? What mind process makes it more attractive to put the question that way?

 

[chefduane]

It is not a fill in with a random word. The brain makes an assessment based on knowledge available at the time and past experience. Sometime that assessment is correct, sometimes is it not. It's called Cognitive Recognition or Objective Recognition.
It's the ability to perceive an object’s physical properties (such as shape, color and texture) and apply semantic attributes to the object, which includes a surmised understanding of its use, previous experience with the object and how it relates to other object in relation to it. (paraphrased from some book I read).

The OP called it a nipple because a zerk fitting on a ball joint kinda' does look like a nipple. Why he thought it was a wear indicator is another question.

 

[bill06447]

GM ball joints used to have wear indicators. And that's one heck of an assumption that what the OP is looking at is a zerk...oem Ford ball joints don't have zerks, but they do have a small "nipple" sticking out the bottom...

Bill

 

[SoNic67]

I wasn't trying to be interesting or mean, I am just curious how a perceived "nipple" (pretty close of what that zerk fitting is) can be construed as a "wear indicator".

 

[OffTrac]

Who invited Neisser?

Is it a nipple, zerk or wear indicator?

Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Forum Runner

 

[chefduane]

If it looks like this, then it is a zerk fitting. If it doesn't look like this, then it is something else. QED.

 

[Stick_man]

It looks like this I guess (mine is so dirty tho) ....


http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...405&thid=JN.f6Ga4NL35hXRyfc14SgBhQ&ajaxhist=0

I learned this from here....

http://www.wikihow.com/Check-Ball-Joints

As for calling that grease fitting a nipple what can I say ...

 

[SoNic67]

The most common indicator is a grease fitting that doubles as a wear indicator. That fitting, or boss, will stick out of the bottom of the joint’s housing by about half an inch (1.25 centimeters). As it wears the boss will recede into the housing. As long as the boss protrudes out, the joint should be fine. Once the boss is flush with the housing or has receded even further, you’ll need to replace the ball joint.

Whaaat? The actual link they quote says something very different:

Some ball joints that have a grease fitting use the fitting as a wear indicator. If a grease gun will not couple to the fitting, the joint needs to be replaced. As the joint wears, the Belleville washer or spring maintains the tension on the bearings to maintain zero axial endplay as the control arms move. Lateral wear causes the ball stud to move inside the bearing. It can affect camber and tire wear. The Belleville washer or spring will not compensate for lateral wear.

No, the Explorer zerk fitting are not that kind, they don't "go in".

 

[Stick_man]

I think my ball joints are worn. How much play should it have with the vehicle jacked up and me pushing and pulling on the tire. The passenger is kinda sloppy

Do you need special tools or can I just use a hammer and wood block?

 

[SoNic67]

Advance Auto Parts rents a tool kit for that...

 

[swshawaii]

Lower Ball Joint Replacement How To (lots of Pictures)
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188225

"How To" threads for 1995-2001 Explorers - Stickys compiled
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386329