Just got my new Polaris ball joint in and grease gun got hard to work so I worked it harder and distorted the bottom retainer plate. Go figure, this thing is machined so good that it seals the grease from coming thru. I took it back out. Before I put it back in I`m going to wait for advice. You can see the ball moving at the top of the joint so it`s not like the aftermkt. ones that have to be drilled. Should I just pack it with grease and wait for it to wear and let grease thru? This thing doesn`t cooperate with me but I don`t give up easy. Talked to the dealer and the guy was no help.

 

Replacement ball joints are supposedly "lifetime greased" which is a joke really. I've heard of some guys drilling holes in them,etc to work with the zerk,but haven't done so myself.

 

I drilled the aftermarket one that I put in the other side this spring. It greased no problem. This Polaris b.j. has the ball exposed at the top so you don`t have to drill it. And wouldn`t you know it the bitch won`t let grease thru. Guess nobody`s been here. Lucky me.

 

I have like 24 Grease fitting on my 2001 Polaris but the ball joints do not have them and they are all still working and never been changed yet.
I think the lower outer ball joint gets grease through the fitting on the low part of the strut somehow. (could be wrong)

Here is a pic of it.

 

Hope it hold up as all Polaris ball joint replacements now are "greaseless" and won't work with the grease zerk on the strut. Some I've read have tried after market ones,drilled ball joint housings,etc,but don't know how well they turned out. Item #14. Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Honda, Arctic Cat & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse

 

I only got the Polaris one because the worn out b.j. caught me by surprise and I didn`t want to wait for a mail order. Like I mentioned previous, the Polaris b.j. is open on the top ie:you can see the ball moving inside so I`d think it would let grease thru. The after mkt. one I used on the other side worked out slick after drilling a hole in the top. The whole concern here is I want to flush out the mud etc. if possible. (there ain`t much of a seal on the bottom side of the b.j.) I`m surprised "TLC" can`t figure out where the b.j. grease fitting is. Seems pretty obvious.