want the ball joints to last longer?? just perform some regular maintainence on them by packing them with wheel brg grease, at the same time you grease the rear suspension (you are doing that already right???).
take some grease on your finger and force it into the bearing portion of the ball joint, roll it into the joint, swivel it around and keep packing it in until it gets covered and it will get alittle tighter. this will help, it wont prevent failure but it will prolong it.
i am guessing that if this would have been done at the factory, or dealer level, or had a serviceble grease zerk to add grease to the joints, we wouldnt have had so many failures. just my .02 ski
take some grease on your finger and force it into the bearing portion of the ball joint, roll it into the joint, swivel it around and keep packing it in until it gets covered and it will get alittle tighter. this will help, it wont prevent failure but it will prolong it.
i am guessing that if this would have been done at the factory, or dealer level, or had a serviceble grease zerk to add grease to the joints, we wouldnt have had so many failures. just my .02 ski
skyboz
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
I did the same thing to mine and as I was pivoting the ball around I noticed quite a bit of grime was working it's way out. Did I see someone is making brass collars for the these?!?
Ported Hornet
Expert
My buddy just pick on a 08 40th and the dealer advised him to do just what ski-doo boy is say. I figure we probably do it before each weekend trip.
Daranello
Suspended
Are you guys just talking the outer balljoints?
Nytro B
Extreme
I have sprayed mine with silicon spray after every ride and have not had a problem with them so far .... 3500 miles.
bcmountain
Newbie
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2007
- Messages
- 19
Nytro B said:
i do the same my on hill sled mech. told me to do the same
lucky_7
TY 4 Stroke Guru
I sprayed mine with silicon after almost every ride and it didn't help as both of mine are shot after 2200 miles.
devil
Extreme
i put grease on my ball joints like that all last season. by the end of the season (almost 1900kms) the ball joints were still screwed.
LJ 452
TY 4 Stroke God
lucky_7 said:
REALLY?
I used Amsoil spray grease, can't remember the name exactly but it's red. I used it on the steering and stabilizer ends on my Apex and the same plus the upper and lower ball joints on the Phazer and they appear to be tight as ever. Silicone spray really won't provide any lubrication, more of a moisture resistance, and with the friction it would have been wipped away after a short time. I think greasing before and or after each ride with a lubricating spray is the way to go.
lucky_7
TY 4 Stroke Guru
I thought it was silicon spray?!?! What was that red crap that you and jaws always made me spray in there that looked like it was bleeding?
LJ 452
TY 4 Stroke God
lucky_7 said:
That's the grease I'm talking about but I don't remember seeing a lot of it on your sled. I remember a lot of rode hard put away wet though.
It sounds like the stock ball joints were doomed from the word go. But I wouldn't neglect the new ones either.
arteeex
TY 4 Stroke Master
First...it's siliCONE not siliCON. Silicon is no good as a lubricant or in plush toys.
From what I saw, the damage to the ball joints was not from lack of lubrication, but from a mechanical failure of a metallic (maybe, bronze) mesh used to carry some dry lubricating film. During use the mesh was compressed and extruded from the joint. This resulted in a sloppy fit between the races and the ball. Lubricating this system only gives you slippery worn out parts - probably not extended life.
From what I saw, the damage to the ball joints was not from lack of lubrication, but from a mechanical failure of a metallic (maybe, bronze) mesh used to carry some dry lubricating film. During use the mesh was compressed and extruded from the joint. This resulted in a sloppy fit between the races and the ball. Lubricating this system only gives you slippery worn out parts - probably not extended life.
lucky_7
TY 4 Stroke Guru
LJ 452 said:lucky_7 said:
That's the grease I'm talking about but I don't remember seeing a lot of it on your sled. I remember a lot of rode hard put away wet though.
It sounds like the stock ball joints were doomed from the word go. But I wouldn't neglect the new ones either.
Yeah, you are probably right. I guess it seemed like I did it more than I actually did.
I just contacted Kensington and they said they will replace them under warranty related to the new bulletin.
ralger
Pro
Can someone please post the bulletin? I just bought a used 08 RTX and just had it into the dealer for oil chnage and checked over; they never mentioned the lower ball joint issue.
Nikolai
TY 4 Stroke God
Spraying does nothing for them. I sprayed mine from day one and it didn't help at all.
