I am tired of telling people there has to be!

[BigT]

My wife's 85 Cougar was that way..."Sealed System" and didn't need lube...so they say. But like every thing in life things wear out. If you have to replace them, new ones, like from MOOG, will have greese fittings on them. Like the other guys said, there are no dumb questions. Just try to keep an opened mind and you'll learn new things. Going on 47...I'm still learning and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up!

[Lincolnmania]

most of the time the upper zerks are buried in a thick layer of goo

[gadget73]

Honestly, if you aren't cleaning your zerk fittings off before pumping grease in, it probably does more harm than good. Most bearing failure is from dirt contamination, usually caused by pushing dirt into the bearing through the grease fitting during lube jobs. The ball joints aren't quite the same as an electric motor bearing in that respect, but shoving dirt in there does not help them at all. Always a good idea to wipe the fittings clean before greasing, and for that professional look, wipe them off afterward so you don't have goobers of grease hanging under the car.

Still though, even with regular clean greasing, they're going to wear out at some point. 120-130k seems to be about the limit on most of them.

[Toploader]

As my car has about 83K, I assume I have lots of time, but I am bothered about the upper bjs having never been lubed!
have to find the time to get the car to the shop and a quick hop up on the lift to have a look see!!!

[sly]

don't need a lift to see... just a jack at most. look on top of the upper control arm at the point it meets up with the spindle. If it's caked with black/grey dirt/crud... try wiping it off. you might find a grease fitting in there. That's the way I found them on my 88.

[pantera77]

As my car has about 83K, I assume I have lots of time, but I am bothered about the upper bjs having never been lubed!
have to find the time to get the car to the shop and a quick hop up on the lift to have a look see!!!

Mileage isn't always the best indicator. My 91 has the original uppers at 264k miles, and besides for having no boots left, they only have moderate play in them (yes I'm going to change them).
My 85 only has 56k miles on it but the uppers are seized from sitting for years.

[BerniniCaCO3]

"Not sure which years that Ford started the practice, but the suspension joints stopped using grease zerks and were "sealed for life"

nah, my 1990 had zerk fittings.

If you're in the mood for it, do a poly bushing swap while you're at it?
I think they're riveted and you drill out the rivets!
I did a full front end poly bushing swap 2 years ago, and took the opportunity to do the upper ball joints-- with the control arms out, it's an easy deal. You have to pull the spring out already anyway, and that was IMO the hardest part.
But they're not under anything near the same forces as the lower ball joint, and honestly my 1990 OE joints with 130k miles seemed fine. And even the lowers were just beginning to get slop.

[Toploader]

Gents, I read everything, but I am concerned that the uppers were never lubed!
How can any joint be good for 83K or any mileage, and never have been lubed????????

[miamibob]

If it is sealed (without the possibility of dirt getting in) it is possible they are still "good".

[Toploader]

Will check this week!
Small sheet bothers me!

[sly]

Original upper ball joints on my 93 were sealed and lasted over 150k miles.

[Toploader]

Question:
If it is found that there are no zerks, should I remove plugs if they are there and tap hole for zerks?

[Toploader]

What takes the most abuse, upper or lower joints?

[sly]

lower takes the most abuse. If there is a hole with a plug, clean the area good before removing the plug and just thread in a grease fitting. Should thread right in.

[jaywish]

I think road conditions have a lot to do with suspension longevity. NY area and other snow/salt places are brutal. Can't even imagine driving in Detroit.