Grease fittings on replacement ball joints?

[IJM]

I just picked up a set of new front control arms with integrated ball joints for the wife's Mazda 3. They're made my Mevotech and I got them from Auto Parts Warehouse. They look basically the same as the factory parts that were on the car except that the ball joints have grease fittings. I haven't seen or used grease fittings since I was a kid helping my dad work on our crappy early '80s Toyota.

Is it safe to assume the ball joints are pre-greased and I don't have to worry about greasing them when I intall them? If so, what's the maintenance interval on these things? Every year or so? Of course I don't have a grease gun, and I don't really feel like running out and buying one of those grease guns that holds a full tube of grease. I normally use that red Mobil 1 synthetic stuff for the car and whatnot, and I have a tub of it already. Is there some sort of small syringe-type thing that holds just enough grease to hit up a couple of grease fittings? I also need to do the wheel bearings on my lawnmower, so this would come in handy there as well.

[Pf3il]

i can't imagine they'd come ungreased. just slap 'em in there.

[Live-Wire]

... I'd have bought sealed ones. Maintenance free can be better for things like ball joints. You over-grease and you can cause issues, you under-grease and you can cause issues. Most people over-grease, and end up wearing stuff out almost as fast (blows out the seals and lets dirt get in much faster... I see it all the time on machinery).

[emmettlodge]

Assuming those are zerk fittings, they're likely not pre-greased, but even if they are, it doesn't hurt to grease them again. Get a grease gun and pump them full of grease till it oozes out around the seals just a tiny bit.

[ValveCoverGasket]

grease guns are cheap, just get one

and i wouldnt count on that sort of stuff shipping pre-greased...

[mraguilar]

... I'd have bought sealed ones. Maintenance free can be better for things like ball joints. You over-grease and you can cause issues, you under-grease and you can cause issues. Most people over-grease, and end up wearing stuff out almost as fast (blows out the seals and lets dirt get in much faster... I see it all the time on machinery).

I hate these kind of situations, you'll ending screwing things anyway

[mikes96GTI]

Maint free sealed units usually contain some grease and a plastic insert. Zerk fitting ones are usually always steel on steel and when greased every oil change, will likely last as long as the car. They DO NOT come greased. I have installed tons of these, on rangers, landcruisers, old vw's, chevy's etc. I prefer Moog but these should be fine on a mazda 3.

[deadernie]

Assuming those are zerk fittings, they're likely not pre-greased, but even if they are, it doesn't hurt to grease them again. Get a grease gun and pump them full of grease till it oozes out around the seals just a tiny bit.

Don't add grease until it comes out the seal. At that point you've broken the seal. Instead carefully watch the seal as you add grease and stop after you see it swell up a little. I give my ball joints and u-joints one or two shots at each oil change and so far they've lasted longer than the OEM sealed pieces.