Lower ball joints

I replaced my lower ball joints (2000 Pontiac Montana) along with my tie rod ends about 30K miles ago. After doing an oil change I found that one tie rod end grease boot was ripped so I ended up replacing it again. Upon further inspection I found that the grease boot on my lower ball joint will also leak grease if I push on it or if I put more grease in it. It still seems presurized but I can get grease to come out of it (the tie rod end had no pressure), on the opposite side of the vehicle I cannot get any grease to come out of the lower ball joint. Are these weep holes and maybe the other ball joint weep hole is plugged? The grease is coming from the bottom of the boot, I can't see the hole but it isn't very large....

Before I go get a front end alignment (for the tie rod end) should I replace that joint as well or should I be able to purge some old grease out of it? I don't want to pay for 2 front end alignments :)

I replaced my lower ball joints (2000 Pontiac Montana) along with my tie rod ends about 30K miles ago. After doing an oil change I found that one tie rod end grease boot was ripped so I ended up replacing it again. Upon further inspection I found that the grease boot on my lower ball joint will also leak grease if I push on it or if I put more grease in it. It still seems presurized but I can get grease to come out of it (the tie rod end had no pressure), on the opposite side of the vehicle I cannot get any grease to come out of the lower ball joint. Are these weep holes and maybe the other ball joint weep hole is plugged? The grease is coming from the bottom of the boot, I can't see the hole but it isn't very large....

Before I go get a front end alignment (for the tie rod end) should I replace that joint as well or should I be able to purge some old grease out of it? I don't want to pay for 2 front end alignments :)


I found that the grease is coming from a purge hole in the boot.