Front end question

On my 1997 towncar(rear wheel drive) I have a part on the front LH wheel that I need to identify. On my FLH wheel there is an arm that connects to the wheel bracket via a boot on bolth ends. On the lower end it is hooked up near the ball joint and on the upper end it is hooked up on the wheel bracket. The arm is about 4-5" long and the boot that is on the wheel bracket end has a crack in it (it is not causing any problems).........What I wanted to know is can I spray some greese that I have in an aresol can or does it require some other kind of lubercant.

....What I wanted to know is can I spray some greese that I have in an aresol can or does it require some other kind of lubercant.

Sounds like you want to use a spray greese through the cracked rubber boot. It may not help much, and it can't hurt either. Well, IF your spray grease is to thin it could have a reverse effect by rinsing the thicker grease out the crack.

The reason I say it may not help much is this, if this joint is a Ball/Socket joint, the rubber boot is mainly there to keep contaminants out, filling it with grease won't add lubricant to the friction point of the joint. Normally, a ball/socket joint has a lube fitting on the socket end, like this one:
http://www.starklite.com/graphics/40701.jpg

One intruduces grease directly into the joint, overflow fills the rubber boot.
http://www.indiacar.com/doityourself/pictures/p16.jpg

A photo would sure help while you're explaining this joint. Some joints have no grease fittings... in these cases the joint assembly is replaced.

Note some of these Sway Bar Connecting Links, some have grease fittings, some don't.
http://www.classicexportsindia.com/pcat-gifs/products-small/sway-bar-links-img1.jpg

This part that I have is not a ball joint it is a vertical bar that is between the ball joint and I think it may be a stablizer bar or somthing. I looked for a grese fitting but I could not find one. Thanks

:useless:



Sounds like it's one of those from the picture.....
http://www.classicexportsindia.com/pcat-gifs/products-small/sway-bar-links-img1.jpg

It looks like the one that ends on the far top left of the pic......I do have a pic of it but I am not sure how to post pics on this site.

It looks like the one that ends on the far top left of the pic......I do have a pic of it but I am not sure how to post pics on this site.

That one looks like what you thought, Stabilizer Bar Link. Put two of those on you future shopping list, but their not critical if you keep them lubed as you describe.

This site does host photos but it's a PITA (pain in the ass) so what most of us do is host the photos elsewhere and link to them here. Imageshack.us and myonlineimages are both good, and free, hosting services.

Here's some shots of the Stabilizer Bar Links from the Factory Service Manual: I think you're talking about #8 on View-C here....
http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/SuspensionFrnt.jpg
http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/SuspensionFrntTable.jpg


Another possibility is the Steering Linkage, which is a bit more critical, and should be repaired at your earliest convienience.

Here's some shots from the FSM on Steering Linkage:
http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/SteerLink01.jpg
http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/SteerLink02.jpg
http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/SteerLinkTable01.jpg
http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/sdhartney/images/SteerLinkTable02.jpg

Ok that looks like what it is...... I bought some white lithium greese at the auto parts store yesterday in a tube ( I did not see a greese fitting on the stabilizer bar) so I will go ahead and put some greese in there until I can get it looked at.......The steering is ok and today and yesterday I did not hear any noise. Thanks for your help

Randy