On my '03 Schedule Maintenance manual, it states that the ball joint should be lubricated at 48,000kms, but the mechanic at the dealer says the Lancer's ball joints are sealed and cannot be done. Whose right ?

 

totaly sealed with no lubrication ports ? Id take it to another mechanic and check.

 

Personally, I'd believe the dealer. I'm pretty sure that's correct. I can't say that I ever lubricated my ball joints, and I know I followed all the maintenance.

 

Most car ball joints are sealed. Lancer ball joints are sealed, (I own a 2004 Lancer ES) so you can't add lube unless you want replaced the ball joint and put nipples on all of them.

Older cars like buicks etc. can have 11 to 15 grease fittings.
Most trucks have grease fittings.
Only a few newer cars have lube points like the cavalier, has 2.
I'm guessing that it will cost around $60 per joint to replace at a non dealership.

If you have grease fittings, you should lube them atleast once a year, (I live in the AZ desert) if not twice a year. If you don't lube them they can become dry and then tear apart. You may hear a metal on metal sound when you hit smal bumbs. You may also hear a squealing sound when you turn.

Don't rely on a shop to grease all of your fittings! I used to be a Bay Supervisor and the techs would never grease them unless the customer or I was watching.