Guys,
I was under the truck the other day and getting after it with the grease gun. My rig squeaks to high hell. I came to a fitting where I think the main problem is, drivers side next to the wheel, and for some reason, I could not get grease into this joint. The fitting worked okay, I removed it and it was not clogged. What is my next course of action, or should I just leave it alone?
Thanks in Advance

Probably just dried grease clogging things. Take the grease fitting back off, insert a small wire and move it around a little. Put the zerk fitting back on and try again. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get grease into a dry fitting with a hand gun. If you can get even a little fresh grease it it, it should help break down the crud, so try again in a few days until it flows freely. If you can't get grease into it, take it to a shop and let them try with the air gun. If they can't get grease in it, it's time for a new joint.

Frank

Aren't there about 7 zerks near the wheel on the driver's side? (upper/lower ball joint, ?UCA shaft?, inner/outer tie rods, pitman arm)

Frank & Doug.
Many years ago they had pencil sized item that was filled with grease and had a fitting on the other end to go on grease nipples. You could pound it with a hammer to force grease into dried up joints. Do they still make those?
Or were they just sold in West VIrginia?
Bob Shaw

I think Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina had a few of 'em too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I believe other states actually had replacement ball joints available. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Frank

The squeak you hear is it when you have steering wheel turned? If si it's NOT the grease fitting it's the steering stop which is I think on the lower susp arm. They wear out over time. Some people just slap a little grease there others put a gob of silicone. As to not able to get grease in the little grease zirk, it probably got some real Old hard grease gunk in it. You may need to push real hard or think about getting it fixed sometime. Maybe someone with a air grease gun may have enough force to free it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

OT I would like to have a source for these if anyone knows a retailer with them. Just because you have dried grease in the joint doesnt mean it is bad. Someone may have used the wrong grease at one point. Food service grease lasts about two days before drying, because it is made w/veg oil, it looks just like regular grease. Urethane bushing require a special grease as well. Just make sure of what type you are using. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I've found that the best grease for all-purpose automotive use is that Mobil-1 grease that comes in the tube and fits in your grease gun. Not that it's some magic formula or anything, just that it works well as a bearing grease as well as for fittings and such. It doesn't degrade polys in my experience and it comes in a handy pink color so it's really easy to tell if it's gotten hot or become contaminated.

I hadn't been able to find it for a while, but I noticed Kragen's is carrying it last time I was in there.

I guess I'll have to go buy another grease gun since my old one is now in use at work using company purchase moly grease.

Clay

No it just squeaks all the time. I may take it to the local Jiffy Lube where as they do free lubes. And they have the high pressure grease dispensing device.

Do not take it to Jiffy Lube. Avoid any kind of "Jiffy" oil change place at all costs... even if it is just for a lube job.

Jiffy Lube