2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Grease Fittings

[RClark]

I was under the truck changing the oil and saw one grease fitting on the idler arm. Are there any others that I missed?

 

[jrollins]

probably not, All the new rigs use sealed bearings.

 

[csevers]

There should be 5 grease zerks

on the front end of your truck, tie rod each end, drag link each end and trac bar end at frame. I have always said the "Lubed for Life" just means it's a short life! The cheap SOB's should have made trucks with zerks in u-joints and ball joints.



Craig

 

[illflem]

There haven't been 5 for quite some time. Two on 2wd, three on 4wd with the extra one on the trackbar. Not sure on 02 and 03.



Think the idea behind the lubed for life joints is that most people aren't going to lube them anyways and if they do they over lube and blow out/rip the seals.

 

[Clinton]

about the over-lubing...

What is an appropriate interval and dosage for the steering linkage? I've been going with one pump every other oil change (approx 10k mile interval) and have wondered if that's enough.

 

[Ted Constantine]

yeah my 2001. 5 has one on the top of each steering knuckle and had one on the drivers side of the track bar. So i am down to two with a DT track bar. I hate it they should be on the drive shaft ujoints, rod ends (every joint in the steering) and well the list goes on. They do have a point though, most people do not grease them anyway.

Ted

 

[illflem]

Clinton, one or two pumps are sufficient. You want the rubber boots to swell up but not release grease, that's what rips them. I grease at every at every oil change just so I don't have to remember where I'm at. My '95 4wd has seven factory zerks, I understand the 1st gen trucks have even more.

 

[Clinton]

Thanks, I may have to grease a little more frequently. I count 5 zerks on my '96 4x4, but I'm down to four with the DT trac bar. I wonder if I'm missing 2 more? Not looking at the rig I recall 2 for the tie rods and 2 for the drag link. I know you've got 1 at the trac bar, where are the other 2? Thanks again.

 

[illflem]

I'm trying to go from memory also, think there is one zerk at each end of the rod connecting from the pitman arm. Both are on top and hard to get at. I ended up replacing them with 90° zerks to make it easier. Yours may not have them, it seems that the zerks were eliminated slowly.

 

[csevers]

"Lubed for Life"

B S gives the owner no choice to lube them or not, if they give most people the choice they probably would, even if some don't that is there problem give the people that want there equiptment to last at least a chance to lube that moving parts. How long would a trac bar end last with out a greaseable end? Some have major problems even though they get greased.





Craig

 

[illflem]

Most people don't know what a zerk is

Craig, it doesn't hold true here but I'll bet 95% of the vehicles on the road get their service from a Jiffy-Lube, dealer or such where they either

1) over grease the joints

2) only grease the ones that are easy to get at and they happen to see

3) don't grease them at all



We're lucky such a large number of people choose the quick lube route otherwise our streams and rivers would be flowing muck from people dumping oil down storm drains and such. Heck there are four quick lubes in the town of 2500 that I live nearest, all seem to be doing well.



Lubed for life does have it's place.

 

[Hohn]

Question, Illflem:



When I did my most recent oil change, I zerked the fittings and I could only find three: track bar end, and the pivots on the ends of the front axle (what's the term for them?)



Anyway, I pumped them too full. They burped. They don't appear to be ripped or torn (truck is only 9 months old). Did I drop the ball HUGE here, or am I going to be OK?



Do I have to replace these joints to get them back to normal, or am I ok??



HOHN

 

[Bigramguy]

Hohn - Unless you severly over greased them you should be fine. A little extra won't hurt,as long as it didn't damage the boot.



The lubed for life stuff is usually pretty good. Due to the fact it will never be greased they usually have a large polyurethane boot,that is well captured around the joint. They are also filled with good synthetic grease. They can also use a tighter tolerance bearing\bushing design,as it doesn't have to pass grease.



The older style joints have a boot,but it doesn't always seal completly,and water and crap gets in and ruins the joint.



Same holds true for u-joints.



The lubed for life stuff is actually more expensive for the mfg's to use on a new truck,but they pay off in the long run as they don't have to replace as many under warranty,and the customer is happy as his truck goes further with fewer repairs.



It's hard for us guys,as we want to make sure everything is lubed,and tend to over maintain things sometimes. We tend to get upset when we can't do anything with them.

 

[RClark]

I finally went back under, with the grease gun. Found 2 fittings, Idler arm and the arm off the steering box.

Hope I got them all.