Hey all I recently reassembled my front end king pins and spindle part of the drag link. The bottom grease fittings of the king pins took the new grease pretty easy but the drag link end took it about 1/3 as well and the upper grease fittings on the king pins took it even harder. But they did take some...is this normal do you think due to new parts and should it improve over time as things wear in a bit? thanx

 

Hard to pump = tight clearances (in a few years it could mean dried up, hardened grease)

What do you mean the drag link took "1/3"?

 

sorry I should have been more clear...1/3 as much grease on each hard squeeze...

 

Yep that's pretty normal.....The tie rod ends will be almost impossible.

Something that makes it easier is to lift the weight off the wheels and have one of your neighborhood kids turn the steering wheel while you are trying to grease. Make sure the truck is solidly on jack stands while you do this.

 

should be upper and lower zerk on each kingpin you need grease coming out of all moving points where the kingpin rotates left and right on the axel spindle ,,, crank wheels left and right ,,, keep driving grease in till it's all over you .. the spindle ..the floor ,,, you did test the zerks when you had the kingpins out ,, and cleaned the holes behind the zerks of that 40 yr old caked in crud the grease turned into 35 yrs ago ??same with the drag link ,,, you want grease spurting out from under the rubber cover .. try with the wheels off the floor ,, or on the floor .. done lowers with truck down ,, upper with truck jacked ,,,

 

ok thats good info...all parts are new or rebuilt on the king pins and drag link so I am thinking they will be a little stiff...its not going to see the road for about 18 months..I will keep getting it in there!!!

 

As I recall, you also have to have lined up the holes in the kingpin bushings with the holes from the zerks.

 

yessir, the machine shop did that nicely.....upon a closer look there are very small journals for the grease to travel in once beyond the bushings...should be ok but tomorrow I will make sure all is lined up good.