Couldn't get to those bad boys with my gun.

This solution worked for me.

Original: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - wpnaes's Album: Various Ex Work - Picture

Improved: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - wpnaes's Album: Various Ex Work - Picture

Check to make sure you have good clearance between the knuckle and zerk. Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - wpnaes's Album: Various Ex Work - Picture

 

Where could I find the 90 degree Zerks in your picture? Thanks for posting!

 

I bought a different nipple for my grease gun, picture the standard sized one with a slot in it, works great! I can post the brand/part # later if anyone is interested.

 

That would be appreciated RobRoss. Thanks!

 

Concur on the availability of the 90 deg. zerk. I replaced my ball joints last spring with Moogs and was disappointed to see they left out the zerk for the upper. Figured I'd find a low-profile 90 degree and insert (even if I had to unscrew afterwards).

Great post.

 

Great way to go. Thanks for sharing this.

I did not realize there was enough clearance for ANY zerk to go in there. I have been screwing in a zerk everytime I want to grease the uppers. If the 90 degree zerks clear the knuckle, that is certainly the way to go.

 

I used your original setup with the 1/4 inch 28 thread grease fitting and used a right angle grease coupler like this one:

Amazon.com: Thexton 418 Right Angle Grease Coupler: Automotive

 

Looking at the swing path of mine, I am not sure EITHER of those fittings would clear on mine. Are there differnt knuckes? Or just different ball joints have more clearence than others?

 

I tried the 90* zerks I had in my garage and couldn't get any of them to work where I felt there was enough clearance. I went to my local mom and pop auto parts store and bought a Lincoln model 5883 fitting, works great. I do lift the wheel off ground when I grease the ball joint as you do need to move uninversal out of the way. Here's a pic, Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - RobRoss's Album: Grease Gun Fitting - Picture. Hope this helps some of you guys.


Thank you.

 

Thanks everyone for the inputs. I purchased my 90 zerks from O'Reilly auto parts - they came in a box with 10 or so normal, 45 deg and 90 deg fittings. I'll look up the part number tonight. There must be some variation among ball joints or knuckle sizes as mine, though close, don't rub.

Question, why not a grease zerk on the bottom ball joint? Would they get knocked off by bushes, etc?

 

I beleive it was a cost save. I drilled and tapped mine to hopefully buy some time although they went a lot of miles without any fresh grease. I've owned it for over a year and they are still seem ok.

 

Rob, is this as simple as drilling, tapping and screwing them in? Should I worry about drill filings getting into the joint? Maybe load up the drill bit with grease first?
Thx.

 

It is that simple, I greased the drill and tap. It's been 15-20k miles since I did mine and no issues. The ball itself has a flat area on the bottom, so drilling the exact middle is not critcal. What I mean is if you set the ball on a table, it would stand and not roll over. Let me know if you have questions.

 

Finally got around to adding zerks to the lowers. Some photos below:

Thanks RobRoss.

 

You're welcome! It's been 30k miles and mine are still doing great!