D44 upper ball joint
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 215
Likes: 82
From: White Mountain Lake, Az
D44 upper ball joint
Hello, I'm new to forum posting and looking for tips/tricks to greasing the upper ball joint on my 1979 F250 front D44. There is a threaded plug in the bottom of the ball joint.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,241
Likes: 5,811
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
That is a grease zerk and you need to get a grease gun and service it. The grease gun should come with a very common size grease zerk fitting.You can use the same gun to service the drive shaft u joints and tie rod ends. Push and hold the end on and make sure to pull it straight off and try not to crank is over sideways to get the tip to release.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,830
Likes: 2,611
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Some greasable joints have just a small plug instead of a zerk, I use a adapter on those and remove the plug to inject grease with a pointy looking adapter, then put the plug back. Might need to rotate the axle to get room to do it easier.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,241
Likes: 5,811
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
And some ball joints are considered "none serviceable". Aka sealed ball joints. But it you have a threaded plug in the bottom of the ball joint then yes you need to get a grease gun with a needle tip for greasing.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 991
Likes: 114
From: Dallas, OR
I think I know what the OP is referencing. IIRC, On small hub D44's at least, the grease zerk is too long and will interfere with the axle shaft u-joints. You grease them and then remove the zerk fitting and install the plug until the next time they need to be greased.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 215
Likes: 82
From: White Mountain Lake, Az
Yes, I was attempting to grease the upper ball joint. I removed the small threaded plug from the ball joint and tried to insert a zerk. Failed miserably. I will source a grease needle and try again. Thanks for all the replies.
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