Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

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Topic: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints. (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic

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Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

December 07, 2008, 10:08:00 am

Yahoo Message Number: 97750

The Ford Owners Manual for the E-450 calls for lubricating the ball joints & U joints. I know about the ball joints.
What are, and where are, the U joints? Thank you:

Ed

Re: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

Reply #1 – December 07, 2008, 10:50:37 am

Yahoo Message Number: 97751

"What are, and where are, the U joints?"

They're at the front and rear ends of the driveshaft--easily accessible if you get underneath the rig.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/

Re: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

Reply #2 – December 07, 2008, 12:14:31 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 97754

Thank you.
I was not familiar with the U joint abbreviation. Always heard these things called universal joints. Turns out they are sealed units. No zerk fittings. One less maintenance item.

Ed

Re: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

Reply #3 – December 09, 2008, 10:44:38 am

Yahoo Message Number: 97784

"Always heard these things called universal joints. Turns out they are sealed units. No zerk fittings. One less maintenance item."

Ed

The u-joints cannot be lubed but the ball joints can be.
The ball joints have plastic plugs that can be removed to allow grease fittings (zerks) to be installed.
I give each ball joint, the tie-rod ends (TRE) and Pittman arm a shot of Mobil 1 synthetic grease every 7500 miles or so.
Do not add too much grease or you will blow out the rubber seals.

Larry

Re: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

Reply #4 – December 09, 2008, 10:50:31 am

Yahoo Message Number: 97785

"Do not add too much grease or you will blow out the rubber seals."

Larry, how do you judge how much is enough?

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/

Re: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

Reply #5 – December 09, 2008, 01:59:18 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 97786

Quote

Larry, how do you judge how much is enough?

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/

I'm not Larry. On the ball joints, you'll find a semi-sphere rubber ball that store the grease. As you pump in grease, the ball expands.
I stop pumping when the ball becomes round and firm.

Sam

Re: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

Reply #6 – December 09, 2008, 03:53:33 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 97789

Andy, I replaced my batteries with the Trojan 105's. I was able to get a pretty good price at Sunbelt Batteries in Scottsdale. Also re: the lube fittings. Having done hundreds I would guess, you really need to do them with a hand pump as a air type will undoubtedly blow the cups. When doing it by hand you will usually hear a click or popping sound and that is the best way to know they are full. Also very important to take the weight off the rig when doing this. Thanks again for the advice on the batteries. My Interstate were for sure gone. Take care, john leach

__

Re: Grease fittings. Ball & U joints.

Reply #7 – December 09, 2008, 11:21:06 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 97796

"how do you judge how much is enough?"

Andy

I watch for the rubber cup to begin to swell.
Two or three strokes of a hand pump are enough to flush the wear surfaces with fresh grease and not enough to overfill and damage the rubber cups.
The excess grease will slowly leak out, providing room for the next application of grease.

Larry

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