Question on greasing my front end of my 69

[Michael L.]

Guys,

I'm greasing my front end on my 69 sb car for the first time after a restoration and I had a question on greasing the tie rods ends on the driver's side. I can see the "disc" where the grease fitting fits into bulge out, presumably from the grease filling the ball joint, but I can't get the grease to come out the boot side like I was able to on all the other tie rod ends as well as the ball joints. Is this something I need to worry about? Why would this happen?

Mike

[Mark E.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Sometimes the boot has such a tight seal it doesn't allow air to escape. This causes it to expand as grease is added to the trapped air. One of two things happens: either the base of the boot finally breaks its seal and releases the trapped air and grease, or the boot ruptures.

A good practice while greasing is to break the seal at the base of the boot to allow air to escape as you add grease. This prevents rupture of the boot. I use a dental pick to gently pry up the edge of the boot. Works great.

No need to add grease until the boot is full. It's better to add just enough to displace the old grease from the joint.

[E B.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Mike, probably the grease fitting itself is clogged with old grease. If the gun builds up pressure replace the fitting. Ed

[Mark E.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Ed,

Michael may need to clarify, but it sounds like the boot is bulging, so the fitting is passing grease.

[Michael L.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Mark,

it’s not the boot that’s bulging. I haven’t torqued down the suspension yet so the boots are not really under pressure and I can easily elevate the edge of them. There is no grease coming out the other (boot) side of the tie rod. What is bulging when I started to grease them is the grease fitting side of the tie rod has a little sheet metal disc over the end of it and I can see the disc bulge and even some small amount of grease that came out around the edges of the disc but zero grease on the far side of the joint. Is that a problem. The grease fitting seemed clogged in these so I replaced them. I’m using a pneumatic grease gun so I can’t be certain that grease is getting in there but with the bulging of the disc I thought there was.

Mike

[Owen L.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Mark,

it’s not the boot that’s bulging. ... What is bulging when I started to grease them is the grease fitting side of the tie rod has a little sheet metal disc over the end of it

Mike

Yeah, that's a problem. It sounds like the tie rod joint is clogged with old, hardened grease. Don't put any more grease in there. Replacement is the way most folks would go, but... Depending on how industrious you are: remove the zerk fitting, and soak the entire joint in mineral spirits. Use a small copper wire through the zerk fitting to loosen the old grease and then blast air in through it. The old grease will eventually soften enough to start being pushed out by the air. Do this wire and air step over and over until you feel the old grease is pretty well out. Check the joint for any rough and crusty movement. If present, replace the joint. Before you load it up with new grease, blow air through it at all angles and move the ball position around while blowing it out to get out excess solvent. Grease it up and check for smooth but firm movement - it shouldn't feel sloppy. The worst that will happen is that you'll have to replace them anyway if there is too much play for a good alignment.

[Michael L.]

[Dick W.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

These tie rods are brand new and have never been greased. I bought them of course like 10 years ago and installed them on the frame but I’m only now finishing the resto. Not sure what could be clogging them then. Maybe I should try and unclog them anyway and if it doesn’t work just replace
them?

Most likely dried, hardened grease has the fittings clogged. There are several ways to unclog them, heat the fitting with a heat gun or hair drier, change the fittings and dig what grease out of the tie rod you can with a pick, use a power grease gun, or buy a tool that is designed to unclog them such as Lincolns impact fitting cleanerCapturepp.JPG

[Ron G.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Not Necessarily a direct answer or pertinent regarding your concern, but rather an FYI. As a chassis judge I personally like to see (Brown) Grease oozing or pushing out of the rubber boots from the upper/lower ball joints and tie rods.

[William F.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

I'm a bit confused. When you add new grease to tie rods, etc, should you or should you not be forcing old grease out of boot? Is that the same as "rupturing" the boot" or not? In a similar older thread one was laughing about how in old days(but not now, I assume) you would pump till grease came out. Thought I'd read in owners' or service manual to just add new grease till full, not until old grease comes out. What's right?
Thanks

[Leif A.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

I'm a bit confused. When you add new grease to tie rods, etc, should you or should you not be forcing old grease out of boot? Is that the same as "rupturing" the boot" or not? In a similar older thread one was laughing about how in old days(but not now, I assume) you would pump till grease came out. Thought I'd read in owners' or service manual to just add new grease till full, not until old grease comes out. What's right?
Thanks

This is the correct way. Anything else is just lazy.

[John P.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Hello Michael, You probably have corrosion that has developed inside the tie rod joint from sitting all the years. I have run across this several times with old stock tie rod ends and ball joints. Torque down the castellated nut on the faulty tie rod end stud and remove the other tie rod stud from either the center link or steering arm. Turn and twist the ball socket of the tie rod end while greasing the joint. If the joint is extremely tight, install the other tie rod end where it was removed, torque to specs and have someone turn the steering wheel while you attempt to grease the joint. You will not have to retorque the tie rod ends after the chassis has settled. I would recommend to torque all ball joints, tie rod ends and idler and pitman arm and grease while turning the steering. This will insure proper distribution of grease in all joints. Again, these joints can be tightened before the chassis has been set and settled, only the front and rear suspension bushings need tightened with the chassis loaded.. If the tie rod does not take grease, replace it.

[David M.]

Re: Question on greasing my front end of my 69

Pneumatic or hand pump grease gun?

Pneumatic can overcome hard grease where a hand pump might struggle.

All great info above.
Something else to try:

Pull the grease fitting and insert it into the grease gun. Give it a pump. This will confirm the zerk is good. Bad replace it. Good reinstall and try some gentle heat.
Try lightly heating the rod end with a hair dryer or heat gun... only hot enough that you can still handle it, so warm to touch. Pump grease while rotating the joint.