Where are my nipples??

Post by **spotdoc** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 9:05 am

I was servicing my 1956 convertible last night for the fist time since I got it and was about to squirt some grease into the steering ball joints when I discovered that there were no grease nipples and the unit was sealed with a metal cap where the nipples ar supposed to be (according to the Haynes manual etc). Am I missing something here??

cheers,

Tom

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:26 am

Am I missing something here??

no, but your car IS missing something. It would seem that someone has replaced the ball joints with a non greasable version, so theres nothing you can do about them until the point if/when they wear out. At that point it's probably worth to make sure the replacement set does have grease nipples if you intend to keep the car (or if you intend to be kind to the next owner).

This kind of thing is quite common - one of my recent Minors had one handbrake cable with a grease nipple and one without,. There are some propshaft joints without grease nipples etc...

Post by **57traveller** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 11:26 am

Thats right Ray.
Both the UJ's are "nippleless" on my saloon's propshaft. Just waiting for the inevitable. The term "sealed for life" is misleadingly used these days. e.g. ball/roller bearings. It means the life of the componetnt, not life if you know what I mean.

Tom - apologies if you are already aware, but at any time you obtain replacements make sure they are the correct diameter thread. The earlier are smaller. Assuming it's the original size steering rack.