Track Rod Ends

[myoldjalopy]

New track rod ends fitted last year, with grease nipples. However, I can't get grease to go in - nor does it come out around the rubber cover like it did on the old ones. It is not the nipple, as I removed it (and then the grease I had tried to squeeze in squirted out under pressure from the nipple hole, as it then had an exit point) and grease goes through the nipple easily. It just seems there is nowhere for the old grease to exit when greasing. Any ideas folks? I know there are some TRE without nipples that can't be greased, is it possible that these are the same, but with unusable grease nipples attached for some arcane reason? Puzzled.

[Bill_qaz]

Have you tried rotating the joint as much as it will move by moving the track rod clockwise and anticlockwise.
Also you could warm it with hot air gun to encourage old grease that probably solidified to move.

[myoldjalopy]

I will try rotating the joint next time I'm in the garage (its absolutely 'enting down' right now and its a five minute walk to said garage and having got soaked twice already today, I'm not getting wet again today!). I don't think it can be old, hardened grease as the TREs were fitted less than a year ago, brand new.

[philthehill]

The grease does not have to ooze out under the gaiter to prove that the grease is inside the gaiter. If in doubt lift the rubber track rod gaiter and if there is grease in there then all is well. Personally I would not be worried if the grease does not ooze out. The working of the joint will carry the grease around the joint. Shows that the joint has good working tolerances/clearances.

[myoldjalopy]

Well in that case I seem to have a 'sealed for life' TRE, but with a nipple for show Bizzare....

[oliver90owner]

Hydraulic brake parts are metal-to-metal and don’t leak….

[myoldjalopy]

Well, I shan't worry about it, like Phil says. Just seems a bit odd, that's all.