Greasing questions

[James k]

Hi,
I bought a grease gun and greased my car for the first time yesterday (not the first time it's been done, just the first time that I've done it myself). I've just got a few queries about it. I greased the top and bottom trunnions on both sides of the car and managed to do so without removing the wheels. Is this okay? I've read in lots of places that you need to remove the wheels in order to grease them but I didn't find it a problem. The question I have is, is the wheel only removed to provide easier access to the grease nipples or is there some other reason for it? Also, on three of the four grease points on the trunnions, the grease went in through the nipple and emerged from around the joint but on one of the top trunnions, it didn't come out the top. Instead it just came back out from around the grease nipple. I assume that this is a problem as it seems to mean that the grease isn't getting to where it should. Any suggestions as to what I could do?

So far I've greased the trunnions, one of the track rod ends (the other didn't have a grease nipple) and both handbrake cables. I haven't done the propshaft yet as I couldn't be bothered to jack the car, nor have I don't the steering rack. When it comes to the steering rack I intend to remove the nipple to see what's been put in there before (oil or grease) and then fill it with whatever that is. My reasoning is that I like the steering exactly as it is so I might as well stick to what's in it.

[philthehill]

Whilst it may be easier to grease the trunnions with the wheels removed the most important thing is to take the weight off the trunnion threads. Without a load on the threads the grease will travel through and around the trunnion threads much easier. Jacking up to get the wheel off the ground with the jack placed under and as far as you can go outwards on the lower thick/thin arms will take the load off the trunnion threads.
As regards grease nipples the grease should go through easily. Remove the grease nipple and see what the grease is like, it may be hard and so not allowing the new grease to flow into and past the trunnion threads.
Try passing grease through the grease nipple with the grease nipple removed from the trunnion and placed into the end of the grease gun - if it passes through easily the problem lies in the trunnion. If it does not pass through the grease nipple is at fault.
It is a relatively easy job to remove a top trunnion to clear any hard grease. Note how many turns the trunnion takes before it comes away from the swivel. When re-assembling - screw the trunnion back on the same number of turns.
Whilst apart fit a set of Declan's improved swivel/trunnion seals.
Phil