kenmo

Anyone know the number of grease fittings on the front end (including tie rod) of a C1. Also the size ?

I went to grease the front end of my 1960 and many of the grease fittings were plugged. I'm going to replace them this weekend.

Cheers

Corvette Cowboy

My '58 has 23 grease fittings. If you have an Automatic, there will be one less.

DZAUTO

3 per A-frame X 4 = 12 (2 inner/1 outer)
2 per spindle X 2 = 4
1 per tie rod X 4 = 4
2 on the drag link = 2

TOTAL--------------- = 22

You may or may not have U-joints with grease zerks, which would be 2 more.
You mentioned that some of yours are plugged----------------THE GREATEST DAMAGE YOU CAN DO TO A 53-62 FRONT END IS NOT KEEP THEM GREASED REGULARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 53-62 front suspension joints are metal-to-metal. There is NO rubber bushings (except of course the sway bar) and NO ball joints. If these front ends are not greased regularly, they wear prematurely and then you get both slop and loose the front end alignment. Which of course results in erratic steering and accelerated tire wear.

SO, UNPLUG those babies, install some grease zerks and grease them good.
YES----------------, greasing these old front ends is messy! Period! But, get you some rags, then grease the heck out of each joint, thoroughly wipe off the excess and go wash off. It will be worth the extra effort in the long run.
Have you priced replacement front end parts lately?????????



[Modified by DZAUTO, 9:49 PM 6/27/2002]

John McGraw

DZ is correct! Greased regularly, the front ends will last almost forever!
My 60 still has the original parts on the front end with the exception of my kingpins. When I restored it, I bought a complete rebuild kit, but found that the originals had no more play in them than the new ones. I Just put new boots on the tie rods and seals on the bushings and sent the kit back for credit! while buying Zerks don't forget that the upper inner bushings use a 90 degree zerk,so you can grease from inside the front wheel well. I found that Alemite brand zerks from my local bearing house were almost a dead match for the original zerks in appearance.

:seeya


[Modified by John McGraw, 10:39 PM 6/27/2002]

Plasticman

After greasing the 62 Vette yesterday, I'd swear that there were 200 of the damn things! So what did I do today, why I greased my wife's GMC Jimmy (but that only had 11 fittings which is bad enough).

Note that some of these fittings are 90 degree versions (like at the inner/upper A-arms). Therefore, it probably makes sense to mark a sheet of paper with a description/location of each fitting as you remove them, and then take them down to the local parts store for "exact" replacements.

Recommend that you use a Synthetic Grease with an EP additive (don't use just any old grease lying around, or the cheapest stuff you can get at X-Mart).

Plasticman


[Modified by Plasticman, 10:47 PM 6/27/2002]

kenmo

Thanks for the info. I did rebuild my front end completely about 8 years ago and I do grease the front end every year as I put about a 1000K on it yearly. The grease fittings were fine last year and I did replace one or two (last year).

Thanks

kenmo

Anyone know the size of these fittings (ie: 1/4 or 1/8 or ??) If memory serves me I think they are 1/4" but ......


Thanks

kenmo

Just finished greasing the complete front end. It took well over an hour as I do not have a lift but had to jack each side up (one at a time) and properly block it. I feel like Harry Houdini and my biceps are more sore then Arnolds Schwarzenegger's.

Bimmer and C5 owners just don't get an work out like this !

INMYBLOOD

Plasticman I know what your talking about. I also have a Jimmy and a C1 ;) Now I wonder how many the Camaro has :confused:

Plasticman

INMYBLOOD,

The Jimmy isn't bad at all. What is really terrible is the 93 GMC Typhoon. It has a panel below the radiator/intercooler that has to be removed (9 bolts) before you can get at the idler arm grease fittings!

Had a 74 Z-28, and don't remember that being all that bad. But I sure which I had purchased a better brand of "Air Greaser" (if there is such a thing)! This POS "stops greasing" for no reason at all (then take it apart, purge it, get grease all over yourself, purge it again, and then start greasing again).

Plasticman

kenmo

I could not find the grease fittings on my drag link. Can someone post a diagram or image on were they are located ?

Thanks

John McGraw

They are located on the inside of each end, on the angle where it transitions to the threaded portion of each end.
:seeya

kenmo

Thanks for the reply. Is there a picture or diagram I can refer to ?

Cheers

kenmo

Never mind found it ! :)