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boise49ers
October 16th, 2006, 18:58
I just went to grease my new ball joints for the first time and the zerk isn't even on one side. I tried to screw in a new one and it is stripped. It doesn't look like that ball joint was ever greased after install. So I'm assuming it was stripped from the get go.
What can I do about a stripped zerk to get some grease in it.
Anthropy
October 16th, 2006, 19:52
Might never have been tapped. Can you stick the threads in the hole or does it not want to seem to fit. If it does not want to seem to fit, then they missed tapping the hole. If it fits, they they may have over sized the hole. Two solutions I can think of, either replace the ball joint or drill and tap for the next larger insert but you might want to pull it out for the surgery.
boise49ers
October 16th, 2006, 20:01
I was afraid I might get this answer. I guess I'm taking it back tomorrow and seeing what they will cover on it.It is bigger then the zerk. It kind of goes in but as soon as tightened you can tell it is stripped , it pops out. Thanks
Johnny V
October 17th, 2006, 08:12
Don't drill and tap for zerk fittings as the shavings will fall into the joint.

Can you go to a bigger sized zerk fitting?
djblade311
October 17th, 2006, 10:07
they do make bigger grease zerks....
boise49ers
October 17th, 2006, 10:22
So are they self tapping ? ? ?
Johnny V
October 17th, 2006, 10:26
Yes! In fact you could be using a smaller size than the original.
boise49ers
October 17th, 2006, 12:26
They are relatively new ball joints. I'm assuming they used what ever was in the package. They must of just tightened it to tight. When I went to lube it was first time anything has been done to it since the install.
I think they are going to cover putting in a new one. I have an appointment today. Les Schwab is pretty good about covering their work usually.
Thanks
Matthew Currie
October 17th, 2006, 15:51
I'm not surprised. some of the supposedly self-tapping zerks I've seen recently were really not self-tapping and were hard to start straight.
1985xjlaredo
October 17th, 2006, 16:12
I would just do the ball joint, It's gonna be pretty worn if no zerk was there and no grease was ever put into it and dirt and sand could have gotten into that little hole.