A couple of questions re: maintenance
 

Hey Guys,

Just bought my '01 about 45 days ago. Still trying to get all the maintenance type items done.

I had the front wheels off today, checking brakes, cleaning up, etc.
I took a putty knife and started scraping the 11 years of road grime off the tie rod ends, ball joints, etc, and noticed that the upper ball joints have grease zerks. Couldn't even see them before. This made me think of a question for you.

Are there grease points on the suspension that can be "over-greased"?
If so, which ones, and if not, how do I know when I've added enough?

Obviously, that ball joints hadn't seen any grease in years.:sad:

Second, does everybody usually remove the fiber-board guard under the engine? Mine is hanging down in areas and doesn't seem to be in very good shape.

Thanks for your input.

The grease fittings are self purging, meaning when you pump grease into the fitting old grease will purge out of the dust boot. This is a good thing, but make sure to clean the old grease that comes out. You dont want that crap flinging around on your wheels or under carriage. Especially the front drive shaft (also had a fitting), it will throw old grease on the exhaust and that stuff stinks.

Every oil change I will hit the zerks with a few pumps of grease. Not sure if it is completely necessary, just something I was taught at a young age.

I saved this when I came across it, (below). That stuff on the bottom serves a purpose. Helps a little with mileage. (smooth as the top would be nice!), and protects some. I wired some of mine back, cut some off that was too far gone.
Some have ADDED protection for there alternator. Also a rock in your belt/pulleys will defiantly mess up your day. :furious:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Track bar/panhard rod. 1 nipple at chassis end
* Track rod ends. 1 at each end of axle and 1 at the steering box drop arm. Possibly 1 at the mid-joint of the drag link but I think this one is usualy not greasable? so 3, maybe 4 on the steering linkage.
* Steering swivel ball joints. The top ball joint is greasable and this is easier to get to if you take the wheels off but not essential. The bottom ball joint isn't usually greasable but I think some specialist aftermarket ones might be.
*Front axle driveshafts have a UJ at each axle end. These are often not greasable but they can be and the grease fitting may be the usual nipple between 2 of the bearing caps(although there is no room to get a conventional grease gun in to it) or a flush fitting on the end of 1 of the bearing caps.
*Front propshaft has a greasable sliding joint and 3 UJ's which probably won't be greasable if they are original. The UJ nearest the gearbox could be greasable by the bearing end cap as there is no space to get to an inner grease nipple.
* Rear propshaft has 2 UJ's which again probably aren't greasable but worth checking. The sliding joint of the rear propshaft has to be dismantled to grease it but it is advisable to do it every few years, undo the uj straps at the rear axle(4x 8mm headed bolts) and remove the prop to grease the splines.

Thanks guys. Anymore thoughts on the fiber board under the engine?

Thanks again.

If you are talking about that big rubber mat then ya just throw it away. Plenty of people toss them out.

rubber mat then ya just throw it away.
__________________
getting dirty and going broke while slowly heading nowhere


Defiantly an option also!