Been seeing talk of greasing the zerks (?) in previous threads. So, I'm wondering should I apply grease or is it probably not worth it. My xj has 160K. I bought it when it had 70K. I've never greased it. At least not in the last five years.

 

Go for it

 

Its quick and easy to do. Plus a little maintenance goes a long way

 

Well, I guess I will then. I'm assuming the zerks are in plain sight? Any that are hidden and I have to "look" for? Thanks.

 

Just look at ball joints, tie rods, steering components, driveshaft u joints... u joints will be hardest to find because they are in a tight space

 

You'll have to pull the front wheels off to get at the upper ball joint zerks...and the lowers if you have the straight zerk fittings that you can't get your gun on with the wheels installed.

If the boots around the ball joints are rotted, you will get lots of grease oozing out, which will get all over your wheels and brake discs.

If you have 4WD, the front drive shaft has a zerk to grease the slip joint. Too much grease will come out of the vent hole in the center of the yoke and sling all over. Just say'n.

 

Good to know! Thanks. I'm sure I wont know where all these zerks are as I've never done this before. Last thing I want to do is just make a big mess. But, I'm trying to any/everything I can to improve/maintain my xj. Gotta last me another 150K at least.

 

Wipe them clean so not to inject crud in!

 

I don't think my '98 has any grease fittings on the driveshaft or axles except for the front driveshaft slip joint. The CV and driveshaft U-joints all appear to be sealed. Does this sound right?

 

That sounds right.

Factory axle u-joints/cv will not have grease fittings.

 

True that. Aftermarket ones have grease fittings and thats way better IMO

 

Ken, don't some have nothing but a small, (1/16"), hole that takes, like a pin/tapered cone fitting, (on the gun). I'm unclear on that business..I know they do indeed exist, but where and how that works, I'm in the dark.

I would imagine a small hole like that might not even have a check valve, if it were in a spot that never has pressure..

 

Goofy never herd of taking your wheels off too grease? In stock form I can grease without ever pulling a tire off just turn them lock to lock and bottom bjoints never have a zerk as the axle will snap them off ask me how I know. If you have after market shackles they might have a zerk.

 

I've never needed to pull the front wheels. Whaddya got on there, low-rider wheels?

 

Dang! All these years I've been removing my wheels to grease the uppers when alls I had to do is turn the wheels outward to get at them. Oh well, I grease them when I've got the wheels off to grease the lowers (too lazy to switch them over to 90* zerks) and to inspect my brakes.

I know, I'm a silly goose for inspecting my brakes.