I have a lower king pin bushing that's not accepting grease. I thought I was going to have to pull the pin and clean up the bushing, but then I just ran across an ad for this tool. Anyone have any experience with it? https://locknlube.com/collections/g...1SA32FCxDq0cffYg_9vLxSypciLGKVB1jTigLtQvjC8N4
I have used many “ devises” to force grease into a joint. I have one similar to yours and it works “some” of the time. I find that if I remove the fitting and clean out the hole with a wire first, it will work better. And use a bigger hammer! Also, with king pins it helps to Jack up the car, then when the pin takes grease turn the wheels , lock to lock a couple of times while greasing the pin. It’s amazing how much better the vehicle will turn , after doing this! Bones
How pretty is your car? I have taken the torch to heat the spindle to get grease in. After putting in a new fitting and trying everything else. The torch is not kind to plastic bushings though.
Propane bottle torch is what I’ve used, but no plastic to worry about. I guess first would be to pull the zerk and see if it is the issue or not.
First check the zirt fitting to see if it flows, they can be stopped up. While you have it out, stick a piece of wire in the hole and dig out as much as possible. Flattening the end of the wire with a hammer , helps , sometimes! Bones
If you don't replace the zerk fitting, you will just be driving the dirt and sand that is plugging it into the bearing or bushing.
Rethinking this, does the business end of the buster screw into the zerk hole? If so, I’d be hip to it. If not, I’d have to see it in action on some stubborn stuff. I would-well shouldn’t- worry about punching in dirt and debris since the check ball should keep that out, would/should just be old grease going in.
It looks to me like it attaches onto the zerk the same as a grease gun does. Yes, if the zerk is plugged, take care of that first. They're cheep enough to just replace them if they are plugged or damaged and won't seal to the gun tip. And yes, you can/should try to dig out any dried grease plugging the hole if you can. The flattened wire is an idea I haven't tried before, though I did try to dig out the hole in my king pin bushing with a fine point wooden pick, I got nothing out with that. I'll give the flattened wire a try, see if I can get anything with it. But in the end, I think I'm either going to have to pull the pin and clean it, or give this tool a try.
Have you taken the Zerk out and cleaned out the hole a bit to see if the hole (or grease groove) in the bushing is lined up with the hole for the zerk? Some have the groove and some don't but if things aren't lined up so the grease is going though the hole in the bushing you are dead ended.
That hammer grease gun would work well on straight through fittings but 90° and angled fitting would likely be sheared off... I have one fitting that won't take grease and it's right behind the steering arm on the fwd side of the front axle and a combination of zirc adapters...I had it greased at a Garage and they said it took grease...perhaps it was the pressure...I wouldn't be able for instance to use it on that... I'm of the opinion with mine it is possibly what @Mr48chev mentioned regarding the bushing being oop. I have replaced zircs with success and also jacked the car up and turned the wheels in an effort to get the grease to flow...pretty important for longevity of components that's for sure...
About 3 cars ago I just bought a generous ***ortment of zerks in a plastic box. Probably chinese, but what ain't? Pull out all the old fittings, (of course I save them since we can't throw anything away) then stick a twist drill in there and turn it with my fingers. The jacking it up thing I learned right here some time ago. Afraid it never occurred to me on my own. I've had a couple king pins that seemed to require a combination of having the load on them, and having the car lifted.
I was a bus mechanic for twenty five years , we jacked up the front to get the grease to seep , Warming the grease gun might help ( don’t use the oven , ticks off the wife ) Also at work we would have a problem with the spring loaded BB being frozen and a light tap on the very tip of the zerk would usually get it to accept grease .
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