1952-59 Ford Grease Zerks...Problem

Today I have been installing the front suspension on my '56 Mainline. Got the new ball joints, springs, 2-1/2" dropped spindles in and decided to grease the ball joints while I was thinking about it. Using a brand new grease gun. The (probably Chinese-made) ball joints came with br*** zerks. It was difficult to get the grease gun on them and really hard to get it back off. It actually pulled the grease fitting out of the lower ball joint. I am hoping that the damage is to the zerk and not the hole, just got kinda pissed and walked away for a bit when that happened so not sure yet. Anyone know of a place to get replacement grease fittings?

 

Any real parts store should carry them.

 

Napa has them for sure. C&G Early Ford Parts may have them too, thats where I got my ball joints from.

 

Look on the packaging when you buy anything.... Get a grease gun and zerts from a quality auto store and stay away from the China **** that is flooding the market. I ran into this myself.... I had a p.o.s. grease gun that I gave to a neighbor I didn't like very much....

 

Advanced Auto carries them along with just about any other parts stores around . Just don't buy the fittings that come in an ***orted box ! They are pure junk !!!! If not you can always order them from a supplier like Macs , Obsolete and so on .
My grease gun is an old one that works well and uses the standard large cartridges of grease ! Got mine at an auction long time ago . It's the one with the large handle on the side that you pump toward the gun it's self .

Jim

 

Be advised! check the thread on the zerts, some replacement parts are using metric zerts instead of SAE NAPA will have both types you don't want to screw in the wrong ones and have them strip.This is why I advise to not order them but to physically match them up.

 

Thanks everyone for the info! I will be heading to the local good (non-chain, been around forever, used to have the broken piston ash tray on the counter until smoking bans) parts store today for 4 new fittings and a better grease gun. It was the soft br*** that gave way thankfully, the hole on the ball joint looks fine.

 

You are lucky to still have one of those parts stores around ! I have one like that also . They actually still have the old books to look through for parts . they cost more but most parts are USA made and they will tell you if they aren't ! Place still has the old piston ash tray because the owner still smokes ! He smokes in the back isle !

Jeff good point on the metric items . Metrics will be a tad bit tighter .

Jim