No cruising in the Plymouth this Christmas

[47heaven]

Man, I took the Plymouth to Jiffy Lube today to get the oil changed and have the trans and differential levels checked and topped off. Also, to get lubing done where it needed. The kid that did it was simply amazed at the car and acted as if it was an honor to be the one lubing it. Well, to make a long story short. About a half a mile away from the lube place, I came to a stop sign. When I proceeded to cross the street, the clutch pedal made a popping sound and went straight to the floor and the car started jumping. For some reason I couldn't get it out of gear. So I proceeded to pull over and turn the car off. I started it again, but when I tried to put it into gear, it would grind as if it was trying to change gears without the pushing the clutch in first. (I guess it had popped out of gear before I stopped the car). So I had to get it towed to the mecahnic shop (where I had the valve job done), but he was just closing up for the holidays. Nonetheless, he managed to look under the car to see what happened and discovered that one of the ball joints that serves as part of the linkage to the trans had popped out because too much grease had been injected into it. The good thiung is nothing is broken, but the bad thing is that he can't get to it until Tuesday. So there go my plans on driving the car to Redlands to some friend's house for Christmas Day. Was really looking for the nice drive out there on the old highways.

I'm not mad at the kid because I know he tried, but I really should have taken it to a place that knows a little more about how these cars are supposed to be greased. If I had known that you should only squirt in a small amount, I would have told him.

[Dwight Pectol]

When I first got my car I had the same thing happen to me, lucky with the fluid drive and in second gear when It happened I was able to drive to my mechanics shop where he fixed it. From then on when I have my car lubed I make sure that they use a hand grease gun and not the one with pressure. Dw

[Joe Flanagan]

Back when I rebuilt the front suspension on my Plymouth, I couldn't figure out why it seemed like I couldn't get any grease into the control arm bushings. Was the same thing happening? To me it felt like maybe it took one fourth of a full squirt of grease from a grease gun and after that it just would not take any more. Do these fittings only take a little grease too?

[Young Ed]

Been there done that too. Dad was pretty ticked when we went to leave for dinner and his clutch pedal fell to the floor! Guess we all had to learn that the hard way!

[PatS....]

This is a new one on me. Which joint is it?

[Don Coatney]

This is the one.

[PatS....]

Thanks for the pic Don, helps alot. Something I'll have to remember. Merry Christmas to you and Lisa as well.

Pat

[Young Ed]

Back when I rebuilt the front suspension on my Plymouth, I couldn't figure out why it seemed like I couldn't get any grease into the control arm bushings. Was the same thing happening? To me it felt like maybe it took one fourth of a full squirt of grease from a grease gun and after that it just would not take any more. Do these fittings only take a little grease too?

Joe this clutch one is the only one that shouldn't get much grease. Something is wrong with your control arm bushing if it wont grease. Yours was probably really tight if it was rebuilt.

[Allan Faust]

Hey Don, that pin looks familiar.... had a heck of a time getting mine out of my brake cylinder to be able to put it into my new one..... looks like I'm going to have a heck of a time putting it in the new cylinder as well..... real tight fit....

Allan

[bob westphal]

Joe this clutch one is the only one that shouldn't get much grease. Something is wrong with your control arm bushing if it wont grease. Yours was probably really tight if it was rebuilt.

Joe and every body,

Sometimes bushings can have solidified grease in them due to age and dirt. Also sometimes the zerk fitting fails and won't accept grease. If you remove the zerk you can dig out most of the solidified grease with an ice pick or drill bit. Then install a new zerk.

Bob

[vanbuskirk]

I recently fixed a naughty zerk by heating it with a propane torch after it refused to let me remove it. Bob

[Joe Flanagan]

Regarding my control arm bushings, I rebuilt the front suspension myself and I was having trouble torquing the bushings to spec. I have always felt that they were too tight. So here is my question: If I back off on them a bit, will I screw up the camber/caster stuff and all of that, or what? I remember the torques spec for the control arms was really high and I had to fight like heck to get my torque wrench to click. Seemed way too tight to me. On some, the wrench never did click (brand new wrench, never any problems with it). So what would you guys do in my shoes? Back off on the bushings some and take risks with the alignment/caster/camber? I really don't want to take these things apart. They do have some grease in them because I can see it. I just don't know if they have enough. Should it squirt out from around the rubber sleeves as it does when you grease a ball joint?

Thanks.

[hotrodbob]

I've had nothing but problems with Jiffy lube. They have no concept about grease fittings. They are conditioned to cars that do not have them. I've had to argue with my local one as even the manager didn't know or want to understand that there are upper control arms and fittings to lube.

After 3 trys I gave up on them and do my own grease maint. I take the car to a NAPA lube for the oil change. They listen at least without arguing.

[47heaven]

I've had nothing but problems with Jiffy lube. They have no concept about grease fittings. They are conditioned to cars that do not have them. I've had to argue with my local one as even the manager didn't know or want to understand that there are upper control arms and fittings to lube.

After 3 trys I gave up on them and do my own grease maint. I take the car to a NAPA lube for the oil change. They listen at least without arguing.

Yeah, I think I'll just take the car out Bob Amos in Riverside for the annual lube job from now on because I know he and his guys will know how to do it right. It's just that I wanted to have it greased and lubed before my long trip to Redlands. I do want to say, though, that they guys ay the Jiffy Lube I went to were very coordial and polite. I haven't told them what happened because, like I said, nothing broke, but I will stop by and let the kid know not to put so much grease in the fittings on these old cars because they do get them from time to time.

[Don Coatney]

[quote=The good thiung is nothing is broken, but the bad thing is that he can't get to it until Tuesday.

Darin;

It takes about 10 minutes to remove the excess grease and reassemble. Why do you have to wait until Tuesday?

[47heaven]

[quote name=The good thiung is nothing is broken' date=' but the bad thing is that he can't get to it until Tuesday.

Darin;

It takes about 10 minutes to remove the excess grease and reassemble. Why do you have to wait until Tuesday?[/quote]

Oh...because it's at the mechanic's and locked up there until then.That's where it was towed when it broke down and he was closed and ready to leave.