Lower control arm grease nipple

[sjaakslinger]

My 47 Coupe I bought just arrived at home here in The Netherlands. I started today by greasing all the movable parts. However, the aft grease nippels on the lower control arm seem to be non removable. One still works, the other one is shot. Seems someone grinded it... See pic.

 

Should these be normal, removable grease nippels like the other ones? Thx.

 

Dennis 

[Happy 46R]

All of mine are standard removeable nipples. Occasionally they plug up or won't allow the grease through so I have a supply available. Just unscrew and replace. Hopefully yours hasn't been damaged. 

Congratulations by the way on a new project.

Dave

[andyd]

When you say the grease nipple is shot what do you mean?....won't let any grease in?........try inserting a thin wire in the grease nipple hole....sometimes the grease just hardens, other times the bushing that the nipple is on has been screwed hard up against the actual shaft and grease can't get past ........I have seen that setup with the nipple press fitted , not screwed in on other parts mainly tierod ends.......I suppose it might be able to be replaced by unscrewing the bush, knocking the fixed nipple off and tapping a thread & screwing a new nipple on but the problem could be that where the nipple lives the metal is very thin & can't ba threaded.....I'd try the wire trick first then maybe unscrew the bush to hopefully get some space for grease to flow.........welcome abaord from Oztralia.......andyd

[Sniper]

1 hour ago, andyd said:

When you say the grease nipple is shot what do you mean?

 

He said it's looks like someone ground on it, as in it is physically damaged.

 

They should be replaceable, however you may have a problem finding SAE thread grease fittings in the Netherlands.

[andyd]

Sniper, yep, you maybe right, I didn't take a good look at the pic, just appeared at 1st glance to be a riveted type of grease nipple......if its a SAE threaded nipple then at least its undoable....as you say the next problem is to find a new one.....might be easier if one of us posts some to him.........lol..........andyd

[DJ194950]

Some grease nipples are made that just have ridges that are made  to have a tapered/ ridged outer edge to be pushed in and do not have threads.

 

To remove you just have to grip them and pry upward.  Are they used to replace damaged threads? I do not know, but have seen the in use!

 

Try using a pair of side cut type plies and  Pry against the edge on the nut and pry upward and see if they just come out!

 

Sure that any damage can be done if done carefully to check this idea.

 

DJ

[sjaakslinger]

Thanks all. The thing is, the nipple is missing its head/flat sides to put a wrench on. I already tried with a grip vise to get a grip on what's left of the grease nipple, but no luck. The one in the right lower control arm also misses the head/flats, but that grease nipple still works.

 

Maybe I'll try something with a long iron piece, drill a hole in it and weld the grease nipple into the hole. Maybe then I can turn it loose...

[Dan Hiebert]

You can also remove the whole bushing from the a-arm.  It won't adversely affect the front-end alignment, you'll just have to be careful to stabilize the a-arm when you take it off and appropriately torque the bushing when you put it back on.  All of my manuals show that zerk as a fitting into the end of the bushing.  That way you can clean it/them really well and determine what you need to do about the nipple while it's on a bench, instead of under the car, much easier to work on.  Any drilling or tapping you may need to do won't affect the rest of the assembly, and you can install a metric component if that's all you can find.  Then you'll probably never have to worry about it again.  

[9 foot box]

   I have a few adapters to grease problem fittings. If you can get the fitting to take grease, you can fix it later, but it’s greased. I’d guess that there are other things that need your attention, make a to do list and get a service manual. You don’t say what model coupe. Pictures would be nice to see your new car.  Rick D.

[sjaakslinger]

The nipple is shot. Doesn't take grease. I'll see if I can get the bushing out. I already tested loosening it, but it was very tight. I might need more leverage there.

 

I have the manual, but find it a bit weak compared to manuals of other cars I have. 

 

If I'm not mistaken, the model is a business coupe? I had it on a lift for inspection, looks very decent! Some surface rust, but all ok. Few holes below the rockers that need addressed. Otherwise a very solid driver quality. Paint is mwoa. Few issues with the headlight switch and brake lights not working. It has a 50s overdrive that I'm trying to figure out. All in all a very cool car! I'll be asking lots of questions here.😁

 

Dennis

[p15-1948]

My 49 has on lower control arms the same type of zerk, look to be pressed in.

[desoto1939]

Here is a page from my 34-41 Miller tool catalog; I does show that they did have drive in style zerk fitting both for straight and angled fitting. tool number d-437

 

Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com