Greasing the Front End

71GMC_3/4T · February 21, 2005

Gave the new girl her first lube job today. She's an '03 K2500HD.

Upper and lower ball joints on both sides (it helps a lot to turn the wheels). <4>

Outer tie rod ends <2>

Tie rod to drag link ends <2>

Steering Arm to drag link <1, from above>

Idler Arm to drag link <1, from above>

Idler Arm Pivot <1, waaay up in there> (how many have missed this one?)

Now did I miss any?

It took a while to find the Idler Arm Pivot, whose zerk is pointed toward the center of the truck, and about 3" below the round section of the fan shroud. I've always had problems with the idler arm on used trucks. Usually, I find a zerk that has never seen grease, except at the factory when new. On my '83 S-10, it was a new one on me. On my '92 Z-71, the PO had never greased it in 40K+ miles so it was shot. I was bound and determined to make sure this truck got greased early in it's life like it should.

Also, it's a lot easier to grease the ball joints with the wheels turned. Turn to left for right ball joints, and to right for left side. The PO was apparently unaware of this trick judging from the 1/2 cup of grease I scraped off the lower A-Arm!