Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hi guys and gals,

I made some serious progress on my 67.5 over the last month or so and today got it running like a top. Now that the engine is in pretty solid condition, I'm looking to move on to the suspension.

I've read up on a couple threads that goes over greasing the zerks and have all the tools and grease needed. Do I literally just start on one corner and work my way around? My hesitation is also with taking things apart that may or may not go back together like they currently are. I'm not ready to drop the coin on all new bushings, arms, etc, but want to at least refresh all the grease points.

Am I missing anything with this or just start with a corner and have at it?

Thanks!

Mike

You might poke the grease boots a bit and see if they fall apart.. If they do greasing isn't going to do much. Less than $25 for all new boots from Energy Suspension. Either direct or Amazon. P/ N in the Parts Interchange of the Tech Wiki. Changing them may result in some cussing.

Sounds like a good plan to me. I think I had 21 or 22 fittings to grease on mine.
Recommend you use a good quality lithium or synthetic grease. As you grease them (slowly, not with too much pressure), check for cracked/split boots and test each joint for excess play/wear - Write down your observations for each one as this will help focus any repair effort down the road (you will forget … or at least I would).

Several of mine needed some help taking grease. Just old, dried up grease inside clogging them up. You can pull the zerk off and clean it out but sometimes it's actually in the joint and the grease will just squeeze out past the zerk instead of going inside.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JFL7TY

these are neat and basically shoot high pressure penetrating oil into the fitting. Kind of expensive but better than taking everything apart to deep clean it.

I removed the zerks and used a small butane torch to soften the old,worked well

Sometimes a small drill bit spun between the fingers will remove enough dirt and crud to let grease in. Raising the front end will let the suspension hang so that the parts are in a different relationship than normal and may allow a pathway for grease. Zerks are cheap and easy to replace so dont mess with a clogged one.
Get a good lever type grease gun. I like the sort of end that can be locked onto the zerk. That leaves both hands to operate the grease gun. Be patient t but persistent, I've not had any that I couldn't eventually get to take grease.
I think you can take all the parts off , other than the spindles, to clean
, paint and replace boots without.much investment. Harbor freights makes a good tie rod puller and pickle forks are not expensive.
Dan

All great points. I have a brand new grease gun with flexible hose and locking tip that I'm gonna get out this week. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the difference in handling after this.

I went through the entire front end today and found every tie rod boot was trashed. The driver side boots for the A-arm were all very old and cracked, and the passenger side was replaced at some point as it was very clean rubber. Only one had a hard time taking grease as they all had some still in there. Not a single one was dry!

Given the condition of all the rubber that'll be my focus this winter, getting the suspension swapped for the set up I want as well as replace all the boots and rubber.

There was a batch of bad nissan boots that all melted into sticky sludge (grease and oil on your hands will feel nice and clean clean after cleaning it up..)

The energy suspension polyurethane boots in the tech wiki all fit nicely.

cbez wrote: Sun Sep 19, 2021 8:24 pm There was a batch of bad nissan boots that all melted into sticky sludge (grease and oil on your hands will feel nice and clean clean after cleaning it up..)

The energy suspension polyurethane boots in the tech wiki all fit nicely.

That's great to know. I'll pull everything apart this winter and replace all boots and whatever else.

Since one side was obviously replaced, would it behove me to replace it all anyways?

I would do both sides, just so you know when it's been done and don't have to guess in the future.
I can't count how many times I've done "half of a system" on a car and then later kicked myself and saying, why didn't you just do it all while you were there? Caution, this approach can lead to extreme "WhileI'mAtItItis".

I figured, I've learned many times to not take a silly short cut like that, and it's typically bit me in the ass. I'll learn this time and just do both sides.

The Neck wrote: Sun Sep 19, 2021 5:58 pm I went through the entire front end today and found every tie rod boot was trashed. The driver side boots for the A-arm were all very old and cracked, and the passenger side was replaced at some point as it was very clean rubber. Only one had a hard time taking grease as they all had some still in there. Not a single one was dry!

Given the condition of all the rubber that'll be my focus this winter, getting the suspension swapped for the set up I want as well as replace all the boots and rubber.

There are kits here: Dean

https://www.datsunparts.com/2061

https://www.datsunparts.com/2062

Dang it Dean! You made it too easy for me. I'll be ordering these once driving season comes to an end and I start digging into the suspension as well.