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Everything Chassis Lubrication Lube zerk etc

Old Blue needs some help

I have the AV jacked up and have found 9 zerks - can't find the other two at all - I now need to also check the front drive shaft for # 12 :)

What I have found and greased

2 on inside of each wheel - total of 4
2 the tie rods (top & bottom) - total of 4
1 behind the front splash gaurd on top (pitman?) - total of 1

Any clues where I should look for the other 2? I am sure my dealer wasn't greasing my AV right - most took 4 pumps :(
 
OK maybe I am still missing something

I found the following - I am sure I am not using the right mechanical terms :(

Passanger side
I think I got what is called the upper ball joint by wheel
Got the zerk at the end of the tie rod by wheel
Down the tie rod there is two more zerks - one on the bottom and one on the top
Connected to the above shaft is what I thik is the pitman with a single zerk

Drivers side
I think I got what is called the upper ball joint by wheel
Got the zerk at the end of the tie rod by wheel
Down the tie rod there is two more zerks - one on the bottom and one on the top


Does it make sense to anyone what I am missing? I have spent over an hour under the Av at different times with the above list in hand - all I can think is I am either missing the ideler or lower ball joints - I have looked around and don't see zerks for either
 
Yes you are missing the Idler arm, Lower ball joints and Pitman arm. The idler arm is attached to the frame on the passenger side at the end of the R/H inner tierod, the lower ball joints grease fittings are on the ball joint by the tire at the far end of the lower control arm, as far as the pitman arm it can be a little hard to get to, but it is on the drivers side coming off the steering gear box and connecting to the L/H inner tie rod.

 
I see now you found the pitman arm - sorry I did not read it well but the other info should be helpful.
 
I looked at the lower ball joint and it has a cap over it - not sure if I am supposed to remove the cap - see pic

For everyone's help - I will put up similar pic's so future questions can be refered to the pic's - as you can tell I am a Jr Mechanic :)
 

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I think this is the pitman - though I reached it from the passenger side

 

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These are the 2 zerk I found connecting to the tie rod - 2 on each side - not sure what the technical name is :)

So I am still missing 2 :(
 

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Blueruck said:
I looked at the lower ball joint and it has a cap over it - not sure if I am supposed to remove the cap - see pic

For everyone's help - I will put up similar pic's so future questions can be refered to the pic's - as you can tell I am a Jr Mechanic :)

okay BlueRuck here are all the zerks...

3 (x2)- on the driver and passenger side- these should be known as the upper and lower ball joints and the outer tie rod assemblies.

2- one on the left and right inner tie rod assemblies.

2- one on the pitman arm on the driver and passenger side.

1- on top of what looks like it could be a second (supplemental) steering gear box on the passenger side.

this is a total of 11 zerks. the last one i mentioned is a bear to get to if the vehicle is on ramps. the steering wheel has to be turned to get to it. i forget which direction gives you the easiest access at the moment. brain cramp i guess.
for this reason i don't use the ramps anymore. everything is still accessible. i have noticed that the oil does not "shoot" out the oane anymore. apparently when using the ramps the angle makes the oil "launch" when removing the plug. much more manageable now. no more mess. hope this helps.
btw, get under the truck from the driver side. start at the wheel. count the zerks there. come from the wheel going to the passenger side. when in the middle of the truck you should have counted 5 zerks. from the passenger side of the vehicle do the same thing. when you reach the center you will have counted 5 zerks. the last zerk you counted on the passenger side closest to the middle has another 1 mounted on top of the pitman/ gearbox assembly there. this will be number six on the passenger side. giving you a total of 11.

 
Blueruck said:
I looked at the lower ball joint and it has a cap over it - not sure if I am supposed to remove the cap - see pic

For everyone's help - I will put up similar pic's so future questions can be refered to the pic's - as you can tell I am a Jr Mechanic :)

I need help from some Z71 owners - in the 1st pic I posted it shows a cap over the lower ball joint where the zerk should be - the distance between this cap and the shaft is very small. I cleaned up the cap and there is no obvious way to get it off - I am wondering if the lower ball joint on the 4x4's is sealed do to clearance issues and this is why they put an alum cap on it.
 
not sure why there is a cap on the lower ball joint. i do not have a cap on mine. maybe your right. could be a 4x4 thing. the one's on my wifes' truck are sealed. no zerks.
this has me thinking. i will have to take a look at a 4x4 tomorrow. i will let you know what i find.
 
Blueruck said:
I need help from some Z71 owners - in the 1st pic I posted it shows a cap over the lower ball joint where the zerk should be - the distance between this cap and the shaft is very small. I cleaned up the cap and there is no obvious way to get it off - I am wondering if the lower ball joint on the 4x4's is sealed do to clearance issues and this is why they put an alum cap on it.


okay, BlueRuck this is what i found today. went to the dealer to look at a 4x2 and 4x4 AV. when looking at the 4x4 AV i saw the cap you were referring to. then i looked at the 4x2 and saw the samething. wait a minute, i don't remember this on mine. then i looked under mine (4x2) and it had the cap to. here is the deal. look at the cap from the back! while on the driver side of the truck turn the steerng wheel hard right. this will allow you to scoot in from behind the tire. then you will see that on the back of the cap you were talking about is the zerk for the lower ball joint. do the same on the other side and you will find the other. there's your missing two zerls. hope this helps. :B:
 
Z66 - nothing but :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: for you - THANK YOU

Next Lube job I will take the camera under with me and take a pic of all the zerks and post for the next guy with sooooooo many questions ;D
 
i saw the zerks on the sight before. i even printed them out. i can't find them. nor can i find the thread about the lube points. ???
 
XRover said:
1 more Zirk fitting to add to the list.

Front Drive shaft (1500 4x4) the forward end of the shaft has a u joint Zirk fitting :)

That is the only U Joint Zirk fitting


What about the zerk Xrover mentioned. Does this mean there are (12) instead of (11) for a 4x4? I have an 03' Z-71.
 
i did not realize the 4x4's had that one. i will check on it in a few. not that i doubt XRover. i would just like to see it for myself.
 
went to the dealership to check this thing out about the 12th zerk. i did not see one. i did not want to get all dirty either. but, from what i can tell there was no other zerk. ???
 
I got a Z66 and I have 11. As mentioned above... That 11th is a second one on the upper portion of the idler arm shaft...

I forgot this one for the first 20k miles.. I just did it the otherday, and you should have seen the Junk that came out. I pumped in all new grease. it was very gross (the old grease that is)

I have heard of a few outer ties going bad as well as this idler arm SO MAKE SURE YOU DO THEM!!!
 
XRover said:
I know that my 02 Z71 has a zirk on the front drive shaft front U-joint. I saw it, touched it and lubed it. ;D

Rover - I am going to have to go back under again and look - I looked the front U Joint all over and ran my hands where I couldn't see well and didn't find a zerk

One might say I am Zerk Challenged :)
 
i did the samething XRover. i did not find one either. it was an '03 however. if there is one there i think the '03 would have it as well. that is if the General did not find it as useful as the cabin air filters.
do you think you can take a pic for me and BlueRuck. i sure would like to know where it is. i hate not knowing. thanx. :B:
 
XRover said:
I will try to remember to take a photo tomorrow..

Thanks Xrover

I was in the shop today getting the rear diff and transfer case fluid changed (damn $$$$$ for the fluid) and had the mechanic look when we had the AV up in the air and he couldn't find a Zerk on the front U joint. Looking forward to the pic and I will crawl back under. :)
 
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