Every car owner wants his car to run smoothly, whether he wants it to run in a straight line or turn. It's only possible if different components involved in this task are running smoothly. The related components are the tie rod ends and steering rack and pinion. The regular maintenance such as greasing of tie rod end and rack & pinion is essential. Want to know how to grease tie rod ends? Well, it's a pretty simple process. Keep reading to find out how you can lubricate tie rod ends with and without grease nipples

But the question is how to grease tie rod ends. Some tie rod ends come with grease nipples to lubricate the tie rods. On the other hand, some are sealed and don't have an easy method to grease. In this article, we'll share every detail, like how to grease your vehicle’s tie rod ends with or without grease nipples.

How to Grease Tie Rod Ends without Grease Nipples

What do you need?

● A Grease Zerk Needle Adapter

● A Grease Gun

● Flexible Hose

● Grease for tie rods

● Rag

Instructions:

1. Check the dust cover boot:

Firstly, check the dust cover boot for any leakage to avoid contamination.

2. Clean the boot and tie rod end:

Clean the boot and tie rod end completely. It will help you in monitoring while pumping grease into the tie rod.

3. Connect the grease gun and the needle adapter:

In the next step, you need to connect the grease gun and the adapter of the grease nipple. It's a challenging task. And you need to be careful while doing it.

Tip: For an adjustable coupler, don't forget to tighten the nozzle once you have connected the needle.

4. Needle insertion into the boot:

You need to be careful during this step. While inserting the needle, make sure you're doing it at the conjunction of housing and boot. It will ensure the entrance of new grease into the bearing while pushing out the old grease.

5. Grease filling:

Start pumping the tie rod end grease while keeping an eye on the dust cover boot. Stop doing so when the boot swells.

6. Clean the excess Grease:

Lastly, remove the needle and start wiping off the excess grease. No doubt, you may not have to experience the grease leakage problem unless you have pumped the grease with great precaution into the boot. But still, we’ll suggest you wipe out the dust cover boot as it’ll keep the debris and dust away.

Moreover, this step is essential because it may help you diagnose future problems like leaky dust boots quickly.

How to Grease Tie Rod Ends with grease nipples

What do you need?

● A Grease Gun

● Tie rod end Grease

● Rag

Instructions:

1. Examine the dust cover boot:

Firstly, scrutinize the dust cover boot carefully. While examining, your aim should be to look for leakages or damage. In case of a damaged dust boot, it's better to repair the dust cover boot. Otherwise, contaminants can enter through the joint.

Tip: Vertical movement of the dust cover boot also indicates that dust boot needs replacement.

2. Clean the grease nipple:

The next step involves the cleaning of the grease nipple with the help of a rag. This step also avoids the contaminants and greases entering into the tie rod end.

Tips:

● Make sure there is a shiny metal while attaching the grease gun.

● Opt for any other robust cleaning option in case of corroded grease nipple.

3. Connect grease gun to the grease nipple of the vehicle:

Now it's time to connect the tie rod end and the grease gun. Firstly, place the nozzle above the nipple such that the nozzle is perfectly fitted into the grease nipple.

Make sure you have completed this step carefully. Otherwise, you have to experience the grease leakage between the grease gun and nipple.

Tip: Unscrew the adjustable grease gun coupler to connect it easily with the grease nipple.

4. Fill the grease for tie rods:

Now, start squeezing the handle of the grease gun to fill the grease for tie rods. Keep squeezing the grease gun’s handle until you see the boot begins swelling.

Tip: Don't push the grease into the boots after they swelled. Otherwise, extra pressure will damage the tie rod grease fitting. And ultimately, you have to replace this part.

5. Disconnect the grease gun from the grease nipple:

Now, it's time to disconnect the fitting and the coupler. It might be challenging for you. But the jaws loosening can make this step straightforward. However, it's only possible if the grease nipple is adjustable.

6. Wipe off the excess Grease:

So, you have greased the tie rods successfully. Now, it's time to wipe off all the extra grease from the dust cover boot and the grease nipple.

FAQs

1. Do you need to grease new tie rod ends?

No, you don't need to grease the modern tie rods. They come with smooth surfaces and tight clearance. So, there is no need for additional lubrication.

2. What type of grease is best for tie rod ends?

You can use three different types of grease for the tie rod ends. These grease types are:

● Grease recommended by OEM

● Marine Grease

● High-efficiency Lithium Synthetic grease

All these grease types for tie rod ends are best for automotive purposes and help your vehicle stay longer.

3. How often to grease tie rod ends?

MOOG has different types of recommendations for different types of vehicles. For instance, MOOG recommends greasing these parts.

● Annually for standard duty vehicles

● At each oil change for heavy-duty vehicles.

4. What can I use to lubricate bearings?

Well, you can choose an oil lubricant to lubricate the bearings. These oil lubricants work best at high temperatures and high pressure. Synthetic oil, natural mineral oil with some additives to avoid rust and oxidation, are these oil lubricants' components.

5. How much grease can you put in the bearings?

The actual amount of grease depends on the space in the bearing. However, it's not advisable to put too much grease into the bearings. Otherwise, the bearing elements will start rotating, resulting in churning the grease. As a result, a rise in temperature and energy loss would occur.

Final thoughts…!!!

To sum up, it's a pretty straightforward process for how to grease tie rod ends. We have tried our best to describe the process to grease the tie rod ends both with and without the grease nipples. Make sure to stay careful no matter which strategy you're using to grease the tie rod ends. And don't forget to clean the dust cover boots after greasing to avoid contamination and enable easy monitoring.