Grease zerks

[dirtautoguy]

I have a 96 k1500 rcsb. All my steering and suspension components have grease zerks and are pretty new.

It is time again to do my oil change and grease the fittings but I dread the pitman arm fitting. I have a very hard time sneaking it up to the zerk from the bottom that’s facing up.

Some ideas Iv had was getting a locking attachement with a handle thought I’m not sure if that would help or hinder.

Building a adapter with 1/8 npt pipe that would make like a U shape to get to the nipple

Or the simplest idea Iv had but I haven’t checked to see if it would work was to just get a 90 degree zerk I think that would be easier to get onto.

I’m not positive of the zerk size but before I dove to far into I figured I’d check and see what you guys have done or what ideas you had. Currently my grease gun is big tube with a lever to pump it and a flexible hose. It was my grandpas a million years ago and it still works fantastic

 

[RichLo]

As long as your have a long flexible hose like you said, you should be able to get to it from the top? May need to turn the wheel a bit to find the right spot

 

[95burban]

You could put the zerk on the end of a hose and remote mount it, just make the hose long enough so it doesn’t bind while turning

 

[Caman96]

Yeah, I hit idler and pitman from the top.

 

[Orpedcrow]

Mine came with an extension hose for the fitting. I didn’t use it cause I can reach all mine from the engine bay.

 

[GoToGuy]

Actually there are a lot of fittings in different configurations.
90 ° , 45° , some manufactured with an extended base allowing easier access in tight areas.
Or even when I installed new idler arm box contained a short hose to remote mount fitting to avoid removing front skid plate.
Good luck.

 

[Erin]

Actually there are a lot of fittings in different configurations.
90 ° , 45° , some manufactured with an extended base allowing easier access in tight areas.
Or even when I installed new idler arm box contained a short hose to remote mount fitting to avoid removing front skid plate.
Good luck.

I need that.

 

[dirtautoguy]

I’ll have to check it out from the top. I know I can see the pitman zerk on my 2011 Silverado but I can’t reach it.

If it looks reasonable I might try making a extension to easily reach them from the top

My idler arm has the extended grease zerk which has been handy

 

[Supercharged111]

For the idler and Pitman, all I ever have to do is turn the wheel to get them into position. I go in from the bottom and bend the hose 180. Never had a problem.

 

[dirtautoguy]

Well maybe I’m making it more of a problem than it needs to be but this is what I came up with. It cost me about $25 at the hardware store I was able to get to the idler and pitman arm super easy with it too. I think it will work on my 2011 Silverado also.