Lube Job Stupidity

[Medicman]

Hi everyone. I have never done a lube job before and my 2012 1500 needs one badly. I got a cheap lube gun from Harbor Freight and thought "how hard can this be?" I put the truck up on ramps and went crawling around under the front end suspension and could not find a single grease zirk fitting. Are these hidden under covers? I've read some are difficult to find but I'm totally surprised I couldn't find a single one. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks

 

[mrack]

Nothing is greasable on these trucks, everything is sealed.

 

[Medicman]

So I'm not entirely crazy. Thanks for the info.

 

[HemiLonestar]

The factory believes in "lifetime" components.....if/when you rebuild it, most aftermarket stuff (if it's worth anything) will have zerks.

 

[Medicman]

Thanks. My next question was to be "how do I get rid of the annoying squeaking?" I guess that'll be a rebuild. Thanks for the info.

 

[chri5k]

Depends on what is squeaking. Any clues to share about where the squeak is coming from?

 

[mrack]

Do you have leveling spacers on top of your struts, those are known to destroy your upper strut mount and cause squeaking.

 

[Jeepwalker]

FYI, don't lube the door hinges (I know you didn't say you were going to). They're a compressed graphite and brass compound..lubing makes them wear out early. I learned that on a Jeep yrs ago.

You could lube the hood latch mechanism with a few drops of gear lube *if it needs it*. If/when I buy an older used vehicle in the rusty N here, I usually pull off the back of the rear driveshaft (at the diff), pull off the U-joint caps and add a little (compatible) grease in the two caps and compress with a C-clamp and reinstall. Compatible and compress are the key words. But in CA I doubt that'll be necessary at all.

If you don't know any history of the vehicle, probably a good idea to think about replacing the fluids. Or check them to see if they look pretty good. You could have the dealer service dept check the service history on it. Maybe the former owner had it serviced at the dealer and it's recorded in their system.

 

[Jerrybob]

Nothing is greasable on these trucks, everything is sealed.

Did you know that the zerk fitting was patented in 1929 and invented by enginner Oscar Zerk?? The Amish started using the fitting on their horse drawn carriages in 1930.

 

[Burla]

You can add a zerk to about anything, Google it. It is sad those days of actually lubing vehicles is gone.

 

[Medicman]

The squeaking, creaking sounds are usually heard when i'm driving slowly over a speed bump or entering a driveway, or sometimes when I'm stepping out of the truck. Sounds like it's coming from the front end. "MRACK" was right about the leveling spacers. I had those installed when I bought the truck back in 12/20. It's a "government" vehicle according to a check on my VIN. Thanks for all the info.

 

[mrack]

The squeaking, creaking sounds are usually heard when i'm driving slowly over a speed bump or entering a driveway, or sometimes when I'm stepping out of the truck. Sounds like it's coming from the front end. "MRACK" was right about the leveling spacers. I had those installed when I bought the truck back in 12/20. It's a "government" vehicle according to a check on my VIN. Thanks for all the info.

Take them off and make sure you replace both upper strut mounts. If you want to keep the leveled height, use bilstein 5100s or some sort of lift strut.

 

[Docwagon1776]

The squeaking, creaking sounds are usually heard when i'm driving slowly over a speed bump or entering a driveway, or sometimes when I'm stepping out of the truck. Sounds like it's coming from the front end. "MRACK" was right about the leveling spacers. I had those installed when I bought the truck back in 12/20. It's a "government" vehicle according to a check on my VIN. Thanks for all the info.

If those are frame mount rock rails, make sure they aren't contacting the underside of the body. I had a similar squeak after coming down hard on one, didn't put two and two together until someone on this forum told me to check it.

 

[GTyankee]

Only the 4 wheel drive Generation 4 Rams have 1 zerk fitting, it is on the front shaft.
It is very difficult to see, it is different from zerks that you normally see

GREASING Driveshaft RAM 4th Gen

Should have made this video a long time ago. When I bought my truck in 2012 my dealer service writer didn't even know about this, when he asked the mechanics...

www.youtube.com

 

[nlambert182]

I had squeaking on the front of my last 2500 and it was the sway bar bushings. Replaced them and it went away. Might be worth a look.

 

[Wild one]

Only the 4 wheel drive Generation 4 Rams have 1 zerk fitting, it is on the front shaft.
It is very difficult to see, it is different from zerks that you normally see

GREASING Driveshaft RAM 4th Gen

Should have made this video a long time ago. When I bought my truck in 2012 my dealer service writer didn't even know about this, when he asked the mechanics...

www.youtube.com

As far as i know,that's only on the 2500 and heavier trucks.

 

[StateOfMind]

I had the front wheel off the other day, 4th gen rwd, and there was a zerk fitting on the UCA, near front bushing

 

[mrack]

I had the front wheel off the other day, 4th gen rwd, and there was a zerk fitting on the UCA, near front bushing

That’s not a grease zerk, that’s a ball mount for the ride height sensor on trucks equipped with air ride.

 

[StateOfMind]

That’s not a grease zerk, that’s a ball mount for the ride height sensor on trucks equipped with air ride.

Well that's a lesson that maybe I should wear my glasses more often. Thought it odd that it wasn't present near rear bushing on the UCA. thank you for the education

 

[Stever68]

Thanks. My next question was to be "how do I get rid of the annoying squeaking?" I guess that'll be a rebuild. Thanks for the info.

If you find out what's squeaking pass it along please. Something in my suspension is squeaking and it is annoying the hell out of me