Re: Greasing the King Pin

Posted by Tim Cole On 2015/6/30 15:01:46

The main problem is using a grease with not enough pumpability.

On those old suspensions, yes, you want to use enough grease to clean out the old stuff. On cars with sealing rubber boots only enough grease should be used to swell the boot slightly. Otherwise the thing will split.

Those old Packards don't benefit much from extended service grease and so I used lighter greases like Pennzoil 707, Chevron Delo NLGI 1, or CRC (NAPA) general purpose. Those greases will flow better. Another good choice is Shell Retinax LX 1. A minimum two case order paid in advance may be required.

However, the lower control arm pivots will benefit from a standard EP chassis grease. The problem is too often those greases are too heavy to flow and they blow out the fittings rather than get into the suspension pivots. Chevron Delo NLGI 1 is an EP grease.

In your case I used to remove the grease fitting and clean the king pin oil hole with a piece of welding rod. Then flush with motor oil from a squirt can.

Always grease those cars with the suspension unloaded and the wheels hanging.

Of course nobody believes these methods are necessary so I don't work on Packards anymore.