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Locating and replacing all 11 grease zerks

Posted on Jan 22, 2009 by Josh Merva in How To

This article was submitted by Tom Fraley aka MountaineerTom. Thanks Tom!

On the new body style Silverado/Sierra 4×4’s, there are 11 grease fittings, or zerks, that need to be lubed. I top mine off every time I do an oil change, and they usually only need a pump or two.

Before doing the chassis lube, pump a little grease out of the gun to clean out any dirt that may have gotten into it. Also clean off any dirt/grease on each zerk before attaching the grease gun fitting, so you don’t pump it into the joints. For the upper and lower ball joints and tie-rod ends, pump enough grease into them until the boots are firm to the touch. Be careful not the pump too much in them and possibly bust the boot. For other suspension and steering components, continue pumping until grease oozes out the joint between the two components.

If you have a drive shaft with a zerk on the u-joint, be sure to grease it too.

1 - Drivers side, Upper ball joint

2 - Drivers side, Outer tie-rod end

3 - Drivers side, Lower ball joint

4 - Drivers side, Inner tie-rod end

5 - Drivers side, Pitman arm (at relay rod)

6 - Passengers side, Idler arm (at relay rod)

7 - Passengers side, Upper end of idler arm mount

Close up view of the 90 degree, 6mm, zerk that I replaced on the end of the idler arm, where it connects to the relay rod. With the factory straight zerk, it’s next to impossible to get a grease gun fitting on it because of the AC compressor/mount that is above it.

6 - Passengers side, Idler arm (at relay rod) (Different view. Same as #6 above)

8 - Passengers side, Inner tie-rod end

9 - Passengers side, Lower ball joint

10 - Passengers side, Outer tie-rod end

11 - Passengers side, Upper ball joint

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Tags: Grease Zerks, Maintenance