I was going around doing my annual greasing of my shackle bolts on my 2004 Weekend Warrior and found that a couple of the bolts I was unable to pump grease into the zerks. I assumed the zerks were stuck shut and decided to replace them. After replacing the zerks there is no change and I am still unable to pump grease into the bolts. On the bolts I am able to get grease int,o any excess grease as I am pumping comes out between the shackle and bushing on each side. On the bolts I am still having problems getting grease into I am going to now assume they are either plugged or the bolt is simply overtightened not allowing anything (grease or air) to escape as I am trying to pump grease into them.Anyone ever run into this problem? DO I simply need to loosen the bolts?

I've had the problem under two situations. The first time was a year after I installed the wet bolts and I found they had not been drilled all the way through (I removed the zerk to check). The other was that the holes in the bolts were too tight to the bushing. I corrected this by purchasing a "heavy duty" grease adapter for my grease gun. It fit much tighter to the zerks. You have to be careful though, it fits so tight that your tempted to pull it off sideways but if you do, you may damage it allowing it to fit looser and leak.

Jacking up the trailer to remove weight from the leaf springs will allow grease to flow 90% of the time. Usually the weight of the trailer on the grease opening in the wet bolt will prevent flow. Randu

Could it be that a couple of your bolts rotated? The wet bolts are supposed to be installed with the holes facing front to back aren't they? If they turned 90 degrees where the holes are now pointing up and down would it make it harder for the grease to escape through the holes?

Jack the trailer up should fix it.

Ditto on jacking the trailer up, behind the axles using the frame (not the axles). This should allow flow.

Can't get grease into shackle bolts | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

shawnct450r
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Ditto on jacking the trailer up, behind the axles using the frame (not the axles). This should allow flow.
lincster
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
Jack the trailer up should fix it.
Steve76eb
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
Could it be that a couple of your bolts rotated? The wet bolts are supposed to be installed with the holes facing front to back aren't they? If they turned 90 degrees where the holes are now pointing up and down would it make it harder for the grease to escape through the holes?
Randu
Explorer
Jul 09, 2013
Jacking up the trailer to remove weight from the leaf springs will allow grease to flow 90% of the time. Usually the weight of the trailer on the grease opening in the wet bolt will prevent flow. Randu
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 09, 2013
I've had the problem under two situations. The first time was a year after I installed the wet bolts and I found they had not been drilled all the way through (I removed the zerk to check). The other was that the holes in the bolts were too tight to the bushing. I corrected this by purchasing a "heavy duty" grease adapter for my grease gun. It fit much tighter to the zerks. You have to be careful though, it fits so tight that your tempted to pull it off sideways but if you do, you may damage it allowing it to fit looser and leak.

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Can't get grease into shackle bolts

15 Replies

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