Forum Discussion

Stevewb's avatar
Stevewb
Explorer
Mar 18, 2016

Lube points etc. w/regular maintenance ? E-450

on my 2015 Ford E-450 I would like to find a schematic or info on lube points (zerk fittings etc.) that should be attended to on a regular basis...
On my old Class A Ford F53 chassis there were quite a few lube points to service, front end-drive train and so on...
I do not trust oil service shops nor even Ford service to know or even care if this service work is properly done, this comes from experience with shoddy work done by so called Authorized Ford RV shops...
What it comes down to for me is being resposible to learn as much as I can about my rig and taking appropriate action to getting the job done correctly..
Thanks.
Class C
  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer II
    Mar 18, 2016
    There are 4 lube zerks. One on each wheel spindle, and two on the tie rods.

    (I hope I got the terminology correct. I am NOT a car enthusiast.)

    This You Tube video actually is pretty good at showing the locations. DON'T GREASE UNTIL IT BURSTS THE BOOT! When the boot starts to swell, stop.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq9wRaYclz4
  • navegator's avatar
    navegator
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2016
    When you pump the grease in do not try to inflate the boots, 2 or 3 strokes is all you need, many times to much grease is pumped and the boots are stressed which leads to premature failure.

    navegator
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Mar 18, 2016
    X2

    X3

    The Fords used to have grease fittings on the ball joints. Then no fittings but there was a threaded plug and we could install fittings there. The latest ones are totally blind. No threads, no plug, no hole. Our axle is 2012 and it's like that. I don't know when fitting hole plugs went away.

    Yes, our 2002 E450 has a 2012 axle. Another subject...
  • Harvey51's avatar
    Harvey51
    Explorer
    Mar 24, 2016
    If you have the plugs, take a good look at grease gun access to a replacement zerk. You can get straight zerks or angled ones. I think I used two of each. They are about 50 cents apiece so you know what to do.
  • BruceMc's avatar
    BruceMc
    Explorer III
    Mar 24, 2016
    Looks like 4. One on each joint and one where the tie-rod connects to the drag link:



    I didn't find any other zerks on our E350; I expected to find them on the u-joints and perhaps the center carrier bearing, but they are all "Sealed for life" devices.

    Now that we have a new Chevy 4500, I'll explore & find the maintenance points.

    Cheers!
  • Gene_in_NE's avatar
    Gene_in_NE
    Explorer II
    Mar 25, 2016
    BruceMc wrote:
    ---words deleted----
    Now that we have a new Chevy 4500, I'll explore & find the maintenance points.

    Cheers!
    The Chevy will likely have 11 fittings. There is an idler arm, 2 center link, 4 tie rod, and 4 ball joints.

    * Altogether, there are four ball joint fittings, four tie rod fittings, two center link fittings, and the idler arm fitting, for a total of eleven.

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