I was rotating my tires this past weekend and I noticed a small bolt in the top of my upper BJ. Then I checked the lower BJ and it has the same bolt on the side. Can I just pull out these bolts and put in grease fittings and be able to grease my balljoints???

 

Grease fittings are cheap, so give it a try.

 

A friend of mine did it on his t-100 ,it took care of a squeak that was driving him nuts.

 

i don't believe STOCK balljoints were grease-able...but aftermarket ones are! lol

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. Im going to try it this weekend.

 

Just remove the bolt and screw in a zerk fitting. Then pump 'em up. They've got a little nipple deally on the boots that will leak out any excess through a tiny hole there. But you shouldn't try to fill 'em to the point where the grease comes oozing out anywhere. Just shy of that point should do. It's also not a bad idea when you're done lubing them, to remove the zerk fitting and put the bolt back in. That way you'll never be able to bust the zerk fitting off and leave an open hole there. Which can happen pretty easily.

 

I did the same thing, put in a zerk in each one. I put ones with an elbow in the lowers so they are accessible but protected. I just give them one pump when i'm greasing stuff and figure the old grease will seep its way out...

 

Mine all came with zerk fittings in them :donno:

 

Yes, that's exactly what they are for according to my FSM, but if you off road a lot I would remove the zerk and put the bolt back in.

 

I've had the zerks in for years and never had a problem with it.

 

Yeah I don't see how offroading would present a problem with the zerks...

 

well stranger things have happened before, but I have and seen others remove a zerk fitting by going over and through things, mud, water, rocks, brush ect....guess it depends how hard you go, just wouldn't want to rip one off and then get into water or mud. I'm guessing that's what everyone else who commented thinks.

 

I was just going by what the 88 FSM says on page MA-16.
http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/87-4Runne...4runner_88.pdf

Which states to do exactly as I explained, with a pic showing exactly where they're located. It calls them screw plugs not bolts, and steering knuckles not ball joints, same thing though. It says to:

 

Does anyone know the thread pitch for these?

 

I was wanting to know the same thing. The grease fittings I had didn't fit?

 

Yeah, I have a plethora of them in the garage, but none fit. I guess I'll grab one of those bolts out and find out the thread pitch. Was just hoping someone would know off hand.

Edit: a quick Google search found this thread:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/ar.../t-310370.html

Which lead to these:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&brandName=OEM

Edit: found this, too, looks like 6mm, but he doesn't state the exact pitch:
https://www.yotatech.com/51004138-post9.html

Edit again: another for 6mm:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/ar.../t-282504.html

 

Looks like 6mm. Thanks

 

No problem. I'm going to pick up some soon (maybe next weekend?) and throw them on mine. I'll just put them on and leave them there, as the stock bolts/plugs are about rusted to nothing (although I got them all out).

 

Just a bit of an update to add some information. I went to AutoZone and in their grease/gear oil section came across metric grease fittings. Although the description is vague, I gave them a try for $3.xx. I pulled the stock plugs out and these thread in perfectly. I put a tiny dab of RTV on the threads just so water can't seep in, though that's probably not necessary. Anyway, here's a picture for anyone looking to grab some.

Autotec, PN 56418

4- straight, 2- 45°, 2- 90°

 

I just replace all four of my balljoints, I noticed that on one of them the grease fitting was different, I tried using it but it was not the pitch, not wanting to drive 45 minutes back to where I bought the BJ I tried those fittings as well, I thought for $3 I'd at least give it a try, they worked perfect.