Please help, kingpin greasing question

[Banjo]

Howdy, 68 bumpside, how do you know you're greasing the LOWER grease fitting on kingpin? I get tops good and grease coming out. But lowers??? No grease leaking out anywhere, seems I pumped in what should a ton of grease, none protruding anywhere to signal me. I take gun loose every so often (air power grease gun), and it's shooting grease fine. Even went and bought some new grease fittings, thinking the grease fitting wasn't taking grease, but no difference? HELP! I'm using floorjack under beam to take load off, thought I read that helps it take grease. I'd like to get this done today while I have all my tools drug out into yard where my bumpside lives. 1/2 ton. Please help old Banjo out if you know ok??? I"m NOT familiar with kingpin front ends.

[AlleyCat]

Banjo, try using a propane torch and heating the lower end of the steering knuckle.Other than setting the old grease on fire it won't hurt anything.After you warm it up for a few minutes try greasing it again.It sounds as if the lower bushing is beginning to sieze.Heat and patience has been known to free them up.A word of caution here, the torch won't make enough heat to hurt the knuckle but any grease coming out of it will hurt you.

[Banjo]

Just back from running "search", I should have probably also mentioned the truck steers very easy (power steering), but when I was putting in new shocks I figured I'd give greasing another shot to see if all this helps before I get into yanking front end. I'd already greased everything good one (air gun), BUT front tires were on ground, and I'd read kingpins take grease better jacked up on ibeam. So, I gave it another shot. I did notice I had MISSED the lower fitting prior and someone else must've (for years) as it was fully caked over on both sides and took a flathead and wirebrush to get everything nice and clean. So, Clay, are you saying, remove the grease fitting back out and use a propane torch (that's all I got) to heat the insides so old hard grease will melt out? I DO appreciate all the help I can get, this is my first vehicle w/kingpins.
let me ask another stupid one....when I do get the lower grease fitting ACCEPTING grease, won't it begin to ooze out up above where there is a joint, so I'll know it's full? Banjo.

[AlleyCat]

Banjo, leave the fitting in.As soon as you shut the torch off try to grease it.Yes the grease will ooze out the top of the joint.I'm working on my ex's car and checking e-mail on breaks so I'll be back on soon.

Clay

[MadMaxetc]

Dumb question...Are you using the zerk on the BOTTOM of the king pin? There is one on top and bottom.

You can also take those caps off and clean them, some times they are full of old gease that looks like mud and is hard as a rock.

-- Sorry, just re read your second post. My bad...

[Banjo]

Now I'm gettin' mad enough to eat a smashed cat. Propane not helping. Is that "cap" that the zeirdt fitting screwed into removable and do I have to remove whole brake drum to get it off? Was thinking maybe if that unscrewed, I can squirt stuff into that in conjunction with direct propane on the old grease. I do believe that is what's the problem, because on top sides, it squeezed out old hard black grease when I shot it up with this new red synthetic I'm using. It was very hard. and the bottom zeirt (grease) fittings were completely covered up with hard clay, so it may have been decades since grease saw there.
So, can I unscrew these caps (there's one on top and one on bottom) with grease fitting in each. Tops ok, but need to remove bottom. Looks like factory drum backing plate interferes???

[Banjo]

MadMax, can you remove these caps (yep it's lower thats the problem) with drum brake intact? If so, I could maybe melt and clean out old grease.

[Banjo]

ok, here is final installment on today's saga. I'm doing this in case anyone runs search it may help. My truck 68 1/2 ton, built in Canada, but sold in Ala. Front end never been touched. I unscrewed the lower metal cap with adjustable wrench and it was plugged up with old grease hardened to clay. The, reaching up inside, yet another plug. Once it was removed, I could see my non-rebuilt front end had factory nylon bushing (at least on lower). Got 'er all greased up and fixing to go for test ride. PS, don't buy any of them Miller Chill sodie-waters unless you like a very bitter taste. It is NOT like Corona with slice of lime! See ya, the old Banjo (going for a ride now).......

[averagef250]

Don't think they came with nylon...Bronze is the only way they left the factory.

[FORDification]

That's correct...if there's nylon bushings in that front end, it HAS been rebuilt by a previous owner. The factory only used the bronze bushings.