Adding grease zerks

As most cars now are "lubed for life" (or shorter life) when it comes to suspension parts, has anyone added grease zerks with success?

I added zerks when I went to Energy bushings. I just drilled a hole and added a zerk. It was super simple and really works to keep the squeaking down.

I found the zerks at my neighborhood auto supply store.

I was thinking for ball joints and tie rods. I'll assume you were working on bushings?

The lifespan is dependent upon the integrity of the boot. Greaseable joints are generally an umbrella style, which allows the grease to flow out. The lubed for life have a sealed boot, which will explode if you drill and grease it.

I've found that, generally, the lifespan of either is far more dependent upon the quality of the part than it is on lubrication style.

The only time "sealed" stuff concerns me is off road, where water will get in, regardless of how its made. I about died when I rolled under my mom's 02 Grand Cherokee with a grease gun to find nothing to grease. On the street, with quality components, I just go with whatever the factory style was.

Yes, I was doing bushings.

Streetwiseguy wrote: The lifespan is dependent upon the integrity of the boot. Greaseable joints are generally an umbrella style, which allows the grease to flow out. The lubed for life have a sealed boot, which will explode if you drill and grease it. I've found that, generally, the lifespan of either is far more dependent upon the quality of the part than it is on lubrication style.

^^^^^^This

And if you're doing it for poly bushes, I would pass. I have run poly bushes on two different cars and I have never experienced the squeaking people mention. Just lube the E36M3 out of them (like you can barely hold them in your hands) with Lithium grease when installing. I've run my Maxima for two years (complete with two Canadian winters) and I never heard a sound.

I've done tie rod ends. They lasted at least as long as I would have expected the sealed for live to last. I sold the car after a few years so I can't really say. But it's not easy since, you need the style tap that has full threads all the way, not starter threads at the end. I can't remember the terminology right now. After having done it, I'd just buy a quality part and save myself the time and trouble. And yeah, you can't put much grease in because the boot isn't made to store it.

DrBoost wrote: I've done tie rod ends. They lasted at least as long as I would have expected the sealed for live to last. I sold the car after a few years so I can't really say. But it's not easy since, you need the style tap that has full threads all the way, not starter threads at the end. I can't remember the terminology right now. After having done it, I'd just buy a quality part and save myself the time and trouble. And yeah, you can't put much grease in because the boot isn't made to store it.

it's called a bottoming tap, because it cuts threads all the way to the bottom of a blind hole.