Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Remote Greasing of Front Suspension

I've just had a mucky struggle trying to grease my nipples! Tried last week with my old grease gun and gave up as all the grease did was come out around the nipple heads and so bought a decent grease gun with flexible pipe and a better 4 jaw hydraulic coupling.

Still a bastard trying to get the coupling to sit squarely on the nipples as they seem to point in all different directions and really no idea how much grease to put in.

The remote solution is looking better and better!!

I use a rigid tubed grease gun with 4 jaw coupling and wear disposable gloves, I usually get it a mess though with practice not as bad now, and find old towels best for mopping up grease.

One hand on the trigger, one hand on the nozzle to keep it square - five minutes a side, plus another five to jack the front up.

Oh and half an hour to get changed........

And don't forget the propshaft (occasionally).

Am I right in thinking that the current cars don't have nipples fitted to the propshafts?

Quick, naieve question: Does it make a difference when greasing if the wheels are in "jacked up position" or resting on ground - I mean the lower spring is in a different relationship when jacked up. I use clingfilm to cover the rebound spring and find it's better (and easier) if the tyres are back on the floor. Would the best bet be to jack the front up then put ramps under the tyres and lower onto that to get the rebound spring in the best position? Or maybe it makes no difference?
Nick

I always understood it worked better if the wheels are off the ground. But GoMog suggests it doesn't matter.

http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan9.html#Dynamics

It isn't going to make a significant difference, BUT - With the wheels on the ground, the stub axle is loaded outwards and upwards. If unsecured it would describe an arc pivoting at the top cross tube. Taking the weight off the wheels means that they hang on the stub and try to describe an arc downwards and inwards. So ideally if you leave the wheels on, you should try to neutralise the weight by leaving them touching the ground but not with full weight. A better way is to take them off!!!!!
Wheels on and loaded means that the critical area - lower bush inner surface and lower kingpin inner surface (where all the wear takes place) is loaded meaning that grease won't easily get between. With the weight off, and no sideways bias, the grease has a chance to get down the lower bush all the way round. The reservoir will be filled lower down, so when you put the weight back on the wheels, the lower bush will rise onto the greased pin. It's also helpful to grease on full lock in both directions, but with the wheels on it's tricky.
So to summarise - optimum method is wheels off and lock to lock greasing. I might do that once a year, otherwise I just get under with the Mog jacked up - lock to lock.

Re whether to have wheels off the ground....
I just did my front greasing with wheels off the ground and
grease did seem to come out at the bleed hole area a bit easier. I raised and lowered each wheel a couple of times with a jack,adding grease at up and down positions after the initial greasing.This was to attempt to "spread" grease inside a bit.
I have a compressor so the pneumatic gun makes the job so much easier.

Hi guys, I need some advise regarding greasing the bottom offsite grease nipple.
I was able to grease the nearside top and bottom easily (could be a good reg number plate - Viper) enough however it was impossible to attach the coupling to the bottom driver side nipple. Even with wheel off. In the end I had to loosen off the shock absorber/damper nut to get enough space to be able to connect to the grease nipple. The question is - is it good practice to put spacer/washer(s) on the grease nipple to get the correct position. Or could I put a spacer washer on the damper to move it away from the nipple. Any advise welcome.

I think it would be good practice to put a washer under the grease nipple, so that when tightened it points to where you can easily get at it. I have been around old cars for a long time and have often done this.