UJ Grease Nipples

[FON350]

Hi, Does anyone happen to know the size and thread type of the grease nipples on the drive shaft UJ's of a 1985 trailing arm suspension 350i? I suspect they are the Hardy Spicer UJ's as they have grease nipples (not sure if any othere makes have them). The reason I ask is that when I had the UJ's replaced quite a while ago (the car has been laid up since for quite a few years), the guy who fitted them put one in so that the nipple points towards the brake disk - consequently it's impossible to get a grease gun on it!!! Definately something to bear in mind, albeit obvious, when changing the UJ's. Anyway, I want to get an angled nipple to replace it. There seem to be plenty of mail order suppliers of grease nipples but they offer a multitude of sizes and threads... And so, before I grovel around under the car and try to get the original one out, I wondered if anyone might just know.. Any ideas out there?? Cheers.

[jmorgan]

My gun has a flexi hose (or er missis), usually gets most places?

[pwd95]

I'll ask my good friend who does mine in the morrow

Please excuse the alchohol

[SEvans]

Made the same mistake with one of mine. I think you may find that it's not possible to replace the nipple with an angled one, I certainly couldn't on mine. I also couldn't find any flexible pipe, fitting etc that would go on the nipple. I suspect the only way may be to unscrew the nipple and connect a threaded pipe directly. Not a clue what the thread is, may be worth removing the nipple and take it to the shop.

[jmorgan]

How about turning it to suit then tightening back up?

[FON350]

Thanks for the advice - sounds like I may well have to go with the idea of removing it and attaching a pipe to inject the grease.
Jeff, I think I may not have explained the situation that clearly, the grease nipple is mounted at about 45 deg from vertical plane of the UJ and points inward towards the flange mounted to the disc, so unfortunately rotating it won't make any difference. Unless I've misunderstood your point... Thanks.

[sjwb]

If memory serves me correctly - 1/4" Whitworth.

[FON350]

Okay, thanks all - I'll see what I can find...

[Campbell]

If you are looking for greas niples try looking in a tractor repair place, i got an asorted pack with different size theads and some at 45 degreas.

Campbell

[kfozz]

An angled nipple won't fit, it fouls on the UJ. I made the same mistake when I changed my UJs, the only answer is to remove the UJ and refit the right way round, not complicated but results in skinned knuckles and a lot of swearing, but you do get better with practice and if you are enjoying your driving you will need to change them every few thousand miles as they dont seem to be up to handling the power.

[jeff m]

Grease nipples are not a regular thread.
They are a tapered thread that are self tapping in nature.

I don't have a 350 but try 1/4 28 tpi taper.

[350zwelgje]

My UJs have the same nipple as the ones to bleed the brakes. To get them in special lengths etc, my experience is that you suddenly get many different thread sizes on the counter to choose from. Perhaps you can get another nipple out of a UJ and use that to be matched. But then you need to be sure all UJs are the same (some times not all UJs are replaced and thus ending up with different ones!)

Rob

[FON350]

Thanks all, been busy all week hence late reply. Having spent most of Saturday on the car, it does indeed seem the only real way to solve the problem is to remove the uj and put it on the right way round!! Of course, as is always the case, in all the time I've been phaffing about trying to find an easy way round the problem I could have had the uj out and back in again! Hey ho..

Thanks for all your suggestions and advice!

[350zwelgje]

When you take the drive shaft end off only, you can also take the old nipple out and put another in... Perhaps easier then taking the UJ-apart.

Rob