In a message dated 2/15/01 7:40:21 PM, DBAKER5@KC.RR.COM writes:

<< does greasing one of these jobbies require a bit more finesse?   >>

Dave,

Grease nipples seem to have gone the way of most worthwhile things; they just
are not used anymore.  As all those highly paid copywriters would have you
believe, components are now greased for life.

Grease injection needles which fit grease gun couplers are available.  These
can be slipped beneath a seal or rubber boot so that grease can be injected
into a bearing or ball joint.  In a pinch, I have used them.  Enough grease
can be injected that it will eventually migrate into a dry joint and soothe
its calling for some lubrication.  But, this cannot compare to pumping in a
measure of fresh grease while at the same time, purging the old stuff.

Recently, someone posted to this list that he had installed grease nipples on
the balljoints.  When I installed new u-joints on the center driveshaft of my
Syncro, the trunnions of the non-VW replacements were drilled for grease
nipples.  It was nice of the manufacturer to be so mindful of preventative
maintenance.  Unfortunately, the Syncro's driveshaft yokes are too shallow to
provide enough clearance to mount the angled grease nipples.  I installed
flush nipples which allowed me to properly grease the u-joints before I
installed them and, now that they are in place, that is the last grease they
will ever see.

With the highly developed state of material science which we now enjoy, these
mechanical linkages only last 150 Kmi.  If we were able to throw a few cents
worth of new grease into them every couple of years, they damn well might
last forever.  Then where would we be?  Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s book "Player
Piano" explains whatever happened to grease nipples better than I can.

Rich