steering idler arm - grease nipple?

[perelaar]

Just replaced the old steering idler arm on my T2. Pretty sure that was a genuine factory-installed part.

Cleaned it up, and noticed that instead of a grease nipple it had a normal small bolt in the nipple hole.
Perfect penny-pinching by Nissan? Or would a garage mechanic have removed it and installed the normal bolt?

 

[jims-terrano]

Nope that's how they sent em out of the factory with a silly bolt.

Hope you've got your replacement fitted ok, pity you can't nip across the water and up the motorway this weekend:thumbs

 

[perelaar]

replacement idler arm, connecting rod and track rods went on without any problem. Tomorrow first having the alignment and tracking checked, then MOT - and then we're ready for the mud during the shooting season

 

[rustic]

Nope that's how they sent em out of the factory with a silly bolt.

Hope you've got your replacement fitted ok, pity you can't nip across the water and up the motorway this weekend:thumbs

My MkI mav is the same, so in the days well before penny pinching was the norm. No hint of Renault in the influencing stages then.:doh

I have removed the bolt and greased it once or twice, but wonder if they felt a nipple in that position was too exposed to being sheared off, if in close contact with the odd rock or two.:nenau

Certainly worth greasing regularly if fording through deep water or mud.
Does anyone know the thread size?

I guess take the bolt out, at a motor factors and go from there lol. Hint... Don't park over a grid lol....:doh

Rustic

 

[perelaar]

No idea about the thread size, but so far all the grease nipples on the steering system (idler, track rods, relay rod) have been the same size on my T2. About the only times one needs a 7mm spanner on the car

 

[micktheshed]

Fitted a grease nipple to mine when I bought it over 5 years ago. It's the only nipple on the car! Don't talk to me about Renault's penny-pinching, it's evident everywhere. They did their best to ruin a good car.