I attended the car show in Frankenmuth this past weekend (if you have never attended, I highly recommend it!) with the Stallion clone. As I was leaving on Sunday, I started to notice a slight "squeak" coming from the front end of the car. As I drove home, it got worse and worse (so much that I'm going to start calling the car "Old Squeaky" for short, lol). I crawled under the car and had a friend push up/down on the bumper. I'm not 100%, but sounds like it's coming from the upper control arms (shocks are new). Everything looks good though, I can't see any wear, and it drives fine as well. I did some searching on our site, and there is a lot of info, but it seems like a lot of conflicting/inconclusive stuff. Also, I'm not sure if the "early" model Mavericks had different parts than the later models (btw, mine is a '76 with 52,000 miles on it). Obviously it seems like one could grease them, but I don't see any grease fittings. From what I've researched, there is talk of adding them (http://averagejoerestoration.com/sh...ontrol-Arm-Grease-Fitting-Kit__374714-SK.aspx) but I wonder what is involved (has anyone written a how-too article?). Is this something that in my opinion "should" be a simple fix, going to require a major front end tear down/overhaul? Any tips/techniques are appreciated! Thank... Art
Hi Art, those fittings will do the trick. they are a trick to install... pull the wheel and you will see a plug on the end of the shaft...remove it and screw in the fitting base with the supplied wrench having the hole in it facing outward... then screw in the greasing tube. it is still hard to get them to take grease because the grease in there has hardened and is stopping up the hole that the grease flows through. worse case, you will have to pull the shaft and clean it out. good luck.
Thanks guys... 1.) How do you check the spring perches (what do I look for)? 2.) Installing those grease fittings pretty much recommended procedure for these cars? I mean, should I order two sets to retrofit my yellow car as well, even though it's not making any noise... yet anyway? How does the "plug" on the end of the shaft come off (does a wench fit on it)? Will I also need to order the 90 degree zert fittings shown just below the kit?
I would just replace the whole upper control arm and drill a hole in the shock tower to grease them. I know the 74-up have smaller shock towers and theres no zerk fitting will fit between the UCA and shock tower. A rubber or plastic plug can cover the hole and nobody will never notice it. Or cut a big hole and use a hub cap to cover the hole.
I wouldn't put holes in your shock towers, your car is so nice!! Plus it looks crappy, unless you have some sorta plug to fit properly. If the front end has never been rebuilt, and the threaded section of the uca is in good condition, you can buy a kit like this, it comes with the 90 degree fittings: http://www.cjponyparts.com/shaft-bushing-kit-for-original-control-arms-1967-1973/p/CA63047A/ If it is your spring perches, you could try spraying some sort of lubricant on them, and see if the noise goes away, then again, if your front end has never been rebuilt, they are probably due to be replaced. Here's a pic:
the 90 degree fittings will have to be installed with the UCA removed from the car...the zerts will go in without removing UCA... a regular 90 degree fitting will not...:Handshake
Dave - Is that your '73 in the pic you posted? Does it have the sheet metal between the UCA bolt holes and frame rail like on the '74?
It is my 73,and no it doesn't have those..but I can look on my other 73. The green on is real early, the brown one is real late production (it has those plates, I just looked). But I do remember buying a 90 degree fitting kit from NPD,the ones that came in my uca rebuild kit didn't fit.
Thanks for all the input thus far, I really appreciate it! Ok, you guys may have a point and perhaps I should just do a total replacement of the upper control arms. However, truth be told, they don't seem worn, the front end is tight and I don't have any slop (and really, with only 52,000 miles, shouldn't they still be good?). The "only" issue I have is this new "squeak" that is driving me nuts. I guess I'd like to try the simple approach first to see if that solves the problem (adding the grease fitting). So looking at the ends of the control arm, I see a fitting of some sort (it's not a zert), how does that come off so I can install the grease fitting kit (it doesn't look like a wrench goes on it)? Has anybody here done this mod? Can I do this "without" taking the control arm off the car? Thanks... Art This is the kit I'm thinking about getting. Do I need to worry that it only lists the part up till 1973 models? http://averagejoerestoration.com/sh...ontrol-Arm-Grease-Fitting-Kit__374714-SK.aspx
Art, that's the same kit I bought. There may be hex plugs in your uca end caps already, you just nee to get in there with a small wrench, and spin them out.
lots of maverick owners have blamed the noise on the upper control arm bushings but the upper ball joint can make the same noise. I would try and greese your upper ball joints first and bounce it a few times and drive it a little and see if the noise goes away. I have a 1970 with the grease fittings in the upper control arms and have replaced my control arm bushings but still every once in awhile had that darn noise come back and even after putting in more greese still no luck so I took a chance and greased the upper ball joints and the noise was gone and that works every time now. so try the balljoints first with some grease before you start taking the suspension apart. by the way I am a ASE master certified car and truck tech and I specialize in chassis/suspension.
