Alko axle greasing is not at all difficult!

[Techno]

There are many misguided posts all over the web about this so here it is simplified.
Tales of having to jack up so both rear wheels are off the ground at the same time is both unnecessary and unsafe.
All you need is reasonably level ground with the engine in gear and the wheels chocked.
The handbrake must be OFF!
One side at a time just lift the chassis as though you were going to change the wheel.
Then with a properly bled grease gun pump in several strokes of lithium high melting point grease.
Repeat for the other side and replace the nipple covers.
How easy is that

 

[laneside]

Depends who built the van on some models the grease nipple is not accessible without dropping the axle. Daft I agree

 

[Techno]

Depends who built the van on some models the grease nipple is not accessible without dropping the axle. Daft I agree

Sorry I only play with proper vans like Rapidos

 

[laneside]

Yep me also

 

[jonandshell]

Did you find any illegal immigrants under there?

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[Techno]

Actually I did appraise the possibility of this happening and it's a deffo no go for the poor sods

 

[Rayb182]

Sorry I only play with proper vans like Rapidos

Looks like mine underneath, done mine a couple weeks back, one grease nipple wasn't letting any grease through, unscrewed it put a new nipple in, while nipple was out found there was no grease in axle, good job I did it.

 

[Al1]

How much grease do you put in?

 

[Techno]

pump in several strokes

Check that grease is coming out the hose end before going on and after releasing from the nipple so you know it was going in.

 

[Techno]

Good gun guide

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[mitzimad]

seeing that grease gun took me back i used to grease my brothers artic tand trailer every month for pocket money usually had more on me than on the motor

 

[Kool Kroozer]

That a Gas tank i see at the far end Techno ?

 

[Techno]

Yes

 

[ivorantony]

Some Alko chassis don't have grease nipples, and are sealed for life,
Mine is that type,
but I would have preferred some then at least you know it's lubricated

 

[icantremember]

I agree with you Andy that it is a simple job and I do my own regularly .... however I would not work under any vehicle supported on a scissor or hydraulic jack without using axle stands and I'm sure yours are just out of the picture. To enable the axle to hang free the stands need to be under the chassis and not the axle.

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[Techno]

No as the wheel is not removed and there is more than enough clearance under my van for this job.

 

[icantremember]

I'm sorry to dissagree on this point, maybe mine is lower or I am of larger proportions but I would still not risk it without the stands and would not recommend anyone else does ..... it doesn't add much time to the job and my fire service training has taught me that safety should be a prime concern at all times.

 

[Techno]

Yes you must do your own risk assessment with any job.

 

[Scout]

Actually I did appraise the possibility of this happening and it's a deffo no go for the poor sods

tell the truth you greased all over the axle didn't you

 

[longdog]

Good post, thanks

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[Techno]

My pleasure thank you.
Better picture with a real camera of my ground clearance

I don't actually need to get under the van either I can quite easily reach the nipple without
Both sides took about a dozen pumps before the grease started backing up.

 

[barrywi]

Warning . My scissor jack supplied with the vehicle collapsed when I was swopping wheels to paint them. It may have been slightly off vertical , but it made me think about future use of such a device. I now have a four ton bottle jack in the vehicle ( not expensive or particularly heavy) and have bought some new axle stands. I also put my trolley jack under the vehicle when at home for good measure. Better safe than squashed.
My van is 4000 kg rated

 

[Techno]

Yes if the wheels are coming off be carefull !

 

[Hettie's Crew]

I know this an old thread but I've just done my 2014 B544 this afternoon, very simple job that Lowdhams wanted £45 to do in addition to the service cost. The difficult thing was getting the alloy wheels off as no grease had been used and they were stuck solid.
I used my trolley jack, axle stands and wheels off as it made it easier to reach.
Check out Granville grease, it meets the Lithium based, extreme pressure requirements.

 

[icantremember]

I know this an old thread but I've just done my 2014 B544 this afternoon, very simple job that Lowdhams wanted £45 to do in addition to the service cost. The difficult thing was getting the alloy wheels off as no grease had been used and they were stuck solid.
I used my trolley jack, axle stands and wheels off as it made it easier to reach.
Check out Granville grease, it meets the Lithium based, extreme pressure requirements.

Why did you have to remove the wheels? ... I do mine easily with them insitu.

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[Hettie's Crew]

The side skirting bodywork comes down quite a bit for access and to get my axle stands in securely I would have had to jack it quite a bit higher. Plus, taking them off is an opportunity to have a look at the tyres and brakes.
I noticed on Lowdhams service plan it says 'without removing road wheel', one of the things that put me off.
Because it's a very simple thing to take the wheels off (when they are not seized) it seems sensible to give myself more space/light.

 

[gus-lopez]

How many pumps pers side would be considered normal each year ?
I've just done my mate's & it took 46 each side + one new nipple as it wouldn't reseal.

 

[Techno]

7 to 12 on mine as soon as it starts backing up out of the nipple. Did you check the gun was primed fully first and not pumping air

 

[Mr B]

Sorry I only play with proper vans like Rapidos

Did ours last summer. Easy

 

[buttons]

There are many misguided posts all over the web about this so here it is simplified.
Tales of having to jack up so both rear wheels are off the ground at the same time is both unnecessary and unsafe.
All you need is reasonably level ground with the engine in gear and the wheels chocked.
The handbrake must be OFF!
One side at a time just lift the chassis as though you were going to change the wheel.
Then with a properly bled grease gun pump in several strokes of lithium high melting point grease.
Repeat for the other side and replace the nipple covers.
How easy is that

I last did this some years ago when I had an Alko set up. Glad to see the method hasn't changed since then.

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