2003 Caravan - ball joint grease fittings and door lubrication

[aaronrkelly]

I have a 2003 Dodge Caravan and a few questions.

First, I do my own service work (even have a hoist). What is the deal with the grease zerks on the lower ball joints. This is the only grease point I see on the whole van and its not standard. My grease gun wouldnt connect to it. Does it require an adapter or do I need to turn the zerk out and put a standard one in. Whats everyone else doing.

Second question involved my dual sliding doors (manual operated). The left side is harder to operate then the right so I decided perhaps they could use lubrticated. The manual makes no mention of what type of lubriaction to use. I was going to clean them up real good then spray white lithium grease (aerosol can) on the tracks and wheels. Is this whats recommended or is their another product to use.

Thanks for any help.


How long do you guys recommend going before a transmission flush and fill, Im at 36K and was planning on changing it at either 40K or 50K......the dealer wanted to do it at 30K even though the book says 75K.

[gas28man]

Can't help you on the zerks or the doors (I use silicone spray on mine, but they're non-power), but on the tranny, I would do it every 50K if you do just normal driving, but every 35K if you do a lot of towing, live in a very hot climate, or have the van in a commercial-type operation, like a delivery route or taxi service. The advice in the manual is downright looney and seems to change every year, even though the 41TE has been around for more than 10 years now. My manual says don't change the fluid at all under normal service (!?!?!?) and the manual goes up to 150K miles, but you should change it every 15K for severe service. Makes no sense. And then yours says 75K. Haaaa! I think they just have a committee up in Auburn Hills that gets together every year to flip a coin or ask their Magic 8-Ball what the transmission fluid change interval ought to be for the minivan.

Good luck.

Rick

[BABYGRAND]

I have a 2001 and the zerks that were originally on were sealed so I replaced them with new ones.

Greasing is a breeze now.

[xswinnyx]

For the sliding door, I do not recomend the white L. grease. Someone did that to mine, and it gummed up. Find a good silicone spray, that will last, and concentrate on the bottom wheel and track, the most.

[vipergg]

try getting some good spray synthetic lube, Valvoline makes a good one . Spray all 3 wheels at the point where the bearings are . This will make a huge difference . If its working correctly you should be able to close it with a couple of fingers . Have a 96 and all the sliders work like new . Also you should not grease anything on these as far as opening and closing , these doors basically ride on 3 wheels and trying to grease the area where the wheels roll will make things worse , should be no grease where the 3 wheels roll .

[ade]

those arent grease zerks on the ball joints, but they sure look like a zerk. they are lifetime joints. i tried to get a grease gun on them also. :o