U-joint Lube

Read multiple threads on new trucks not being greased from factory, crawled under mine and all 5 (that I found) appeared to never have been greased. Is this normally addressed at the first oil change or something I should take care of now?

 

If it's something that you can easily do yourself and not have to trust that someone else has done it.

 

Lucas Red n Tacky is good stuff

 

ToyotaCare maintenance specifically does not include U-joint greasing, because it's considered a "special condition" item. Either do it yourself or pay a shop to do it.

On a new truck there wouldn't be any visual evidence such as grease overspray at the zerks, because the U-joints are packed with grease at the U-joint factory. Only way to tell is by putting a grease gun on the zerks and seeing how much old grease is expelled.

 

You're two for two.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/check-your-u-joints.409042/

 

The U-joints are supposed to be lubed at the TOYOTA factory. I confirmed this with Toyota Care Central. The u-joints get "assembly" grease only and that is the needle bearings - no grease from the manufacturer. The visual evidence and how I found out is there is usually grease that comes out once the u-joints are filled, there' was NONE on mine. 11 pumps to fill all 5 u-joints, that and the paint on the zirks.

 

Thanks. I'll grease the zerks in a few days and post what I found, or didn't find.

 

You WILL find them wanting grease..!! Good luck..

 

Mine still had the factory black pain on them. I was able to squeeze quite a bit in the before the old black grease would start coming out

 

This ^

 

Ok, finally checked the grease in the u-joints today. Accessed all 5 fittings, found that it took 4/4/2/4/4 pumps respectively in order of zerk fitting line up, stopped when I heard the classic sound of grease exiting the ports. All looked brand new, no evidence of prior greasing. Just thought it better to add some then take it for granted that the factory did it correctly. Already had issue with low trans fluid.

 

I like this

 

Anyone have some pictures of the zerk points? I crawled under my 4x4 but was having hard time locating them. Never done it before but I bought the gun and grease and want to lube them up.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drive-shaft-lube-points-2nd-gen-4wd.225161/

 

Post #5 on "check your u joints" has excellent pics

 

Awesome thanks guys.

 

Just a fiendly fyi...
You keep pumping until new grease comes out all 4 seals.

 

Thanks OP , I used this today to lube my U Joints today . Everything went smooth , I crawled under and found them and sized up the situation, cleaned all the zerks up, next time I will pull the truck up on ramps because I found it a "tight" fit to get to the front one. (For me anyway, sliding around on the ground underneath the truck lol). I did not have to pull the shield off because my grease gun had a hose on it and I spun the shaft around and wormed the fitting in and it worked without taking it off.

They all looked pretty dry and I'm glad I did it , I bought the truck 1600 miles ago and I'm not sure when they were done last . Now I know how to do them , and when they were done last. After the fact it almost seemed too easy

 

4 had a super small amount, and 1 had none??

i used the red moble 1 synthetic cuz it's what the auto store had

 

My 2017 has no zerks.

Toyota said not all have the zerks to grease.

My FJ Cruiser had like 7.