Check Your U-Joints

Same scenario when I first used my flex tip screw end grease gun. Grease everywhere but into the zerk. On one piece of yard equipment I replaced all the zerk fittings blaming faulty frozen fittings when it was actually a faulty me. Glad you stuck with it. Even so many times getting the grease gun tip on and off can be difficult. Loosen the tip to put on zerk then tighten it to grease. Reverse to get off as this little procedure may make things easier. Works for me. Right or wrong. Dannyblues

 

That's exactly what the dealer mechanic told me. I bought my TRD sport 4x4 in July 2016. Mechanic said there were only three grease fittings. Other two were factory sealed. I still don't trust him. I'll have to get under and check myself. Dannyblues

I use Lucas heavy duty NLGI- 2 grease. I keep my grease gun and grease tubes wrapped in paper towels in plastic bags in a plastic container. That stuff has a way of getting everywhere! And when it's hot out the grease leaks like thick liquid. Wear old clothes and cardboard under the truck or you'll have grease from the garage to the driveway then on your clothes and shoes then onto the furniture and carpets. Then catch hell from the little lady. I know. Been there myself. Dannyblues

 

Agree 100%. Lucas heavy duty NLGI -2 works fine under all circumstances. Dannyblues

 

I'm sure your TRD sport 4x4 like mine has the same grease fittings however I was told by Toyota shop mechanic mine only had three zerks. Other two were factory sealed. Don't trust him. To access front number two zerk you have to remove a cover with four 12 mm bolts to access. I doubt the shop mechanic did that.


According to these posts depending on when your 16 was made there may be zero or three or five grease points. Have to check ourselves to be sure

Make sure your wheels are off the ground in 2 WD to spin driveshaft to locate fittings or just move it up and down driveway a bit instead.

 

Me too but have yet to crawl under and check how many fittings mine has then do it myself when the weather gets warmer. I'm thin. Maybe I won't need a jackstand? But will have to move truck in 2 WD to access rear driveshaft and assume in 4 WD move to access front driveshaft. ???? I don't want to buy any more stuff at my age like those drive up onto ramps. I think my heavy duty hydraulic jack and jack stands plus wood blocks should suffice to lift the Tacoma TRD. ???? Dannyblues

 

Does the new 2017 not have any zerks on the slip yokes then?

 

Generally enough added grease when you see the old stuff come out then the clean grease you're adding begins to purge after that. Remember to wipe off the excess purged grease or your driveway and undercarriage will be sprayed with grease. Dannyblues

 

If truck is in 2WD, the front shaft will spin freely. For the rear shaft, all three fittings are oriented in the same direction. So, I crawl under once, figure out what direction they're currently pointing, then roll the truck (I park on a sloped driveway, so it's easy to just release brake a little bit to let it move) until they point down. All should point the same direction at the same time, so no need to re-roll the truck. Of course, whenever I'm going to be under the truck, I chock the wheels.

 

Thanks so much. Those photos say more than any written explanation.
I plan to refer to them when I get under my 2016 TRD 4x4 sport. I was told by the shop mechanic my driveshaft. ( not shafts! ) have three zerks and two factory sealed. Maybe he was to lazy to do or find the others or didn't remove the four bolt 12 mm cover? Shall see myself and compare to your photos

Again thanks very much for taking the time to give us these great photos. Dannyblues

 

I have never needed to lift mine up to grease the driveshaft, just crawl under and you will be good to go.

 

Ah so since I'm at 14 I should be good

 

Hey... @Dannyblues
The front shaft has 2 zerks, the rear shaft may or may not have 3 zerks... (depends when the truck came off the line)....... the metal shield has 2, 12mm bolts to remove...it makes it easier...! The zerk at the front of the front shaft is the hardest to get the gun on to the zerk.... turn the front shaft so that the zerk points to 7:00 oclock position (driver's side) and it will be the easiest.... this allows the joint to open the joint a little to allow the gun in there...it's tight. Some guys have had to grind their tips down a bit to get in there...!!

Good luck...

 

That was what l ended up doing, grinded some material off the tip and it gets in there easier.

 

So, if there is no fitting that means it's sealed?

 

Yes, if there are no grease fittings then they are sealed and not serviceable.

 

Yes...or, the zerk fell out.

 

Leave it in 2 wheel drive and you can turn the front shaft by hand.

 

The best position to get to that fitting is at roughly the 7 O'clock Position ALF.

 

Thanks for the shop information. You did the hard work and griping for me. I really appreciate your knowledgeable post. Dannyblues