Check Your U-Joints

Sorry if I missed it.... What is the recommended grease?

 

2016+: NLGI No. 2 Lithium Grease.

 

Thank you very much...

 

I've had two older Toyota trucks and two Tundras. All manuals recommended, and appeared to have been greased with, a moly fortified grease. I have never had to replace a joint on any of these trucks and all went to 200K miles, Tundras to 238K. I haven't done the front front ones yet on my new '18 Tacoma, 2800 miles and will do this weekend. Likely the black grease some refer to see being purged is moly grease, not some light assembly crap. I use Amsoil synthetic moly fortified grease. FWIW, the sealed axel shaft CV joints use this type of grease.

 

The 2018 MTs changed the diameter of the ujoint cups to a larger size which is good. The Spicer part number is 5-1350-1x for a zerk fitting on the cup or Neapco 2-0052. I used the Neapco joint. Grease every oil change, best at 5000 mi. I use LockNLubes synthetic or Redline 80402 synthetic.

2018 AT may still use the older ujoints with the smaller cap size.

 

2012 2nd gen 4x4 tacoma here and just purchased her used. I've started to read some DIY on these forums and among other mods / fixes to do I just decided to go ahead and check the u joints.

So I only had 3 zerks on the rear drive shaft... none in the front like others have said. not sure why I'm missing the 2 in front???

I just got done greasing the u joints and believe it or not... it took about 30-50 pumps in each before I started getting new grease out... took about 6-10 before I heard the light pop on each. not sure if the cheapo grease gun from harbor freight had anything to do with the amount of pumps it took but it was a great feeling seeing that old grease squeeze out being replaced with the new grease.

now if the rear 3 u joints were that bad I guess I'll be looking to replace those front 2 u joints that don't have zerks pretty soon... I may just have a shop replace the front two along with my carrier bearing... which squeaks a little while driving on bumpy roads... anyone know how to tell if a carrier bearing has gone bad?

 

Look again. I'm not sure but I think they are there.... Tucked into the "crotch" of the U joint..... NOT on the ends like the rear ones.

Did you check for them in there?..... Hard to find them.... Use a Fleshlight.

 

Just changed mine out, MOOG greaseable, need to do 4WD shaft

 

Over60 is right. I had a 2013 and they had front zerks.

 

hmmm I'll have to double check in that crevice you mentioned

 

you were right I found them caked with grim and wow those are in a difficult spot to reach and get the grease gun nozzle into

 

Yeah, the little buggers want to hide in there..... I ground the sides of my grease gun tip to make it a little easier to get in there...…. Works..

Glad you got 'em…

 

I use a LockNLube end that works well for both the front and rear ujoints.

 

I found that the best position to get that front sucker is at 7:00 O'clock position, looking from the rear.

The other one from the right, I think.

 

For anyone trying to find the fittings or understand how the system works, I found this video helpful.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5gOeBE-ylQw

 

That is exactly what I did too, ground the edge off the grease gun tip and it goes in there a little easier.

 

Same same. All great minds work alike.

It's nice to have a bench grinder, but of course, make sure you clean off all the metal filings like with brake cleaner spray after grinding, or you'll end up pumping some of them into your bearing cups--not likely to be helpful. I ground the front part down a lot, the part that unscrews from the rest of the "business end" of the gun. Generally I'll loosen it up a few turns, get it engaged in the Zerk, then tighten it up. Often I have to go thru the same maneuver when I need to remove the gun after purging the bearings, but it works for me.

 

So, are you guys grinding the sides of the coupler or the tip? I cannot get my coupler to grab on to the zerks and I’m about to give up!!

 

I used the bench grinder to grind the edge off, kind of looks like a sharpened pencil without the lead.

 

Thank you! I’ve been messing with the stupid thing several times, only to get grease everywhere but in the zerks,lol.