Check Your U-Joints

You only need to worry if you are met with resistance trying to pump grease or one or more of the seals doesn't purge.
The former is likely a bad zerk. The latter can be a bound up seal. Rotating the shaft will usually allow it to purge. If it still persists in not purging, it's a possible indicator something's wrong. Up to the individual at that point if they want to replace or run it until it becomes a nuisance.

 

My '93 4x4 actually had a greasing diagram on the back of the driver's side sun visor. I drove that one 300,000 miles on the original u-joints without a single problem before I sold it. I greased them every couple of years with whatever grease was in the gun, usually Mobil 1. I got under my 2018 OR DCLB AT yesterday (build date June 21, 2018 in Tijuana) and there was a grand total of exactly one zerk at the front of the front driveshaft. Nothing anywhere else. I went back and triple checked every joint to be sure I wasn't missing anything, hand rotating each joint while looking. And for those who don't know already, all you have to do to be able to rotate the rear driveshaft by hand (and mine has a Spicer Balanced Driveshaft label on it) is to jack up only one rear wheel so it just clears the ground while you shut the engine off with the transmission in neutral. Then, when you turn the driveshaft, that wheel will turn as you rotate the shaft.

It seems like, after slogging through this entire thread that there are quite a few assembly variations over the last few years so the only way to really know is to get underneath and carefully inspect.

 

You missed 1…. At the rear of the front shaft.... Remove the shield and there it is....!!

 

Sorry guys. No I did not miss one. I took the shield off and turned that sucker 360 a couple of times. Nada.

 

what year is yer truck..??

Helps a lot if you put that info in your signature.

OOOpppS.. sorry I now see its a 2018......WTF.

 

Well, I did put the exact date it was built in my original post this morning. And I know that because it was special ordered and they notified us the actual day it was built - June 21, 2018. So maybe this is a summer solstice thing, I don't know, but I've been greasing zerks for something like fifty years now and I do know what they look and feel like.

 

LOL, I told my wife the same thing!

 

It seems that there was at least one person here several pages back who reported having only one zerk as well. This is not something I'm going to spend much time thinking about.

 

I think its there just painted black so hard to see.

 

Then I would have been able to feel them with my fingers, which I also stuck in there, while looking with a strong flashlight. Nada.

 

Maybe 1 got broken off.

 

Is this what my manual means when it says "lubricate propeller shaft"?

 

Dude - NO. Nothing has broken off. You're grasping for someone else's straws and just guessing.

 

@NunyaBizness

 

Shit, just seeing this thread. Is this still an issue on 19’s? I’m like 6500 miles in and this post is freaking me out lol

 

I just checked my 2019 TRD Sport 4X4. No grease fittings on the driveline.

One would have to presume that sealed bearings are properly greased, wouldn't one?

 

Did you check the front driveshaft?

 

My 2017 SR5 DCSB 6-cylinder 4x4 has 0 zerks. I couldn’t find any, and I had a friend with more automotive experience than me check as well.

 

Mine is a 2018 only two zerks as well. Other ones are sealed u joints maintenance free.

 

Mine had 2 zerks, one in each u joint in the front driveline. You have to look closely.