Driveshaft u-joint greasing

Just picked up a 2021 Tacoma and was wondering if the u-joints need periodic greasing? Looked but didn't see any grease fittings? Thanks!

 

I can only speak for my 2017, but the only zerks (grease fittings) are two on the very front drive shaft. That's it, no more.

 

There are none. At least not on my 21 TRDOR. I was used to greasing my zerks on my FJ's and got under the Taco to find zero, ziltch, nada.

 

Thanks guys. I saw some videos of Tacomas with grease fittings and also the driveshafts shown didn't have the areas with the rubber sleeves on them like the one on my '21. Toyota must have made some changes on the driveshafts on the newest models.

 

2020 are none to grease

 

I didn't see any zerks on my 2019 Sport either, took it to a local mechanic just in case and he didn't see anything either.

 

Interesting, I wonder why that is. My 2016 definitely has them on the front and rear. I also totally forgot about them for a few years. Just greased them the other day. At least they weren’t dry.

So are the newer ones just sealed or something?

 

OK. Thanks everyone. One less thing to do.

 

2021 SR5 4 x 4, no fittings on front and rear drive shafts.

 

Yeah my '16 OR had them on the front and rear driveshafts, the '19 Sport only has them on the front.

 

It would appear Toyota removed all grease zerks on the driveshaft from 2020 onwards. Mine has zero.

 

I had a 2004 Colorado for 10 years put on 178,000 miles, highway and hunting trails. No zerks never had an issue. Same with a 2014 Sierra, no zerks for 80k. No problems.

 

I just replaced a 2010 Colorado's U joints. And they had already been replaced before because I didn't need to melt any plastic. About 100k miles. Everyone's MMV, and I'm sure there are a lot of factors to consider.

 

What I've seen on this forum over the last few years is a phase out of grease fittings. My 2020 doesn't have them though the manual still says to lube the driveshaft. You know stealerships are charging people for it anyway.

 

I bet you're right.

The list of factory maintenance still includes "lubricate propeller shafts" for my '19, about the same price as it was when I had my '16..... BUT there's 3 less zerks to mess with lol!

 

You might also be surprised to see that newer U-joints don't have needle bearings in them like traditional ones did (see pic in post #13). Newer U-joints are precisely machined and honed metal to metal joints. Sealed for life with just a bit of lubricant and they last seemingly forever.

 

Thanks for the info. Found my answer!

 

On my 2.gen my drive shaft came apart last year on the way home from the rocky mountains and I think the reason was, that I and the previous owner was not always on top of maintenance when it comes to the grease fittings. Anyway at a Toyota dealer they installed a new driveshaft and told me that the new ones do not need to be greased any more.

 

None. My 2016 has u joints with zerks but my 2020 does not.