No Zerks on Rear Driveshaft

I have a 2010 ACLB and during my first oil change as the owner I went to grease the zerks on the driveshafts. I got the front two but was surprised to see no zerks on the rear shaft. However, at every u joint there is grease splatter around every U joint like they had zerks at one point. Any Ideas? I saw one thread about a guy who got his leaf spring recall done as well as his driveshaft got swapped out without his knowledge. Could that be the case? Thanks

 

It is possible the U-joints were replaced with the non-greaseable type.

Or prop shaft was replaced.

Hard to say.

 

Is there a sticker /etching on the drive shaft indicating when it was manufactured? If it’s the original, the date code has to be prior to the truck’s build date.

 

Its highly likely that the PO replaced them with sealed ones when the old ones failed.

 

The zerks in the rear-shaft have nipples on the outside of the joke, so make sure to wipe everything down on joints and look closely. The nips may be hidden in grease and grime.

 

Forgot to mention that the truck only had 29,000 when I bought it last March. I wouldnt have thought they would need replaced that soon

 

I looked everywhere. Im a mechanic so I have access to a lift. I looked on all four caps as well as the intersection like where the front shafts zerks are. I even double checked another day. I can confirm there are not zerks...

 

There are some alternate style shafts with sealed u-joints. AFAIK Toyota dealt with Spicer to develop a strong, greaseable bearing, after their initial use of a sealed bearing.

 

Meh, that low of miles means those u joints never moved. I would think it's just as good of a reason.
I got a new drive shaft a few years ago, can confirm no zerks.

 

There was a TSB some time ago for a driveshaft shutter. Mine had it, dealer replaced U-joints, center carrier bearing, and rebalance drive shaft.
No zerks on new improved joints.

 

You wouldnt happen to have that TSB number would you? if not I can skim through AllData. I have a vibe that vibes for like a half second then off then on again and so on from like 65-80mph... Ill have to look into it and see what its about. Thanks

 

My understanding is the 5 lugs have no zerks, like mine, not one zerk anywhere.

I have very little time messing with ujoints.

A few possibilities. There are no zerks where your looking for them. The zerks fell out or broke off. The flung grease is due to what grease was in the ujoint has leaked out.

 

Found the TSB T-SB-0302-17

 

I'm not certain...I can look for it in a few. I saw this in another post.
TSB 0016-13
I'll verify when I get back to my truck.

 

I think I found it, T-SB-0302-17

 

Read this as well...the official Toyota campaign is ZH2.
https://www.torquenews.com/1083/new-toyota-tacoma-warranty-extension-driveshaft-vibrations-2005-2011

 

The rear joint has the greatest angle it would be the first one to fail from lack of maintenance. OP how many miles? My 2011 is at 140K same joints.

 

purchased at 29,500 currently at 37,000

 

What's the history on your 2010 to have only 29k miles when you bought it?

 

The TSB is not for joints that haven't been greased. Even still that's pretty low mileage for a U joint failure fitting or not.