Lubricating drive shaft or propeller on 2006 4x4 Tacoma's...

Hey does anyone know how to lubricate the drive shaft/propeller shaft for 2006, 4x4 Tacoma's or if it can even be done?

 

Yeah but I wasn't sure if it was it. Let me go take a pic for you chris. Hey remember, I'm not a mechanic like you! Haha!!!

 

Are those the grease zerks?

 

Once a year I grease the part I think you're talking about! Just to the rear of the carrier bearing on the drive shaft is a rubber bellows that protects a splined slip joint that allows the drive shaft to "shorten" as the rear axle travels up. Block the wheels so the truck won't roll!!!!! I removed the factory clamp at the front of the boot and removed the 4 bolts that hold the end of the drive shaft to the differential. You might need a mallet to knock the drive shaft loose. Put some kind of marks on both sides of this splined joint. It's important to keep all those u-joints in phase. Lower the driveshaft to the ground and carefully slide the joint apart. Regrease the splines and slide back together. Re-torque the bolts at the rear diff. I replaced the factory clamp on the rubber boot with a S.S. hoseclamp and added another one just on front with the screw portion 180 degrees from the first to kinda "balance" things out.
While you're under there you may as well grease the zerks on the u-joints front and rear.
It probably sounds more complicated than it is. I thinks it's about a 1/2 an hour to do everything listed above.

Cheers

 

WW FireFighter, those indeed are zerk fittings, and you can pump grease into them! Clean them off tho so you don't pump dirt in. Should be done every service. There is also some on the front drive shaft, they are inside and somewhat difficult to get to. Pump until you hear/see grease come out. couple pumps is usually all thats needed.

 

Yeah on those pictures the very top picture is the bottom front of the truck, 2nd picture is the bottom middle of the truck and the last picture is the bottom rear of the truck. There's only one zerk fitting per propeller shaft. If that's even what its called! Haha!

 

Jeez that was a lot more then i was looking for but thanks!!! I'm just going by my Tacoma maintenance book that came with the truck. I missed my 18 months or 15,000 miles servicing. I always do the oil chages and tire rotations on time but if you look at the booklet, it has "lubricate propeller shaft and to re-torque the bolts." That's the only thing I missed. But I think both you and sonjay are right. I think all I have to do is grease up those U-joints. That's what they are right, in those pictures I have? Those are the U-joints right?

 

Yes, those are the ones.

 

Now I'm going to buy a grease gun here pretty soon. Are the zerk fittings a universal fitting for grease guns?

 

I'm pretty sure its the larger one. I like the grease guns with a pistol grip I think there called. one handed operation.

 

Yeah there's a bunch for sale on ebay with the pistol grip. Now what kind of grease should I use?

 

It should give a spec in the manual. I use red or green stuff? Don't get black grease or moly. Other then that most oil companies make good stuff. If it gets cold where you are get a good all season grease.

 

I see a lot of lithium grease. Will that be okay?

 

I would stay away from lithium grease for u-joints. If its warm where you are use a GL1 or if its cold use a GL2 spec grease. Also you don't need to spend the money on synthetic grease for u-joints, a petroleum base will do.

 

Yeah its super cold right now where I live! Its like 10 degrees out right now!!! So if I get GL2 grease for the cold, should I re-grease with GL1 in the summer time? Also, what is GL1 and GL2?

 

I need to get this done soon myself

 

Is there 5 or 8 zerk fittings total for a Double Cab, anyone know?

Aren't you supposed to use Moly for the U joints and a different grease for the rest.

I'm slightly confused on this subject.