Question about UV joint leaking

I've had a hot grease smell for the past couple months. Finally took a look yesterday and my driveshaft is flinging grease on the heat shields from the universal joints at each end. I don't know much about 4wd or how that type of setup works. Where exactly is the grease coming from ad what's involved in correcting it. Thanks for ant help.

 

The u-joints are supposed to be greased. Centrifugal force will force the grease to fling out under the truck. It's normal

 

If you put excessive amount of grease it's normal to fly around. Now if you haven't put any grease yet since you bought your truck now is the right time.

 

I've never greased them. I thought there was a seal or something in there that was leaking. Why am I just now smelling it after 9 years? If they just need buttered down I can do that. Is it only recently smelling because it's built up so much grease? There's quite a bit, as you can see there on the shield.

 

If I'm looking at the pic right, the tail shaft may be leaking. That looks to be more than just grease. I may be transmission fluid. A few better pics would help.

 

Did you take it for an oil change recently? Sometimes they will grease the u-joints when they change your oil.

 

Not sure but are sure that the smell is coming from that area? Care to wipe it off?

 

Thank you all. It's definitely grease. It looks more like a stain in that pic, but it's clumpy above the joint where the pic doesn't show. I change my own oil so it hasn't been greased. I did some research today and I think it's bearing grease from the joint. I'm gonna try to find a shop near the house and get some professional eyes on it and get it fixed. If I'm right, that's a bigger job than I want to mess with. If I'm wrong..that's a bigger job than I want to mess with.

 

My 99 looks the same way. It's old black grease. I'd pump some new grease in them and call it a day

 

I would do the same ^^

 

As a matter of point, one should grease the U joints everytime the oil is changed, almost 300,000 here, still on original U joints....

 

I dropped it off at a shop this morning. Said it's differential fluid from a bad seal. I forget what the part was called, but I guess it's the seal where it connects at the transmission. $115 to fix it, part and all. I'm having them go ahead and change the fluid in both diffs. I was afraid it would end up being something more costly, so I'm happy as can be.

 

I got the truck back yesterday. Came back out this morning and there was fluid dripping from under the truck. It wasn't a big puddle yet and I'm 45 miles from the shop, so I drove it in. Had to go to work anyway. They said they've had a little trouble from that manufacturer's seals and they would redo it. They called a while ago and the owner asked who worked on my truck after it was wrecked. I was initially surprised he knew that. He said he knew because it was an aftermarket axle. I wrecked it 5 years ago and I had it taken to a local dealership thinking that I would get toyota parts. Maybe toyota doesnt make that part in-house, or maybe the insurance company dictates what parts are use. I dunno.

Said they tried to reseal it again today with a different brand seal and it's still leaking, and it looks like the axle isn't the right one. He had them bring a new axle from the parts store and it doesn't match what's on the truck. Said it looks like it's been developing the leak over a long time as the part has worn down. I know it's been leaking at least 3 months but it could have been much longer with as slow as it's been doing it. I have no idea. I don't know enough about 4WD systems to even be skeptical, but this is a reputable shop and they're not charging me for the labor. Just $120 for the part.

I've been looking at getting a mustang and finally put a hold deposit on one last night to be picked up saturday. I'm not trading the truck, which is why I wanted to go ahead and get the leak fixed so I didnt end up neglecting it while I was out carving corners and doing pointless burnouts. I hope the universe isn't trying to spoil my plan..lol

 

Good luck

 

thanks

the saga continues. took it home last night. puddle of fluid again this morning. i wont even go into the whole story, but it's back at the shop.

 

Years ago I had a problem with a car I owned, it was a seal problem similiar to this, took them FOUR redos before they got it right, a frigging nightmare....keep at it, get it fixed right....

 

I think it's fixed. They put the new, correct CV axle in it and drove it and let it sit all day and no leak. I took it home, and found another puddle under it the next morning. I took it back (third time). They took the axles and diff off and took it to a toyota dealership a few miles down the road from the shop, set it on the table and asked for help. The tech there knew right away they had used after market seals and told them that particular seal has to be the toyota part. My mechanic was skeptical, so the toyota tech walked off and came back a minute later with a box full of aftermarket seals he had replaced for the same issue. He showed the them the toyota seal and it was described to me as having three lips vs only one lip on the two different aftermarket seals they had used. They bought a seal from the dealership, and the tech told them if that doesn't fix it to bring the truck to him and he'd fix it for free. They put in the seal and charged me nothing.

I took it home saturday, it sat all sunday..no leaks..drove it 35 miles to work and home yesterday, no leaks. Fingers are crossed, but it looks like he was right.

And I did get the mustang GT so I've had transportation during this saga. What an amazing machine..so much fun.