Check Your U-Joints

That argument could also be made for internal combustion. Even your horse will eventually die, you know.

 

Good point. I needed to hear that. I know just enough about car repair to be dangerous...to the car!

I'll go get a grease gun. Is there anything special about the Toyota zerts, or are they all standard?

 

Sounds like having components that are greasable is better than "sealed". Makes me wonder the stuff I overlooked or neglected on my other cars I've had in the past.

 

Depends on use and/or diligence to maintenance.

Some argue sealed u-joints are stronger because they lack grease cavities in the cross journal.

 

Standard. Zerks.

Ima do you a favor, to your wallet, and your sanity. Ignore almost all of what you read on here (this post excepted, obviously!). Your truck is fine. Your truck will be fine. This site will make you worry about nothing, and spend money on shit you don't even want and certainly don't need.

The reality is, most Tacoma owners are not on here. Most Tacoma owners blissfully drive their trucks to 200,000 miles and beyond without even thinking about lubing the U-joints. If you lube them, they'll be fine. If you don't, they'll be fine. The same could be said for almost any thread on here... change the oil and put gas in it and put on new tires every 70,000 miles. Done.

Now having said that, I lubed the fuck out of my 2 zerks, but I fully recognize the futility of doing it. I just am really bored on my days off.

 

What? No differential oil change???

 

How are we supposed to grease the driveshaft without zerks?

 

You don't grease sealed u-joints. They will last a while., or you could get a needle injector and pop some grease in there, just make sure to do that every week or so as you've broke the seal to the sealed joint ......just kidding about that.....don't grease the sealed joints.....they will be fine.

 

Found the zerks. Three pumps each. If you're a mall crawler, I don't see the need to

 

Not sure if it's been mentioned but my 2017 TRD Sport Short Bed Manufactured Oct 2016 only has two zerks, the ones in the front drive shaft.
Both needed 3-5 pumps of grease before they were full.
Some picture proof:

 

My 17 only has fitting on the front driveshaft as well

 

Yep, I'm in the same boat 2 grease fitting on the front DS....

 

I'm sure it was mentioned in here but going through 55 pages is a lot lol.

How is everyone getting to the zerks on the front shaft?
I just tried doing it today and the end of my grease gun can't fit in there.
Guessing needle adaptor?

 

grease gun hose thingy. $7-8 bucks at HD and autozone. Works fine for me.

 

mines got a hose.
I have the Lumax one that's posted in this thread. The hose is too big though to fit in between the u joint to get to the zerk

 

I know everyone is greasing your joints properly right? Toyota uses spicer joints and here is the proper way to grease them.
I won't get into a debate about when or how often to do it though. Your big boys read the manufacturer recommendations. Some people here don't think u joints need greased which also happens to be the same people that believe your trans is 100% full from the factory despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary...

 

well that stinks.

Mine didn't come with a hose and I had to buy one. The one I bought from HD for about $7 or $8 fits the front one. that front one is a pain in the ass to get to so I could see how a slight difference in size could cause it to not fit.

 

Don't forget to check the diffs ..... mine were BOTH low... rear about 3/4 cup... front about 1/4 cup..
Transfer case was good..

 

Joe... rotate the front shaft so you can get at the zerk from the driver's side, at about a 7 oclock position.... (low left)

It's really tight if you don't do this..! The other one is no big deal if you remove the heat shield under it.

I've know of a guy that ground down the sides of his "tip" to get in there... Not all tips are the same size... (that's what my wife said anyway)..!