Danger of no zirc fittings on 3rd Gen u-joints

aero90 · Jul 14, 2017

If you really don't feel comfortable with non serviceable ones for some reason, it really isn't that expensive to replace them. If you have the ability to just take out the bolts on the prop shaft, you can take the entire shaft/u-joint assembly to a 4x4 shop and have them press out the old ones, put new serviceable Spicer ones in and balance the assembly for maybe $125 (including cost of u-joints) if I remember correctly on my old truck. Then just hook up the driveshaft again and you are good to go.

Or you can mess with u-joint hand held press rental from AutoZone for 6 hours trying to press the new u joints in yourself only to realize no matter how hard you try, the c-clips don't fit by 1/2 a mm at most.

Your choice.

Mully · Jul 14, 2017

shackley[OP] said: ↑

That would be true if it was the old style with u-bolt holding the bearings in, but these are press fit. Take a look. Your older Tacoma and Land Cruiser have grease fittings don't they.

To do it correctly, and not bind the bearing, you have to press them out. I know, I did that in the Marines on much larger u-joints and truck driveshafts. So, yes I've serviced many driveshafts, but not without a press.

If you saw that truck going into the opposing lane on the freeway, you wouldn't be calm.

This is Toyota saving a few dollars since the techs at the dealers NEVER grease u-joints. Many comments here about that.

And all this is beside the point: Toyota should have done this on a $35,000 truck.
Click to expand...

Replace your drive shaft with a one piece unit from Tom Woods Drive shafts. Done.

drwx · Jul 14, 2017

17s got a power rear slider. 16s got zerks on the ujoints.

shackley · Jul 20, 2017

aero90 said: ↑

If you really don't feel comfortable with non serviceable ones for some reason, it really isn't that expensive to replace them. If you have the ability to just take out the bolts on the prop shaft, you can take the entire shaft/u-joint assembly to a 4x4 shop and have them press out the old ones, put new serviceable Spicer ones in and balance the assembly for maybe $125 (including cost of u-joints) if I remember correctly on my old truck. Then just hook up the driveshaft again and you are good to go.

Or you can mess with u-joint hand held press rental from AutoZone for 6 hours trying to press the new u joints in yourself only to realize no matter how hard you try, the c-clips don't fit by 1/2 a mm at most.

Your choice.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's my plan at about 5000 mi. drwx says that 16s had zircs.

splitbolt · Jul 20, 2017

shackley[OP] said: ↑

Yeah, that's my plan at about 5000 mi. drwx says that 16s had zircs.
Click to expand...

They did away with the rear zerks about June-July '16.

aero90 · Jul 21, 2017

shackley[OP] said: ↑

Yeah, that's my plan at about 5000 mi. drwx says that 16s had zircs.
Click to expand...

Mine was built March 2016, I have zerks on all u-joints.

computeruser6 · Jul 21, 2017

Wow, that first post is so full of fail.

Spicer Life Joint

I wonder how many people who have greasable joints actually follow this procedure?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-fvddVt-g

More random videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUFzehQBDPI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPRP2M8F-gU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BITX6fZMz5Q

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Danger of no zirc fittings on 3rd Gen u-joints

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shackley [OP] Well-Known Member

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Danger of no zirc fittings on 3rd Gen u-joints

#41 aero90 Well-Known Member

#42 Mully Well-Known Member

#43 drwx Well-Known Member

#44 shackley [OP] Well-Known Member

#45 splitbolt Voodoo Witch Doctor

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#47 computeruser6 Nuclear Janitor

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#41
aero90 Well-Known Member

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#43
drwx Well-Known Member

#44
shackley [OP] Well-Known Member

#45
splitbolt Voodoo Witch Doctor

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computeruser6 Nuclear Janitor

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