Greasing all 5 zerks on early 3rd Gen drive shafts

Using @Soft Taco's recommended maintenance service schedule, you may find drive shaft geasing was last done years ago if ever. Black as oil pushing out. And I still have the front 2 to go.
If preowned, replace all your fluids instead of the more likely past topoffs or supplements.

 

Good stuff. Id be surprised if even 1/4 of used Tacomas get around to this level of care.

 

Wait, what? I thought 3rd gens didn't have driveshaft zerks? I suppose I should look.

 

You don't. They were pretty much all done away with and sealed by 2019.

 

Ahh, thank you. Early 3rd gen. I glossed over that part.

 

2018 has three up front but no rears.

 

Here is some interesting insight on greaseable vs. non greaseable Zerks.

“Bottom line on strength: The non-greaseable joint is slightly stronger than a greaseable joint. The exact number, how much stronger, is unknown and we do not believe it to be very significant.

Bottom line on wear life: A regularly greased greaseable joint will outlive a non-greaseable joint. But a non-greaseable joint will outlive a greaseable joint that does not get greased properly.”

https://4xshaft.com/blogs/faq/greas...strength: The,outlive a non-greaseable joint.

 

I just did my 2016s a couple of weeks ago and had a similar experience. Bought pre owned at 55k 5 months ago. It had regular dealer service, but I don’t think they regularly service the drive-shaft, if at all.

 

My Zerks came dry from the factory. Took about 4 pumps for each Zerk to purge. I grease them every time I do an oil change.

 

My 2019 has 2 on the front. Sealed on the back. I just did this on mine a week or two ago.

 

Just in case some poor slob is down wallowing in the dust looking for the other two, many of the 2018's, even early '18's, were already down to one forwardmost zirk.

 

Do it now or do it later.


Actually my U-joints were still ok @145K, it was the carrier brg that necessitated the work. 2 piece drive shafts are balky and a bit of a pita when doing the work alone so I replaced all the DS wear items while it was apart.

 

my 2018 has two on the front propeller shaft universals only. 2018 was apparently a transition year and "use up anything you find laying around" at the factory.
the op pic shows zerks easily accessed from outside the universal (if i understand pics). mine are on the inside and a pita to clip onto. have to position them just right with a wrench to get the grease gun attached.
...and mine were dry from the factory. fortunately my use of 4wd was low before i greased them.

 

I’d say this is too much grease, it weakens the seals.

i was taught to pump until you hear it crack. It should not be puking out like this.

usually 3 pumps for joints and 5 or more for slip.

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/wH-fvddVt-g?si=9JLC5y2LW2QYpi0L

 

that’s a new dry joint, if one path doesn’t purge you can’t fix it on the truck anyway.

old u joints have old seals

my issue is how much past purge op went, it’s just a lot.

maintenance pumps are different than installation.

Both are better than not doing it though.

 

Great point!

 

I had to remove the exhaust heat shield to get to one of mine.

 

The U-joint used was a prop, but the same procedure nonetheless, new or used.
One "crack" doesn't indicate the job is done, or that the u joint is still in serviceable condition.

 

The crack is the small purge. It’s not an empty joint unless it’s already blown.

My reasoning is protecting the seals and not slinging all that new grease out.

I wonder what the manual says, I’ve never actually read it regarding this. Just taught many years ago.