Check Your U-Joints

That's a nice armchair point of view, but there is a reason zerk fittings are equipped. And a term "preventative maintenance" comes to mind. If you think assembly grease is all it needs more power to you. Give us "zerk greasing fanboys" a little time in the sun.

 

So answer the question, do you believe the non-zerk u-joints are assembled with more grease then those equipped with zerks?

 

Has you mention empty channels can draw away grease from the needle roller bearings with heat expansion. Reducing set lubricant present. I feel better knowing I'm doing my best to reduce friction. And keeping the engineered film of lubricant where it's needs to be. And yes I've had my share of driveline failures, but not in toyotas mostly in WW2 Dodge powereagons

 

I got my taco OR DCLB 4x4. It only two of them got zerks out of 5. I purchased my car on 7/16

 

Not worried either way. It's an easy replacement with good ones when they originals fail. It'll give me something to do in 20 years. Lol

 

Weird!

 

Glad I stumbled across this thread. I was able to grease all the zerks but one. The front 90° is on too much of an angle to get at. Tried turning with a wrench but couldn't get it to turn. What can I do?

 

It's part of the 15k maintenance shedule, so at intervals greasing the propeller shaft is something the dealership does when you bring in your truck. Doing it before the 15k just makes sense, especially if there is only a light amount of grease on the needle bearings. U joints eventually fail on these trucks, greasing them before the 15k might make them last longer, and its cheap. From the manual, 15k interval service:

• Inspect cabin air filter
  (if applicable)
• Lubricate propeller shaft
  (where applicable)
• Inspect fuel lines and charcoal canister

 

Showtime, I had to tighten mine to get a good bite with the grease gun. Maybe you have to loosen yours a bit. BTW it's an 3/8" American size hex at the base of the zerk, you might have to turn the drive shaft and access it from the opposite side of the grease fitting to turn it. ( this is the furthest forward grease fitting I'm refuring to )
Fred

 

Interesting, my same OR DCLB 4x4 manufactured 3/16 has the 5 zerks. They were all dry when I greased them.

 

I did that and it took grease and the rear 3 took grease as well. I'm referring to the very 1st zerk closest to the engine

 

I tired tightening and nothing. If I loosen it will it take grease or just ooze out of the threads?

 

There's still enough thread contact to prevent any grease to escape.

 

Well I'm going to give it a try and report back

 

I had to loosen mine slightly and all was good.

 

I know non-sealed u-joints thus far do not have ufficient grease from the factory.

Sealed u-joints ship with the correct amount of grease from Spicer.
The assembly grease shipped in non- sealed u-joints is just that; assembly lube. They only need enough assembly lube to protect the needles during shipping and storage.
They require purging after assembly to get the correct amount of grease.
This is all per Spicer.

I don't know Toyota's procedure for assembling sealed u-joints.
But, let's say for the sake of argument, ol' Jeb takes all the caps off but doesn't pay attention to the order when installing. Do you think you have sufficient grease?
Let's say ol' Jeb dropped a journal on the shop floor...don't worry, he wiped all the greasy dirt off before assembling it in the driveshaft. Do you think you have sufficient grease?
Sealed u-joints are not fool-proof; hope you enjoy yours.

 

Well I got to take grease. The front 2 took about 8 pumps and the rear 3, 3-4 pumps.

 

And you know this how? Do you think Toyota u-joints are manually greased? If you do, well... I won't say it. Toyota does not use spicer U-joints. And where are all the failures????? This whole thread is full of so much BS. People pushing grease past the seals and claiming it is contaminated grease because it is black. It is black because it is high moly grease. They are pushing out the good grease and replacing it with inferior grease with no moly. Do you believe you know more about u-joints and their maintenance then Toyota? This whole thread is a fecking joke and this is the last post I will make in it.

 

As I posted earlier, toyota calls for greasing the propeller shaft ( the zerks on the driveshaft ) at 15k intervals. This thread just suggests that you do it sooner, as they are shipping with minimal grease on the needle bearings. No more posts from you ? Good , and I think we all agree to that , thanks, bye felicia..