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Greasing Entire Drive Shaft U-Joints (5 Zerks Total)

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by The Parts Whore, Oct 18, 2009.

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  1. Oct 18, 2009 at 11:12 AM
    #1
    The Parts Whore

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    The Parts Whore [OP] Slinging parts since '03

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    I saw this thread posted on TTORA and thought it'd be a good time to check up on the drive shaft u-joints. On a nice Sunday morning...with the football games on, cold beers, wrenching with your better half = priceless. I also received an early xmas gifts with new suspension (leafs, shocks, and coils...buh bye King) setup to install so today is a good day. :D

    *Write up on that will be posted later when I'm not lazy.

    I tried to take clear pics of where the zerks are so hopefully it'll make it easier for you to find/identify.

    You'll need:

    1.) grease gun
    2.) your favorite grease
    3.) rags
    4.) brake cleaner
    5.) flashlight (maybe)

    Grease gun:

    IMG_3815_64159b9e56f1ce39d4d3fe1f1a8080721e3a9ec5.jpg

    Front of drive shaft (near tranny)

    IMG_3816_f08a8df99b718e6aaabcf10e87acd3b4eb7a8951.jpg

    Mid joints...there are 3 zerks, the third one is a bit hidden.

    IMG_3823_6cb893d6152abf63a87a6501620024c102c6b9fd.jpg

    IMG_3827_9272832c62ab46fef09d50b29b23eaf13b4719a9.jpg

    And last two (near the axle)

    IMG_3825_b0752ead22e812d29b275871dd0b225237a72512.jpg

    Once again, be sure to clean the zerks before apply the grease. You should be able to see the old grease coming out in dark color. It should be the same for all 95-04 Tacoma Xtra-Cab & DC but don't quote me on it. Take this write-up with a grain of salt, trash it or use it for all I care. :p
     
    The Parts Whore, Oct 18, 2009
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  2. Oct 18, 2009 at 4:01 PM
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    Tacoyota

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    Tacoyota senile member

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    HELP! I cant find zerks 2,3,&4 , i think the factory screwed up !!


    Just kidding , i got a reg cab. :laugh:

    Thanks for the reminder though, i have the grease and need to check it b4 my elk hunt.
     
    Tacoyota, Oct 18, 2009
    #2
  3. Oct 19, 2009 at 7:55 AM
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    Janster

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    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    Nice writeup....but I think you forgot one of them.

    It's in the last picture..... and to the right on the 'ear' near the base of the shaft - that's probably for the slip yoke. Always wondered where that one was. Never went and looked for it on my own truck. :rolleyes:

    :D
     
    Janster, Oct 19, 2009
    #3
  4. Nov 9, 2009 at 10:54 AM
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    scrapedface

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    scrapedface Well-Known Member

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    grease didn't seem like it was going in on the forward part of both the front and rear propeller shafts. the grease was spewing out of the connection between the gun and the zerk. it was going in fine on both rear parts of the propeller shafts. is that normal?
     
    scrapedface, Nov 9, 2009
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  5. Nov 9, 2009 at 11:13 AM
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    Agent475

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    Agent475 "Mark It Zero"

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    It probably wasn't completely attached to the zerk.

    Anyone else have pics/descriptions of any other grease zerks (like stock UCAs)?
     
    Agent475, Nov 9, 2009
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  6. Nov 15, 2009 at 3:39 PM
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    Igor

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    Igor New Member

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    I have a 2008 tacoma double cab long bed with 4x4. According to the maintenance recommendation it is time for me to grease the "propeller" shaft (drive shaft). My manual reads the following:
    Front drive shaft thrust bushings

    Synthetic oil and lithium soap base chassis grease, NLGI No. 1
    Propeller Shafts

    Spiders
    Lithium base chassis grease, NLGI No. 2
    Slide yokes

    Lithium base chassis grease, NLGI No. 2 or Molybdenum-disulfide lithium base chassis grease, NLGI No.2

    How to the zerks I have found on the drive shaft correspond to the descriptions above? I found a total of 5 zerks along the drive shaft in the following locations (please see the attached PDF for pictures). Starting at the front there is a small shaft which corresponds to the front wheel drive case for 4x4. On each end there is 1 zerk so 2 total, these zerks are hidden and hard to see but there is 1 good picture in the PDF. Do these correspond to the " Front drive shaft thrust bushings" description in the manual?

    Next there is the rear drive shaft ("propeller shaft") which has 3 zerks on it, 2 on each far end and 1 in the middle. Do the zerks on each far end of the entire drive line shaft correspond to the Spiders and the one in the middle to the slide yoke?

    I just want to make sure I use the correct grease for each location and that there is nothing I am missing in this procedure (hidden zerks or something else I need to lube).

    Thank you in advance to anyone that can verify my assumptions above!
     

    Attached Files:

    Igor, Nov 15, 2009
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  7. Nov 15, 2009 at 6:53 PM
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    Terrier

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    Terrier Well-Known Member

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    Igor, I am not sure, but in the photos above, I think they are all "spiders". I am certain someone else will chime in with a more certain response to your questions.
     
    Terrier, Nov 15, 2009
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  8. Nov 16, 2009 at 4:04 PM
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    Crom

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    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Igor, According to Drew02a, the two zerks on the font drive shaft are indeed the "front drive shaft thrust bushings." Strange huh?

    Please allow me to digress on the subject of grease.

    I don't think it matters that much if you use NLGI Grade #1 on the front. I would use NLGI Grade #2 all the way around.

    Today I looked at synthetic grease products from Mobile One and Valvoline. Both of their product offerings are NLGI Grade 2. Both appear to be very high quality. I was unsuccessful in finding NLGI Grade 1 grease on either of their websites.

    I did manage to find some NLGI #1 from AMSOIL

    I also managed to give myself an education in Grease. There is a wonderful article on Grease titled: Grease: don't let the details slip through your fingers By Bruce McCallum (1998)

    Here is a great quote from the article:
     
    Crom, Nov 16, 2009
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  9. Nov 17, 2009 at 4:55 PM
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    Igor

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    Thank you, that is what I needed to know!

    I have been reading up on grease as well before posting, it is a much more complex topic than I had ever imagined. Also I have found some contradicting statements about using moly fortified grease and I think I will stay away from that for now unless someone convinces me otherwise.

    This weekend I ordered 2 tubes of grease from AMSOil. One tube of Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease NLGI #2 and a tube of Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease NLGI #1. They should both be here by tomorrow afternoon.

    Thank you both for replying.
     
    Igor, Nov 17, 2009
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  10. Nov 22, 2009 at 5:45 PM
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    linkfeeney

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    linkfeeney Well-Known Member

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    I dont know if I should grease the shaft myself or not... is not easy to get to it... boy I sure wish I had a vehicle lifting device thingy... :(... if I do... Should the MOBIL 1 Synethic grease will do just find right?
     
    linkfeeney, Nov 22, 2009
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  11. Nov 22, 2009 at 5:48 PM
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    rscecil007

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    rscecil007 Well-Known Member

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    I did mine yesterday for the first time using M1 grease and a grease gun I bought at Lowe's. Super easy to do. Go for it!
     
    rscecil007, Nov 22, 2009
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  12. Nov 23, 2009 at 3:11 AM
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    linkfeeney

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    linkfeeney Well-Known Member

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    I guess u got the Mobil 1 grease? what color are they? so I put the hose thing onto the zerks and that's all I have to do?? Pump the grease in until it comes out? where's the old grease will be coming out from? I guess I have to see it in person to see how it goes so I wont have these many questions...:)
     
    linkfeeney, Nov 23, 2009
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  13. Nov 23, 2009 at 5:05 AM
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    rscecil007

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    rscecil007 Well-Known Member

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    The grease or the can? Grease is pinkish, can is silver I think. Yup, just put the coupler on the end of the hose on the zerk, and give it 4 or 5 good pumps. The old grease will be forced out of the seals.

    and yes, it will make more sense when you do it. ;)
     
    rscecil007, Nov 23, 2009
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  14. Nov 23, 2009 at 5:13 AM
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    jester156

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    jester156 Well-Known Member

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    did mine this weekend also, not sure what was in the gun, but it was grease :p.
    also changed all the oils, some looked good, others like the front diff.... not so pretty
     
    jester156, Nov 23, 2009
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  15. Nov 23, 2009 at 3:37 PM
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    Bobcat

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    Bobcat Well-Known Member

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    hmmm so many jokes... :D
     
    Bobcat, Nov 23, 2009
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  16. Nov 23, 2009 at 3:47 PM
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    T@co_Pr3runn3r

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    T@co_Pr3runn3r, Nov 23, 2009
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  17. Nov 23, 2009 at 4:58 PM
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    linkfeeney

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    linkfeeney Well-Known Member

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    so I guess the new grease will replace it...
    man I wish i can see it in person, I'm a hands on training kinda guy.. :)
     
    linkfeeney, Nov 23, 2009
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  18. Nov 23, 2009 at 5:09 PM
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    linkfeeney

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    linkfeeney Well-Known Member

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    is the mobil 1 grease is made of silicone? can i use it as brake grease also?
    thanks!
     
    linkfeeney, Nov 23, 2009
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  19. Nov 30, 2009 at 7:34 AM
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    Janster

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    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    Can someone update the first post to reflect the zerk #6 bubble?

    If you do a quote & preview, there's another bubble showing Zerk #6, but for some reason - it's not updating on the page.

    This is weird....cuz one minute I can see it, and the next time I look at it, I can't. Or is it just me?
     
    Janster, Nov 30, 2009
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  20. Nov 30, 2009 at 7:53 AM
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    The Parts Whore

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    The Parts Whore [OP] Slinging parts since '03

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    I did update it and it shows #6 for me. :notsure:

    Maybe try Ctrl + F5 to force a refresh.
     
    The Parts Whore, Nov 30, 2009
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