Is there such thing as too much grease?

Hey guys, I'm doing a tune up on Betty today. I bought the grease gun and some certified grease, found the nipples, then had a question. Is there such thing as too much grease? How many pumps should I give the zerks?

 

Not that I know of... For the past 190,000 km I have been squeezing in new grease at each nipple. I squeeze in the new stuff until I see clean grease exiting each bearing cap seal. U-joints are still quiet and solid. Been averaging every 20,000 km between squeezes. Just did all zerks on my 4WD yesterday, along with spark plugs, throttle body cleanup and rear diff fluid.

 

The u-joints are designed to be completely purged every time they are greased.That means all the old black crud comes out and nothing but clean new grease coming out from every trunnion cap. Check to make sure - if one of the four corners isn't spitting grease, it's not getting grease, and the joint will eventually fail.

Unfortunately that also means you can only get 3-4 greasings out of a tube, but oh well, that's about a year or so.

 

I only do a few pumps... usually until grease is seen coming out around the fittings. Be advised that on some of the fittings the seal is plastic with very small drain holes... if you pump too fast/hard you'll break the plastic seal (dont ask me how i know that.) If that happens as long as you add a few pumps every oil change or so a temporary fix without removal of the u-joint can be done useing rescue tape (sticks to itself and makes a strong o-ring seal.) This fix keeps dirt/water out and lasts.... been on for a couple years now with zero issues.
http://www.rescuetape.com/silicone-tape-uses

 

Too much grease is sometimes worse than not enough grease

 

found this during a google search...

Recommended Lubrication Procedure
One of the most common causes of driveshaft and U-joint failure is the lack of adequate or proper lubrication. The following lubrication procedures are recommended to prevent premature failure of parts. These procedures also ensure that U-joints are flushed of dirt, salt and other contaminants and the bearing cavities are filled with new lubricant. Always follow OEM lubrication schedule recommendations.

U-joints

• [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Apply the recommended grease at the grease fitting on the U-joint until the new grease purges from all of the journal cross bearing seals.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Do not assume that bearing cavities have been filled with the new lubricant unless flow can be seen around all four bearing seals. If new grease does not purge at all four seals, loosen the bearing cap bolts and regrease until all four cups purge.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]If new grease still does not purge, replace the U-joint.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]If a different grease is being used, make sure it is compatible with the old grease and apply extra grease to purge out the old grease.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Splined Slip Yokes
[/FONT]

• [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Apply grease gun to grease fitting until new grease appears at the pressure relief hole in welch plug at slip yoke end of spline.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cover the pressure relief hole (so that grease can flow easily to the seal) and continue to apply grease until new grease appears at slip yoke seal.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]These procedures should help prevent costly downtime and U-joint-related equipment failures.

Copyright © 1998 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. All rights reserved.[/FONT]

 

Thanks a lot. I found the rear 3. I spin the front shaft and can't find the two nipples anywhere?

 

On my 09 they're tucked in between caps, not on the outside of the cap like on the rear drive shaft. Can you have another look? Does your (newer model) truck have serviceable u-joints up front?

 

This might help with zerk locations.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/225161-drive-shaft-lube-points-2nd-gen-4wd.html

The slip yoke doesn't have any factory grease zerks. There is a write up on here somewhere where the guy had a zerk installed.

 

I will take a peek. I saw the two joints in the front like the rear 3, but didn't see nipples on the outside. I will take another look on the inside. Thanks.

 

Nice. I figured they would be on the outside like the rest. I was in a hurry to be at a meeting so I left the front for today.

So how often should I guy take the boots off and grease under them?

 

Yes you can put too much grease in some areas. One is if there is a rubber boot and you fill the boot until it breaks or almost breaks.