How(where) do you grease this thing!?!

[Drewhenry]

I know metal technology has changed over the years but this seems ridiculous. I have previously had a family mechanic grease the chassis on my truck and never questioned anything. I decided to do it myself and am appalled at the lack of grease fittings on this truck.

My previous 4wd was a 1983 J20 258 I6 3 speed. There were grease fittings on the drive shafts, U-joints, pittman arm, each end of every tie rod, and the ball joints-top and bottom. I might be able to live with some of the ommissions, but I am interested in knowing if any company makes greaseable ball joints. I have also read about a "fisheye" fitting on the front drive shaft--I have used an inspection mirror and cannot find this anywhere. Anybody got any suggestions?

Andy

PS: I have several tubes of a lube called Supergrease mfg by Slide Products. I have used this on dies and injection molds. Would this be a good grease for my truck. Thanks.

 

[FourBarR]

Moog makes greasable ball joints.

 

[JApol]

The place on the front drive shaft is just a little dimple that you press a high pressure grease fitting in. You may have to move the truck slightly to get straight at the fitting.

rockauto.com sells Precision u-joints with grease fittings.

The numbers are front near axle - 235 and the double carden joint u-joints are 270's

 

[steved]

As noted, there are only two or three grease fittings, depending on the year of the truck. You have the tie rod ends, and possibly the CV joint lube point (if equipped... being an 04, I doubt you have it).

Expect the ujoints to last around 70k (all of them)...


steved

 

[JasonCzerak]

yep, 70K on average. My front drive shaft joints could of lasted till 100K they actually had grease in them.



After every u-joint, and ball joint was replaced, I now have 14 points to grease. and entire mini grease gun worth of grease is used.



I don't recall finding a high pressure anything on the slip joint there on the front shaft for my 04. 5.



Drewhenry, my dad has a 69' J3000 with the 350 olsmobile motor and a 4 speed with granny first. 4th gear at idle and it pulls as hard as my CTD does off idle (until boost that is. ).

 

[JApol]

Its not on the slip joint. Its on the u-joint on the axle end of the front drive shaft

 

[steved]

I thought it was for the ball between the two ujoints near the tcase? Is there one I'm missing???

steved

 

[Cattletrkr]

I thought it was for the ball between the two ujoints near the tcase? Is there one I'm missing???

steved

That's where it is. My '04. 5 didn't have one until I replaced the driveshaft.

I have Moog greaseable ball joints, upper and lower. Precision greaseable axle joints. The rest are factory or warranty replacements.

On my rear shaft:

Front joint is still factory
Rear two have been there since 55K. Factory joints are bad, but if they are replaced by someone who knows how to use grease, even a greaseless joint can last a long time.

I think I have 9 zerks.

 

[DeezelDood]

That's the one, a duplex u-joint (Cardin joint?) just in front of the xfer case.

Search TDR on "drive shaft" or "u-joint" and you will find a lot of posts on this subject, some have pictures. Grease spec is in the manual. It's not hard to find once you clean the crap out of the joint. Look for a dimple with tiny shiny center (ball). Jack up the front driver side wheel and you can turn the shaft by hand. Flashlight or worklight is a must to find it. As recommended on one post, I use a small pistol drip grease gun so I can hold the needle fitting in place. Unlike zerk or button fittings you cannot snap it in. Give it about 10 shots or so. Your preference. You'll know you have put in enough if you see some grease spattered on underbody above the joint after you drive it. The are some ideas in TDR posts about avoiding the mess. I have had decent luck cleaning out the excess grease with a Q tip and solvent. I grease mine every 5,000-7,500 miles.

 

[AKaiser]

That's the one, a duplex u-joint (Cardin joint?) just in front of the xfer case.

You're close, it's called a "double cardan" joint. It's essentially a type of near-CV joint that just uses two cardan joints close together to help smooth out the spin of the driveshafts in higher angled conditions.