Cardan Joint Lube

[Alan Reagan]

Somewhere there is an engineer that needs his ***** kicked. I lubed my front drive shaft while doing my tire rotation on Sunday. What a PITA that was. I had read on one of the posts here that a lube needle could be used to slip in and do the lube. Not on mine. I bent a perfectly good one trying that. Even the NAPA guy said that's what should be used. Finally, I found one of my old lube tips with the rubber end and was able to hold it tight enough to force the lube in. I would still like to find a more suitable "luber". Mine with the tip is a little large but it will work.

 

[DHuffman]

I have never had any trouble lubing the shaft on any of my Dodges. Get the right needle and it is a simple job. You need to get some doctors q-tips so that you can clean the nipple out before you grease it: you don't want to force any grit into the cavity.

 

[Alan Reagan]

The smallest I can find is the 18 guage at NAPA. Is there a smaller one? The hole in the dimple is really small.

 

[RCorbeil]

Wrong one . You need a stem about 1/4" in dia with a cone shaped tip. Just spent 1 hr. finding the info. You need Alemite adapter # 6783, should be able to purchase from an Industrial supplier.



Ron

 

[RonD]

The one I use is about 3/16" wide, with a black 45 degree tip, it works fine

 

[obie1]

So if we have a hard time lubing this joint do we really think when we take it in for a lube and oil change that its done? If so when it fails will the stealership pick up the tab?

 

[Alan Reagan]

Wrong one . You need a stem about 1/4" in dia with a cone shaped tip. Just spent 1 hr. finding the info. You need Alemite adapter # 6783, should be able to purchase from an Industrial supplier.



Ron

Ron,



I ordered one from Grainger for $12 and change. Thanks for the part number. This looks like it will fit right up in there into the opening. I appreciate the help. The Grainger number is 4ZT24 and they didn't charge shipping.



I stopped by NAPA and they couldn't even cross reference it. What happened to the days when you went in a parts store and they had a book for everything and could order anything. Now, it is just what is in their computer and inventory. I liked the old days better.

 

[RCorbeil]

Allen

It will work. The days of doing things the old way are long gone. Finding things what work has become a full time job, thats why I keep the old Catalogues.

 

[roberthall0]

I bought one with the cone shaped tip from Car Quest and it works great. Before I bought the cone shaped tip, I bought the needle type from NAPA. It was so small and sharp I accidentally stuck it in my finger but could not to get it to go into the hole to grease the truck.

 

[gtoli]

I ordered one from Grainger for $12 and change. Thanks for the part number. This looks like it will fit right up in there into the opening. I appreciate the help. The Grainger number is 4ZT24 and they didn't charge shipping.

Alan,



Did the Grainger part work?

 

[Alan Reagan]

Gtoli,



Yes. The tip fit right into the "cup". I wish it had a rubber tip cover so that it would seal but it seemed to seal metal to metal just fine and the length is good.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Allen

It will work. The days of doing things the old way are long gone. Finding things what work has become a full time job, thats why I keep the old Catalogues.

If they can find it in their computer you're out of luck. Several years ago, I changed my old antique tractor from 6-volt to 12-volts. I needed a 12-volt coil with a built-in resistor. When I asked for one, the first thing the kid at the computer would ask, "What does it fit on?" after the deer in the headlights look. At an O' Reilly's store, an older counter man overheard my request and said, "Yep, we have 'em", walked back in the parts bins (without looking at his computer) and came out with what I needed.



Bill

 

[Jakebud]

Where is this lube location?

 

[GooseHunter]

Has anyone here thought about, or actually tried removing the flush head and replacing it with a conventional head fitting? Just thinking while sitting at my computer.

Dean

 

[DHuffman]

Here's a picture of the needle that I use. I have this on a mini gun with a pistol grip: much easier to use while holding the needle in the fitting.



#ad

 

[Alan Reagan]

Where is this lube location?

On the Cardan Joint (rear) end of the front drive shaft.



The easiest way for me to see it is to slide under the truck, parallel to the frame, head toward the front of the truck.



It is a small concave fitting, silver with a small hole in it. You need to have the front tires off the ground so that you can rotate the shaft. Once you find it, mark it so you don't have to look for it any more.



See this link for pictures.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ervice-reminder-cv-joint-greasable-again.html

 

[RonD]

The trick I did was paint a white arrow on the driveshaft, by doing that, park the truck, look under for the arrow, move the truck front to rear so you can see it, then go under and grease it.