Attempted dealer lube job rip off?

[clovisb31]

Howdy all,

Went to the dealer here to get my "free" oil change and filter. That's all I will allow them to do. I do all the rest.

They sent the truck home with a printed invoice and also e-mailed me a "required services" sheet. On this sheet it included "lubricate front drive shaft" 4WD and lubricate outer tie rod ends. They itemized the costs for each...$13 to lube drive shaft, $20 to lube tie rod ends.

My truck has a small sticker on the left front fender, inside the engine compartment that reads to lubricate the front 4WD driveshaft yoke at every oil change. It's like it is REALLY important to do since they put a sticker there to call it out right?

The first thing I did when I brought the truck home brand new, was to crawl under it and drool over all the new stuff under there. The Wife drooled over the inside cab and XM radio stuff. to each his/her own right?

I made note that there are NO grease fittings on any of the tie rod's or on the front drive shaft yoke or U joints at all. These are sealed' 'lubed for life" assemblies.

So, what am I missing here? Do any of you guy's have that "lube the front shaft sticker" on the inside of your engine compartment? How did (or did you) lube your front shaft U joints???

Just wondering...what's the dealer doing for that fee , and how are they servicing/ lubing the tie rods and U joints? Spraying WD-40 on them and calling it good?

Oh, by the way, i didn't bite on the lube "service" as my Wife took the truck in for service. But you can bet that i will ask the "mechanic" if I'm ever over there.

So, what do you guy;s do. Armor-all to make the rubber grease seals shiny???

thanks,

Shane

 

[TJJEEPER]

There is a point to lube the front drive shaft. Many post on here about it. It doesn't have a Zerk and requires a needle point to lube it.

 

[Ram4Sam]

The lube fitting is there and it's a pain to get to.......$13 doesn't sound to bad to me:-laf All dealers, all makes, do this kind of up-selling, that's how they keep the doors open, selling their services. I usually just smile, and say no thanks, and move on.......and not spend too much time worrying about it.

Sam

 

[clovisb31]

There is a point to lube the front drive shaft. Many post on here about it. It doesn't have a Zerk and requires a needle point to lube it.

That would make sense. I have a needle tip for my grease gun, and have used it many times. However, I still have not seen a point to lube on the front shaft. Where EXACTLY is it? On the actual U joint? Any pictures of it?

Thanks for the replies, I'll do some more searching.

Shane

 

[Newsa]

If you have the 2014+, it needs lube but not as often in my opinion as the 2013-. When they converted to front axle disconnect, the front drive shaft only turns when in 4x4. Thus it's not always flinging off grease and the ball not always rubbing off grease. I do mine every 9,000-10,000. But you can do it every 15k if you have a 2013 or earlier. And you can do it whenever you feel like it with a 2014+. I've heard of some getting 80k out of a never lubed front drive shaft. But you really don't want that coming apart on the hwy.

 

[clovisb31]

OK, I did some searches that describe a "dimple" to be lubed on the drive shaft. They don't say exactly where it is though. Is it on the actual shaft...or inside the yoke assembly on a U joint???? Somebody on this forum has actually done this, so, where did you insert your needle tip?

Cheebus, this can't be that difficult.

Shane

 

[Newsa]

That would make sense. I have a needle tip for my grease gun, and have used it many times. However, I still have not seen a point to lube on the front shaft. Where EXACTLY is it? On the actual U joint? Any pictures of it?

Thanks for the replies, I'll do some more searching.

Shane

No pictures or videos actually do this justice. Especially once they start rusting, makes it more difficult to find in my opinion.
Here is a video that was marginally effective in finding the general area.

https://youtu.be/iOa8WRs_ffo

There is an indent in the outer cuff of this joint that signifies where you look to put the needle in the inner part of this joint.

If you live in South Florida, i can meet you and help you find it.
I don't think taking pictures will be help to find the exact location

 

[gsbrockman]

No pictures or videos actually do this justice.

Pictures taken from a brand new truck do..........
#ad

 

[Newsa]

Pictures taken from a brand new truck do..........
#ad

Ok. That's a nice pic. Is the indent/dimple in the upper right hand corner of this picture? Trying to orient myself

 

[MMeier]

Too help me find mine on my "upgraded" front shaft on my '03 I painted a line with an arrow to help find it . When it gets packed with old grease and dirt it's impossible to locate. Speaking of which I need to put it back in the truck !

 

[w6pea]

I think we all should beware of the so called free vehicle service. I didn't get free oil changes with my truck. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks to Newsa and gsbrockman for posting the photo's and the video.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Pictures taken from a brand new truck do..........
#ad

That wouldn't be a pic from a new truck with your name on it......would it?......Oo.???????:-laf

Sam

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Is it possible the dealer just prints out what the manual calls for?

As noted, there is a grease point on the front double cardan u-joint, and is called for in the owner's manual. My manual says to lube the outer tie-rod ends, despite the fact there is no lubrication access.

I would guess the dealer prints out these "specials" according to some database of maintenance specifications - most likely the same erroneous database used to make the owner's manual.

 

[TCollier]

I didn't know anything about a free oil change at first. I bought my truck over the summer in Missouri and I live in Alabama. I called the two closest Dodge dealers to ask what kind of oil they use on the diesels and how much they charge for a regular service. The one in Mobile said they use Rotella for the diesels and he asked if I was using the 4 free oil changes. I said I bought the truck somewhere else and I didn't get those and he said $120 or something around there. I brought the truck in, got the service, took a mechanic for a ride to see what I was talking about with a transmission jerk when coasting, went in for my paperwork then left. Right when I got out of the parking lot I realized I didn't pay, turned around and went pack in. He told me I get 4 free services within 2 years.
That felt better than if I would have known.
BTW, the other dealer said they use penzoil, whether it's a special or synthetic blend I don't know. Both of them quoted, without my asking, that a fuel filter change is $300 and change. Wow! I'll be doing those myself.

 

[Bob4x4]

procedure for tie rod end lubing
STANDARD PROCEDURE - OUTER TIE ROD END LUBRICATION



NOTE:
View is typical.




NOTE:
If a new tie rod end is to be installed, make sure the boot (2) is properly lubricated.

Any time the outer tie rod end is disconnected from the knuckle, before assembly, clean all old grease and debris from the boot with a clean cloth and apply outer tie rod grease P/N 68088623AA (1) to the boot (2) as shown.

 

[Bob4x4]

From the fsm
At Each Oil Change

Change the engine oil filter.
Inspect the exhaust system.
Check the coolant level, hoses, and clamps.
Lubricate outer tie rod ends.

 

[SnoKing]

Where are details of these free oil changes documented? Dealer tried to sell us an oil change package. Snoking

 

[w6pea]

Where are details of these free oil changes documented? Dealer tried to sell us an oil change package. Snoking

X2 All they did when we wrote the check was have us sign a bunch of papers, try to sell us a warranty that was less than the 5yr/100k on the motor and the fine print said it started the day we bought the truck and was only 70k miles. Also he had us sign papers to apply for a loan to finance the truck. Only problem I paid cash for the truck. It was not our salesman it was the clown in the finance office trying to get his money out of us. He said that once we left the dealership we could not get a extended warranty at a discount or even get one. I got two emails from Chrysler offering me an extended warranty at almost 1K below what the finance manager was trying to push. Oh well!

 

[TCollier]

Where are details of these free oil changes documented? Dealer tried to sell us an oil change package. Snoking

I don't know. I would have remembered hearing about it when I bought my truck if they would have said something there. Maybe they didn't say a thing because I was buying from out of state. I never got any emails about free stuff, just reminders that it's time for service either. When my local service rep directly told me it was free for 4 services for 2 years after they had my truck with the other dealer badges all over it and ran my numbers, I didn't say anything else even though I was quite surprised. Didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth I guess.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Bob4x4,

I got the service manual on disc and see the item you reference. I don't see what I am missing - this section tells me that the only maintenance to be done occurs when the tie rod end is disconnected from the knuckle. Nevertheless, the maintenance schedule states:

At Each Oil Change

Change the engine oil filter.
Inspect the exhaust system.
Check the automatic transmission fluid level.
Check the manual transmission fluid level.
Check the coolant level, hoses, and clamps.
Lubricate outer tie rod ends.

This appears to be in error to me => there is generally nothing to do regularly.

Am I missing something?