Grease Driveshaft?

[Charley67]

I have a sticker on the cross piece in front of the radiator that says to grease driveshaft at each oil change. I have not found a grease zerk anywhere on my driveshaft. Anybody have any insight on this?

 

[cerberusiam]

It is there. It is a needle zerk and really hard to see, might have to clean the inside of the center support real well to see it. It greases the center ball in the CV so it will be on the center of the double joint casting.

 

[seafish]

This is what you are looking for-- it is a small recessed divot, not a zerk.

 

[Charley67]

Wow! I don't have the tool I need to grease that. Why did they do it that way?

 

[seafish]

Wow! I don't have the tool I need to grease that. Why did they do it that way?

There is ZERO clearance for a zerk there...it would get broken right off.

Best tool to use is one of these or something like it--

https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Lubrication-5803-Grease-Needle/dp/B0002SR6XE#Ask

 

[Motorhead]

Most GOOD auto parts lika a NAPA store will have the needle type grease applicator. One end of it has a Zirk fitting to go into your grease gun. The other end goes into the fitting that seafish posted. Trucks with the automatic are easier to get to than the stick trucks. Jack one front wheel off of the ground so you can turn the front driveline to get to the fitting. I believe the joint is called a Cardan joint.

 

[Charley67]

Thank you all for the info. I feel kinda dumb not already knowing this, but somehow I didn't. I will get a needle applicator today.

 

[The patriot]

I have my doubts that even dealer mechanics know this.

 

[ScottLewis]

During the first lube of my '06, I had to show the lube tech where it was, and he had to borrow the lube tool from another mechanic. There's a segment in the new TDR magazine by Andy Redmon about the drive shaft and Cardan joint.

 

[Motorhead]

Thank you all for the info. I feel kinda dumb not already knowing this, but somehow I didn't. I will get a needle applicator today.

A "dumb question" is one NOT asked.

 

[mmkummerfeldt]

Check this post out http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/0...ing-front-drive-shaft-grease-point-video.html

 

[Charley67]

I got the tool, found the lube point, but I'm not sure I got any grease in there.

 

[promisedland]

Ordered the tool this morn.
How much grease, how often?

 

[Killer223]

my truck doesnt have this. early 04. i even took the shaft out, there is NO fitting in there.

 

[AEdelheit]

If someone is not sure about where or how to find the grease spot it can be a good idea to pull the front drive shaft out of the truck, pull and grease the splines, clean up the shaft and reinstall. Don't forget to use some heat when removing the bolts as they do have loctite on them. This makes it very easy to find the grease fitting for future servicing.

 

[seafish]

FYI--I was absolutely sure that my 2005 did NOT have the fitting after I could never find it and TWO different service managers told me that it did not have one (despite the sticker on the engine compartment) and that Chrysler had replaced it with lifetime grease u-joints on trucks at some point. I was even posting on forums that SOME trucks did not have it based on what the service managers told me and my own observations. So you can just guess how TOTALLY surprised I was when I removed the front DS for u-joint replacing while doing other front end work at 100k and upon DS removal and cleaning,THERE it was, the zerk fitting and cardan ball bearing, DRY AS A BONE after not getting grease for 100k, but luckily still serviceable with no play, no scarring and no discoloration. I took the whole DS apart, replaced the u-joints and took apart and rebuilt the cardan joint with plenty of new red grease, and then also marked the location with spray paint and grease pen for future service.

Also, there is no boot or seal on the cardan joint and new grease can be packed in until you see it push out the ends, just like old style u-joints

 

[promisedland]

Thanks man.

 

[bigceltic]

Ordered the tool this morn.
How much grease, how often?

After reading this thread I was inspired so I stopped by O'Reilly on the way home and picked up a grease needle. Followed the guidance/process as described (lifted drivers side front wheel) and got under the truck. Actually found the lube point pretty quickly - used a flashlight in my left hand and rotated the tire with my right until I found it - was a little bit covered in gunk but I used a q-tip to clean it off. Then I tried to lube it. The needle went in fine, but no grease seemed to stay inside! I cleaned all the grease up with more q-tips and tried again. Still seemed like nothing went in to the hole, just oozed out. Not sure if that is because it doesn't need any grease or I am doing something wrong.

 

[deathbysnoosnoo]

After reading this thread I was inspired so I stopped by O'Reilly on the way home and picked up a grease needle. Followed the guidance/process as described (lifted drivers side front wheel) and got under the truck. Actually found the lube point pretty quickly - used a flashlight in my left hand and rotated the tire with my right until I found it - was a little bit covered in gunk but I used a q-tip to clean it off. Then I tried to lube it. The needle went in fine, but no grease seemed to stay inside! I cleaned all the grease up with more q-tips and tried again. Still seemed like nothing went in to the hole, just oozed out. Not sure if that is because it doesn't need any grease or I am doing something wrong.

The first thing that comes to mind is that the you're not getting the zerk ball to open up. I would get a long nail or something that is pointed and push it in there to see if I could feel it move/open. I would then try the needle and see if I feel the same thing. If I didn't feel it move then I would think that the needle I'm using isn't pointed enough so it's not pushing the ball in enough.

Let us know how it goes cause I tried to grease mine earlier this year and couldn't find it. Gonna crawl under there in the next couple of weeks and might have to take my own advice if I run into the same problems you did.

 

[bigceltic]

The first thing that comes to mind is that the you're not getting the zerk ball to open up. I would get a long nail or something that is pointed and push it in there to see if I could feel it move/open. I would then try the needle and see if I feel the same thing. If I didn't feel it move then I would think that the needle I'm using isn't pointed enough so it's not pushing the ball in enough.

Let us know how it goes cause I tried to grease mine earlier this year and couldn't find it. Gonna crawl under there in the next couple of weeks and might have to take my own advice if I run into the same problems you did.

I will go back under there tonight and try again, and will take some pics.