06 front driveshaft - grease?

[SVWindwalker]

My owners manual says to grease every 3750 miles. I would do so if there was a zirc fitting, but I can't find it. The truck was built in St Louis and the dealer says the zirc was eliminated. Is this right?

My second question is this. While towing my 5th wheel through Utah today (in tow/haul), when the trans kicked down for a climb, it sounded like the lifters were floating or pinging. This happened twice at about 2500 t0 2700 rpms. Has anyone else experienced this?

Terry

 

[ScottLewis]

I'll comment on the first part, don't know about the second.

You're just the latest of many who have questioned the existance of the grease fitting and your dealer is just one of many who is likely wrong. My question to you is: is there a sticker near your radiator advising you to grease the driveshaft? If yes, dollars to doughnuts the fitting is there. It isn't the standard grease zerk. It looks like a dimple and is on the section between the 2 u joints. There are a number of threads dealing with it on TDR as well as pictures. Also, you can go to John Holmes' site at CarsonDodge.com for some good pictures and data.



Dan

 

[AlK]

Typical dealer answer. If they don't know then it is normal or doesn't exist.

Go to Page 394 of your 2006 Owner's Manual - there is a picture.

Also use the search function and you will find more information. By the way you will need a special fitting for your grease gun.

 

[wcjp]

The special fitting is sold at Napa among other places. Can't remember the exact price. Wasn't more than $5 or $10. I usually jack up the driver's side front tire. This allows the driveshaft to spin freely.

 

[SVWindwalker]

Thanks for all the feedback. I saw something that looked like a dimple there - I'da never guessed! Anyway once the tempereature gets above freezing, I'll have another crack at it.
Terry

 

[JMoberly]

Still takes me 5 minutes to find the thing but its there. Mine is right near a big orange dot but I dont know if thats standard. Make sure your grease gun has a flex hose and is pistol grip!

 

[BJMarshall]

I just got my new front driveshaft and it took me a couple of minutes to find the grease fitting with the driveshaft sitting on the counter. :-laf

Is there a special grease for this thing, or can I use what I use everywhere else?

 

[ohnoitsyu]

Still takes me 5 minutes to find the thing but its there. Mine is right near a big orange dot but I dont know if thats standard. Make sure your grease gun has a flex hose and is pistol grip!

I've lubed mine 3 or 4 times, and I still struggle to find it each time!

 

[fkovalski]

Some info on the topic in this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162451

 

[CBrahs]

Took mine in today for oil change and the dealer did not know that the front shaft was greasable. I even told them that I had it marked with a paint marker for easy finding and they told me that they did not have the TOOL!! Guess I am going to go and find one so I can do it myself.

 

[DeezelDood]

Sincerest thanks to everyone who posted here. $35 again pays dividends.

I would have never known about this job. The manual is dry reading to say the least. The sticker is right there near my radiator, don't know how I missed it.

Good tips from this post:

a. Jack up driver side, easy to reach tire while you rotate shaft. I did find that I could turn the shaft easily by hand without touching tire.

b. My fitting was covered with dirt. I used a Q tip with some solvent to wipe it clean (good idea for grease fittings anyway). Use a flashlight, fitting is a machined indent, looks like a countersunk screw hole, bright and shiny, easy to see once you clean it off. Best vantage point is looking from front to back from driver side at about 45 deg angle.

c. Piston gun with flex hose is way to go. I bought the needle adaptor from Napa. The one with 2 inch needle worked great. It seemed like I put alot of grease in there (8-10 pumps) never got any grease to come out anywhere. I double checked, the gun was definitely pumping. Advice anyone? I'll grease it again in few thousand miles. This is easy after you have done it once.

 

[AlK]

DeezelDood,

Would you know the part number for the needle that you got from Napa.



Thanks,

AlK

 

[DeezelDood]

Alk,

I bought the Plews Lubrimatic Needle Nose Dispenser 05-019 at a Napa store. I remember seeing a Napa p/n on one of these posts but couldn't find the post. The only Napa adaptor in the store had a needle that looked to be a bit short. I didn't think it would reach the fitting. I recall another post that recommended using a 45 deg zirc fitting attached to the Napa needle. No matter, the Lubrimatic unit worked fine. I also bought the Lubrimatic grease gun with pistol grip and "easy load cartridge". Very funny, I've used standard grease guns my whole life, never a problem. Drop the cartridge in, close er up and go. Nothing easy load about this one. I learned that the trick is to pry the plunger cup edges into the cartridge. You can't get the cup to go into the tube and get the cover threads to engage otherwise. For this job the the small gun is easy to use, in any event.

Rich

 

[AlK]

Rich,

Thank you for the part number and the additional comments.



AlK

 

[robmints]

I got a 715-1213 because it is long and has the retaining collar. They have a couple that will work though. Just need to pick the one that makes sense for the way you have found it easiest to do. Everybody has their own technique.

 

[DeezelDood]

I just checked my underside after about 120miles driving. Not too bad, a little grease flung around. I had cleaned off the fitting and and all the grease I could see, so this had to come from within. At least I know the grease is distributed. I'm considering building a little sheet metal cowling over the top of the joint. I recall one TDR member who applied temporary masking or duct tape over the joint. Any other ideas?

 

[JimB1]

Why do anything about excess grease? Purging action is good proof. Maybe keep track how many pumps was put in and cut down on a bit next time around until only a small amount slings out. Any thin film still there next time around was giving good exterior surface protection.

 

[DeezelDood]

Good point, this is a truck after all things are considered.

 

[SMasters]

I just checked my underside after about 120miles driving. Not too bad, a little grease flung around. I had cleaned off the fitting and and all the grease I could see, so this had to come from within. At least I know the grease is distributed. I'm considering building a little sheet metal cowling over the top of the joint. I recall one TDR member who applied temporary masking or duct tape over the joint. Any other ideas?

Where is the grease coming from? I checked mine today and noticed the grease was flung around. It was coming out of the end caps of the u-joints. Is the grease zerk greasing the u-joints or that bearing looking thing between the 2 u-joints? Is this normal or do I have a couple of bad u-joints? The truck has 7500 miles on it.

 

[Schelle]

RE: Greasing front driveshaft

I've looked for the grease location on three separate occassions - I've even taken the skid plate off in order to get a better look - no luck. The last time it was in the shop two different techs looked for it as well - and concluded that my truck doesn't have one. There is a sticker under the hood saying there is one. The techs even grabbed a new driveshaft to show me where the location is - could see it easily. No one can find it on my driveshaft. I've looked at all the photos I can find in the posts, showing where the location is - I would swear that mine doesn't have it. I keep hearing that some trucks do, some don't; I also hear that they all have it. Does anyone know for certain if some trucks don't have it?

Thanks.

2006 Mega cab, 3500.