Binding in front end when turning

[Wayne M.]

I really agree with seafish. With OEM joints, it’s a crapshoot. My ‘98 Durango still has all its original joints, but my ‘04 rear joints were replaced with greasable precision joints, and they’ve lasted longer than the originals. I did the same with the front steering joints, and I predict the same. I go under at least twice a year with my long hose gun loaded with red tacky, and I hit everything. And everything takes grease. Once I see a cap won’t flow, it’ll be trouble. I knew an old timer who had a grease gun fitting on a 90W pump, and he could save whatever wouldn’t take grease with it. Weather it was a U joint, kingpin, hinge, whatever.
If any joint dries out, it’s done. Sealed or not.

 

[seafish]

I'd also like to point out that even with the NON-greasable u joints that I install, I have taken to adding a dab of compatible grease to the bottom of each cap as I install the joints. Not only is installation the ONLY time that I will able to add grease to a non greasable joint, but if you take there time to actually look at the factory supplied grease in each cap, you'll see that while it VERY lightly covers the need bearings, it really is NOT that much grease for the amount of work it will do pushing around around an 8000# truck over its lifespan. I am also concerned that the amount of grease each joint comes with from the factory is not only an engineering derived amount, but also a bean counter derived amount as well. Adding a dab of grease in each cap as I install the u joints not only alleviates that concern, but also very much helps keep the needle bearings in place as I install the joint.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I do NOT add so much grease that it pushes out the seals of the non greasable joint when the cap is pressed on, but rather just a small dab at the bottom of the cup that then cushions and holds the need bearings in place while I install the caps and then pushes through the bearings as I press the cap onto the cross shaft.

 

[AH64ID]

I will say I’ve never had issues with the OEM Toyota greasable joints. 190K on the original joins for our 03 4Runner, with grease every 5K miles.

 

[Crunch]

The rounded off bolt is a scary thing. Makes you wonder who was in there.

Someone who knew that they would never be doing that job again...