Cardan joint replacment...

[Oil Stain]

I found the correct size needle to lube the Cardan. But stupid me I pushed the needle in to far and now the little ball bearing is gone and inside the joint. My question is, can the joint it self just be replaced or does the whole driveshaft half to be replaced?

 

[NIsaacs]

I wouldn't worry about it, syntrifical force might bring it back. They have a little spring behind them. The little funny shaped zerk can be replaced, I think.



Nick

 

[Oil Stain]

I wish it was replaceable, but I don't think so. It looks like its internal from what I can see. I had grease spray under the truck from the fitting or seals. The joint is dry looking from the outside, so whatever grease let go, is gone now. I cleaned up the mess and will check again after I drive it.

I'm concerned now because I'm taking a trip with the 5th wheel and don't want any problems.

 

[RonD]

when you grease it some extra grease comes out the rear of the sliding joint, that is what you seeing, I would just grease it at each oul change and move on, it won't break, a little trick, if you dont like the grease flying over the bottom when you grease it next time, wrap some masking tape around the area, drive it, then remove the tape in a few days, it will retain the mess

 

[CBari]

The joint is replaceable find a good drive line shop and they can do it. I heard lots of stories how they couldn't be replaced as they don't hold up. With the price difference between new shaft and replacement joint I just had to try it. My replaced joint has over 50k on it with no problems, may be I am just lucky but I doubt it.

 

[Cummins12V98]

If there is a problem take it to the dealer they will fix it.

Funny thing is I don't have a grease joint on my truck. There sure is a sticker that says to grease it tho.

 

[Oil Stain]

Funny thing is I don't have a grease joint on my truck. There sure is a sticker that says to grease it tho.

The fitting on my truck lined up with the weights on the shaft. There is a picture on here some where and his grease hole is lined up with the driveshaft weights as well. You have to slide under the truck on your back and use a good flash light. The rear tires wiil be on your left side and the front tires on your right side. The fitting is near the transfer case. Its on the inside of the of the second u joint from the transfer case towards the front or in the center of the cardan joint. You might need a q-tip to clean it and to see it.

 

[Oil Stain]

Well after cleaning up the grease splatter and driving it today, there was no more mess. I'm just concerned with the ball bearing and spring thats floating inside the joint now.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The fitting on my truck lined up with the weights on the shaft. There is a picture on here some where and his grease hole is lined up with the driveshaft weights as well. You have to slide under the truck on your back and use a good flash light. The rear tires wiil be on your left side and the front tires on your right side. The fitting is near the transfer case. Its on the inside of the of the second u joint from the transfer case towards the front or in the center of the cardan joint. You might need a q-tip to clean it and to see it.

No I really do not have a grease joint AT ALL on my truck!

The Mechanic at Pahrump Chrysler confirmed it because I could not find it. He said there are a lot that do not have the grease fitting. The WestCoast Warranty Rep Stan Gozzi was there and he said it has one so the Mechanic gave him a flashlight while the truck was up on the hoist and turned the shaft slowly and Stan Said he was correct there is no grease location at all.

 

[seafish]

My 2005 does not have the cardan joint needle fitting either, DESPITE having the sticker in the engine compartment. The absence of a grease fitting has also been confirmed by three differnt dealer servece techs and/or service managers. The explanation is simple... at some point, Dodge used cardan joints (essentially a double u joint) designed with a "lifetime" grease, "better" seals, and unfortunately NO nipple... just like they have done on rear driveshaft u-joints. All that being said, it CAN be hard to see on some trucks.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

My 5500 at work did not have a fitting either. Joint was toast at 32K miles.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Does anyone know why some have the greasable and some don't?

 

[seafish]

Does anyone know why some have the greasable and some don't?

See my post just above..... IMO,

The explanation is simple... at some point, Dodge used cardan joints (essentially a double u joint) designed with a "lifetime" grease, "better" seals, and unfortunately NO nipple... just like they have done on rear driveshaft u-joints.

 

[Cummins12V98]

See my post just above..... IMO,

Explain why my 11 does not have one and some of the 12's have them. It is random.

 

[seafish]

Well I'd venture that it is a matter of parts stocking at the assembly line... they install what they have at the time, and "at the time" changes depending on what they have from the vendors... likely the truck gets a sticker no matter what. Sometimes the factory has stock the "lifetime, no grease" cardan joint, and other times they have stock of the greasable cardan joint. Of course, I am only guessing, but it's about hte only thing that makes sense.

 

[Oil Stain]

Maybe it's a test to see which one will last longer. Who knows... Maybe the greaseable ones come with certain packages. I have the max tow and I have the grease fitting. Again, I don't know. But etheir way it's safe to say they have more stickers then greaseable fittings. Haha

 

[mfurrh55]

Could have swore i didn't have one,until i crawled under with a flashlight and still i couldn't see it, cleaned it really good and finally found it, Man what a hassle

 

[Cummins12V98]

The head Mechanic said it did not have one and he said several others don't either. Stan Gozzi the head West Coast Warranty rep was there and he insisted that it had one and finally he agreed it did not. This was at the May Madness function in Pahrump.



It would be interesting to find out what the real story is.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I did the same thing on my '05 years ago, pushed a needle into the joint and lost the little ball bearing seal. You need the tapered fitting on your gun that doesn't go inside the joint.

Anyhow, I just shove a needle in there when I grease at oil changes and leave it be. Some flies out but it's been at least 50,000 mile since I first "broke" the fitting and it still works fine. I figured if it ever seized up on a trip I'd just disconnect the front driveshaft and continue on. I rarely tow in 4WD except to get in or out of a slippery spot.

 

[deeselfitter]

I used a q tip.flashlight and was in and out from under the truck about 5 times....hard to locate....all but invisible....but.....it's there!!