Chasis lube help:'94 Toyota 4WD pickup

[Jim Ross]

I recently acquired a '94 Toyota 4x4 pickup, 4 cyl, 5 spd, with only 79K miles on it. I'm trying to 'go thru' it and bring all maintenance items up to speed. I didn't get an owner's manual. I bought a Haynes manual and in looking at it, it says there are 1(or 2) plugs on each of the steering knuckles that need to be taken out before the knuckles can be "packed". On my truck, I don't see the knuckles... only rubber cv boots. Are the knuckles under the cv boots or is this manual speaking about a different axle than what my truck has? My old '65 CJ5 has these knuckles and they are quite obvious!

Also, the manual says I need to remove "plugs" and install grease fittings in order to grease the steering/suspension(ball joints, tie rod ends, etc). Are these plugs/fittings a standard size? Should the fittings(zerks) be removed and the plugs re-installed after I finish greasing the components?

Many of the places in the steering have no obvious places to grease them; are they "maintenance-free" types of joints?

Thanks to all who respond.

 

[rbattelle]

To me, a steering knuckle is the cast iron part to which the wheel bearing assembly bolts. It's held to the axle ends (or upper and lower control arms) by the ball joints. The tie rod ends are secured to an arm on each knuckle.

Does Toyota (and Haynes) define a steering knuckle differently?

Ryan

 

[Jim Ross]

The steering knuckles that I am familiar with are on my '65 CJ5 and they are big hemispherical units to which the wheel bearing assembly attaches..... very obvious. The Toyota does not look like that.

 

[Skydiver]

I just sold my 1 owner 86 Tote-a-yota 4x4 with 160k. Man do I regret it!



I never pulled the plugs on the kingpins as that was the only suspension ports I remember seeing. The propeller (drive) shafts did have alimites. If you over grease the drive shaft beside the cat it will stink for a week until it burns off the grease that gets slung on it.





Only use toyota oil filters or the cam chain will start out with slack when first cranked. My uncle show me what happened to his 22R front engine housing after 150k of cheap filters.