Front Axle U-Joints - grease fittings

[HGreen]

I'm getting ready to install EMS's locking front hubs, I have gotten Precision 464 U-Joints to install at the same time. My question is what is the correct orientation of the grease nipple, toward the hub or toward the axle, or does it matter?



Thanks

 

[rscurtis]

I oriented mine toward the axle, no problem greasing them. While you're at it, drill and tap the upper ball joints for fittings.

 

[rbattelle]

I don't think I even paid attention when I installed mine, but I believe they're both facing toward the hub.

No problem greasing them. So I think you can go either way and not have trouble.

[BTW, every now and then I "grease" my upper and lower ball joints by injecting grease into the boot. Might be totally ineffective, but it makes me feel better!]

Ryan

 

[LostTrucker]

I installed them towards the axle like rscurtis. No problems greasing them. :-laf

 

[brods]

I've had them both ways and found toward the axle is easier to grease them.



I've also found with locking hubs on this truck that even though the ujoints do not get used very often they need to be greased frequently. I assume this is because of the way water gets splashed directly on them (I have seen the front sides of the knuckles & ujoints covered in ice from the road spray kicked up by the tires). I've be tossing around some ideas for a shield of some kind to protect the ujoints from the road spray. This is the first truck I've owned that has have so many ujoint problems!!



Cliff notes: remember to grease those wheel ujoints often!

 

[rscurtis]

I second what brods said about greasing them.

 

[Motorhead]

I'm getting ready to install EMS's locking front hubs, I have gotten Precision 464 U-Joints to install at the same time. My question is what is the correct orientation of the grease nipple, toward the hub or toward the axle, or does it matter?

Thanks

Were you on the EMS waiting list for the hub kit?? I am and haven't heard from them.

 

[HGreen]

Yes, I was on the waiting list since August 21, 2008. Just got them on Thursday, February 6th. Don't give up on EMS, they kept telling me just a few weeks more that parts were being shipped to them. I got the 35 spine shaft extreme duty just for kicks. Looks like they come with the u-joint ears already ground down so as to fit in the knuckle. I got new u-joints from rockauto.



Working on getting everything ready to install, want to make sure that no snow in the forecast before starting just in case. Kit looks great, need to install the bearing races, they are in the freezer right now, then install the lug bolts and then the fun begins. Will began soaking the old hubs tonight, hopefully they will come out easily as we have not had a lot of snow and salt here in Central Virginia since I bought the truck.

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks... I have heard "Just a few weeks" a few times. Let us know how it goes on the install.

 

[brods]

HGreen, do yourself a favor and dry fit everything (except the seals of course) before doing the install on the truck. That way you'll find out before everything is covered with grease if the ABS blocks need to be ground for clearance or if the spindles need polishing for the bearings to slide on, etc.



Hope those unit bearings just fall out for ya

Let us know how it goes.

 

[WRLIVE]

I just installed my Precision 464s yesterday and they would only go in one direction?? That is the zerks facing towards the hub. I don't understand that, aren't they symmetrical? I did have to use a file to relieve a tiny bit on one of the ears on the RHS to get the u-joint in.

 

[rbattelle]

I just installed my Precision 464s yesterday and they would only go in one direction??

That's a bit odd, but they're in and that's what counts. They'll be fine.



Ryan