Front C/V Joint Greasing

[jdross440]

I have never been able to get grease into my C/V joint on the 2007.5. I have made and bought a different grease fittings with points that I can get into the place where the shiny disc is. My problem is, I see no hole in the disc like shown in the picture. It is recessed a little in the middle, but no hole showing. Can I take a 1/32 or 1/16 drill bit and make a hole or does the hole close up when your not putting grease in? I have even used a fine point pick to see if there is a hole. The truck now has 139K miles and the joint seems to have no slop in it.

 

[seafish]

I ONLY found the grease fitting on the Cardan joint when I was rebuilding the entire front DS on my workbench at 100k miles. In fact, the Cardan joint was still good at 100k despite NOT being greased the entire time. This lack of maintenance was due to me and TWO dealerships NOT being able to find it with the DS installed on the truck. In fact, BOTH dealers told me that at som point Dodge stopped using the greasable cardan joint in favor of a "lifetime" cardan joint (lifetime being the life of the CJ, not the life of the truck…lol). I no longer believe this to be true, even though I used to insist on it because they said so AND I could NOT find a grease fitting on my DS to prove them wring. Now, I don't know if ALL 3rd gen trucks have the fitting, but mine certainly did, despite not being able to find it.


In any case, the small divot you see/feel is in fact the grease fitting. The hole in the center is closed with a small bearing/spring just like a zirk fitting, but if you can get a good seal between the rubber tip and the CJ, it will force grease into the fitting. It also helps to rotate the DS between grease pumps to help "coat the center ball bearing that IS what needs the grease. That being said, , it is not that all that heard to pull the front DS (mark flange orientations first) and then clean it up and do the work on a workbench. THAT is when I found mine and was able to work the grease into the cardan joint extremely thoroughly…I then CLEARLY marked the fitting with a die grinder and some dayglo paint. so next time I will be able to find and grease it on the truck.

 

[jdross440]

Mine has the silver disk but no spot like in the picture. It is solid silver. I have even used a mirror to look at it. Maybe mine is one of those they put a blank disc in before going back to the greasable.

 

[JR]

Would a grease needle adapter work?

 

[Alan Reagan]

Don't drill it. I took a small pick and freed mine up. Just press in on it and you should feel it release. Then grease it. Mine was stuck on my 2011 truck. Once I got it to release, I never had problems with it taking grease after that. I use a needle tip fitting. Also make sure to line up the fitting with the hole angle.

 

[swhalen]

JR:
Yes, a grease needle adapter is the ticket. I had a frustrating experience trying to grease my cardan joint. I looked at the photo posted by the OP numerous times, crawled under the truck with a headlamp and mirror, looked and looked and finally "located" the joint. I tried every adapter known to man before the needle, and presto! Once you locate the silver spot, the value of the needle is that you can run it over the spot till you hit the orifice. I had no luck with other adapters and thought I had the orifice only to liberally spread grease all over the axle. I raise the left front tire off the ground and rotate it with my foot while watching for the sweet spot as the shaft rotates to the point where I am able to get a straight shot at the orifice. Also, as mentioned by Seafish, a dab of paint helps you locate the bullseye for the next service. Regards, steve whalen

 

[Badunit]

This is what you need. Lincoln 5803.

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http://www.grainger.com/product/LINCOLN-Nozzle-6Y900?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/6Y900_AS01?$smthumb$

You can find it much cheaper on Amazon.

 

[lpennock]

Harbor freight has a whole kit of adapters and one similar to above is in the kit along with one that has a rubber cover to cover the fitting better

7 Piece Lube Accessory Kit

 

[Badunit]

The nozzle I got actually has a rubber tip, not the metal tip shown in the photo.

 

[LFalconer]

The nozzle I got actually has a rubber tip, not the metal tip shown in the photo.

I found it easier to remove the DS to grease the joint. Every other oil change - I change at 5K.

Coolhand

 

[nibroc]

ya need the needle adapter and a good light