Lubing U-joints

[brielly]

I tried to lube my u-joints yesterday but had a hard time finding the grease fitting on the u-joints themselves. I could clearly see them on the drive shafts but that was all. The haynes manual says pump grease into them but where? Are there grease fittings on the ujoints? As for the double cardan- I did't see anywhere to put the needle adaptor either. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[andy d]

some u-joints have fittings, some dont. the double cardan joints have a 5/16 hex on them with a ball in the center. those are grease fittings. the grease tip you need isnt a needle, its more of a cone shape.

[brielly]

Ok so if my u-joints don't have grease fittings can I still lube them somehow. The haynes manual shows a pic of grease being squirted in the jiont but its hard to tell if they're using a fitting or not.

[jode]

Originally posted by brielly:
Ok so if my u-joints don't have grease fittings can I still lube them somehow.No
Drive them till they are junk - then replace them

[Poley]

Originally posted by jode:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by brielly:
Ok so if my u-joints don't have grease fittings can I still lube them somehow.No
Drive them till they are junk - then replace them</font>[/QUOTE]YA!!! AND HOPE WHEN THEY BREAK YOU DON"T DIE.

[Don S]

..
brielly;
Some U-Joints are considered to sealed and no lube required but a few folks with to much time on their hands take them apart and clean and lube them.
http://groups.msn.com/JEEPTECH101/jeeptech.msnw
a copy
... A Double Cardan Joint is also known as a Constant Velocity Joint on some Full Size Jeeps and some other vehicles . On some FSJs the CV-joint is located on the front drive shaft very close to the Transfer Case output shaft. If the CV-joint should break the odds are it will break a piece out of the TH400 transmission case.

... Be aware if you disassemble the CVJ that there are small pieces in the centering part (socket needle bearing and spring) of the CVJ and if it is reassembled wrong it can break and damage the Transmission case. Be sure to mark all U-joints and drive shafts before disassembly so they can be reassembled in the same position.There are sometimes two grease zerks and one nut-plug that wil require a cone grease fitting.

... There is a big yoke that holds both of the U-Joints and that yoke has a hole in it so there will be access to the nut-plug for removal and lubrication with lithium-base chassis grease using the needle fitting.
… Shop around to find the smallest grease gun tip available then if need be grind the tip even more so it can get into the U-joints and lock onto the zerks. Sometimes you just need to rotate the driveshaft to get to the fittings.

This is an original T-O Jeep & JEEP TECH 101 Club document

have a good one ;) and CUL.. Don S..

[ March 08, 2004, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: Don S ]

[jode]

Originally posted by Poley:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by jode:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by brielly:
Ok so if my u-joints don't have grease fittings can I still lube them somehow.No
Drive them till they are junk - then replace them</font>[/QUOTE]YA!!! AND HOPE WHEN THEY BREAK YOU DON"T DIE.</font>[/QUOTE]I din't say drive them till they break - I said drive them till they are junk. That point could come at different times for different folks depending on how they use their rig.

[miked]

also, when greasing u-joints you'll want to use EP grease vs chassis grease. using chassis grease is the quickest way to ruin your u-joints, chassis grease won;t stand up to the pressures within the joint. did a big post on u-joints a few years back in here, not sure if its still around