Just thinking out loud here. I'd imagine since this has been an issue since 2003, if this could be done, someone would have done it already...

So I'm sitting here looking at my replacement steering shaft/u-joint, and recalling how this is a problem part. While I have it here, undamaged in my hot little hands, is there a way to add grease fitting to prevent the inevitable seizing up?

Looking back, my issues started nearly six years ago - when I started going back and forth between the 4Runner and 2 other cars, I noticed the 4Runner always had a "heavy" feeling while the other cars I could turn with one finger. Now it's like I have no power steering at all with the "loping" feeling which just started. (that's what led me to realize it was the shaft and not the ball joints.)

Just thinking out loud.

Unfortunately there would be only 2 ways to add a grease fitting, if it's even possible, 1 would be to remove the bearing carrier, which is the + shaped part of the u-joint, drilling holes all the way through in both directions of the + so grease can travel to the cup bearings and a connecting hole to intersect the + holes, then that hole would have to have threads tapped to accept the grease fitting, then reinstall the bearing carrier, this would be best done by a machine shop but with the correct tools could be done at home.

The other way would be to take the shaft to a shop that specializes in driveline/driveshaft rebuilding and see if they have a u-joint that matches the one on the shaft that already has a grease fitting and if so have them swap out the u-joint.

Either way is going to cost you either more money and or a good bit of time.

It's also possible that the u-joint is too small to be able to fit a grease fitting that can be accessed at all must less after the shaft is installed, which is possibly the reason it doesn't have a grease fitting to begin with.

I just Fluid Filmed the hell out of mine when it was new and respray it every spring now.

These are all good thoughts.

Another thing that went through my mind as I look at the new part sitting here on my desk. I wonder if there would be any benefit to putting a boot over the joint before installing -- like maybe a CV boot from a small FWD vehicle or some other application would stretch over it to keep moisture out.

The downside of course is that any moisture that got past would then be trapped inside.

Just thinking out loud I suppose.

I see 2 u-joints in the parts catalog. Would you mind including a picture of the one you're having problems with?

Thanks

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The u-joint at the bottom of 45203 (bottom of your image) is the one that eventually seizes up on nearly all 4Runners it seems. Here's a closeup of the u-joint I'm talking about.


Do you have some ideas?

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Not the one I was thinking of. I thought it was the larger one.

No ideas, other than what TooStroked had said about spraying it with some type of grease. I wouldn't put a boot around it because that would tend to hold in moisture and dirt/sand. I might consider packing it in a waterproof grease then wrapping it for a few days, trying to get some of the grease to penetrate, but I would really dry it off with rags and paper towels afterward.

Somehow you need to force grease into the cups. It's a slow and tedious job but if you have the new part I would try to force as much as possible before replacing it.

The larger one is inside the car and never seems to be a problem.

As for the OPs question, how long did the original one last? I assume mine was original when I replaced it so as long as it lasts half as long I'm happy. Typical u-joints with zerks are drilled cap to cap through the inner + to allow grease to be added. Kinda doubtful the steering one has this but I guess you could add it yourself. Be the first!