grease fittings on 04
- Thread starter Larry
- Start date
bulldog-yota
New member
It doesn't look like the 2wd have a slipjoint so no zerk for that.
If the U joint doesn't have a zerk in the middle, then it seems like a complete sealed unit. So no greasing required.
See write up below for U joint zerk, it is from a 3rd Gen but the 4th gen is excatly the same place.
http://www.4runners.org/articles/zerk/
If the U joint doesn't have a zerk in the middle, then it seems like a complete sealed unit. So no greasing required.
See write up below for U joint zerk, it is from a 3rd Gen but the 4th gen is excatly the same place.
http://www.4runners.org/articles/zerk/
It's possible that Toyota uses the so-called lubed-for-life U-joints on the 2wd
4Runners. In which case, you would have no zerk fittings to lube.
Those pictures show a slip-yoke at the trans. output, so no slip-joint to lube.
There are no Zerk fittings visible in those pics, you would have to turn the driveshaft to make sure there are no zerks just opposite of the spot visible in the pics.
I would suggest calling the dealer service writer, and have him ask a mechanic if the 2wd 'Runners driveshaft is sans zerk fittings.
4Runners. In which case, you would have no zerk fittings to lube.
Those pictures show a slip-yoke at the trans. output, so no slip-joint to lube.
There are no Zerk fittings visible in those pics, you would have to turn the driveshaft to make sure there are no zerks just opposite of the spot visible in the pics.
I would suggest calling the dealer service writer, and have him ask a mechanic if the 2wd 'Runners driveshaft is sans zerk fittings.
The driveshaft was turned from first to second picture and there are no zerks. I was just thought someone would know for sure. The dealer, in fact two dealers had the same answer, 'huh'. I'm beginning to fear the dealer if anything is the slightest bit out of their normal change the oil, read the computer and wash the car.
Larry said:
I would hope that at least the mechanics would know what zerk fittings are.
Then again, that's just another reason why I do all my own maintainence.
The bottom line, your driveshaft is zerk fitting free. So you don't need to worry about the U-joints until they eventually wear out.
I talked to one of the mechanics and without saying anything myself, asked about some of the services. I asked about the 'old fashioned lube' job and he said that 'they have gone the way of the zerk fitting'. Upon further conversation I got the feeling that they don't lube the zerks, may not even look for them...............bummer.
I called two other dealers and the service writers told me, on the phone, that there were no zerks on Toyota 4Runners, 2wd or 4wd. I wonder what else they miss. Imagine if you hit a dealer that does not know there are two difs and a transfer case in a 4wd model. What if a dealer gets used to changing the oil on a 6cyl with the filter up front and hits a V8. Does the mechanic look and say, 'oh, look there is no oil filter to change'.
So, it looks like 4wd has zerks and 2wd does not. I just wish there were other 2wd owners that could look under and confirm that they have no zerks. How 'bout a picture from a 4wd driveshaft. I showed you mine, where's yours.
So, it looks like 4wd has zerks and 2wd does not. I just wish there were other 2wd owners that could look under and confirm that they have no zerks. How 'bout a picture from a 4wd driveshaft. I showed you mine, where's yours.
Well, other than the dirt, they are fifferent. And with a couple of photos we've gone where service writers have never been. Now we need another 2wd owner to chime in with a photo. And, oh, by the way, I'll clean up those dirty spots and that 'ring-around-the-collar'. Is the shinny spot on your drive shaft larger because of the lift kit?
bulldog-yota
New member
ToyotaDoodz said:OK, here are 2 zerks out of the 6 on my 2003 V8 4X4 Sport. This shows the U-Joint zerk in the middle and the one for the slip joint. (Before someone chimes in, Yes, it's dirty but then I use it off road and I don't power wash or detail the drive shaft.)
You are bad. I normally hose down my undercarriage after offroading in mud or water (Pismo). It prevents the garage from looking like a mud pit, and also makes maintenance/mods easier in the future with not having to deal with all the grime.
The clean part on the drive shaft is as it moves with the rear axle goin up and down.
It doesn't surprise me that Toyota would use the lubed-for-life U-joints on a 2wd 'Runner.
Being 2wd, it wouldn't be expected to go off-road, through water, mud, and anything else that could work it's way into the U-joints.
The 4x4's are expected to be used under those conditions, so they use U-joints with zerks so you can flush out any contaminants with fresh grease.
Being 2wd, it wouldn't be expected to go off-road, through water, mud, and anything else that could work it's way into the U-joints.
The 4x4's are expected to be used under those conditions, so they use U-joints with zerks so you can flush out any contaminants with fresh grease.
SteveM
New member
Larry - To answer your original question; NO there aren't any grease fittings on a 2003 2WD V-8 4Runner. I looked under mine and there are no fittings at either end.
I also looked in the factory service manual and there are directions for greasing the 4WD driveshafts, but none for 2WD models in the maintenance section. Additionally, the diagrams in the overhaul section show zerk fittings on the 4WD shaft and none on the 2WD shaft.
No photos because I don't have a functioning digital camera.
I also looked in the factory service manual and there are directions for greasing the 4WD driveshafts, but none for 2WD models in the maintenance section. Additionally, the diagrams in the overhaul section show zerk fittings on the 4WD shaft and none on the 2WD shaft.
No photos because I don't have a functioning digital camera.
SteveM, thanks for the second look, these guys had me going for a while. And as far as two different service writers from two different dealers saying there are not zerks on any 4Runner, will, I guess, what do you expect. So I really bit. I have a grease gun and a tube of grease and nothing to grease, except for maybe a service writer.
I was looking at the underside of my 2WD while it was on a lift not too long ago. There are no zerks anywhere from what I can see. I have a 2003 V8 and expected to see some on balljoints, etc... But nope. There were none on any balljoints, steering components, driveshaft, etc... Looks pretty maintenance-free until those components begin to wear out... Depending on the vehicle, those can last close to the lifetime of the vehicle (150-200k miles easily if they don't get damaged).
Ricky
Ricky
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