Greasing driveshaft splines

[SurferUK]

Apologies if I have missed it but I searched for half an hour and could not find anything.

Are there any pics/videos of how to split the slip joint and grease the splines 'by hand'?

I think I want to try this and then leave the zerk out as I think mtbtim has done. But I have never owned a RWD vehicle before so not as familiar with what's involved. It looks like I have to mark the alignment first, is that right?

I'm also sure someone said just drill a hole further up the slip joint, to allow grease to travel further up but again could not find the post.

 

[shiftmx]

Do you have a grease zerk for the drive shaft on a 2wd? If so just pump in the correct moly grease until it starts to seep out the dust seal and wipe off the excess.

 

[SurferUK]

Do you have a grease zerk for the drive shaft on a 2wd? If so just pump in the correct moly grease until it starts to seep out the dust seal and wipe off the excess.

Thanks mate, it's a 4WD but yes it has the grease zerk! I have pumped in enough before to see the drive shaft move and some old grease spurted out, but after I pumped even more fresh grease in, no more came out, it just kept expanding. I stopped in case anything got damaged.

After that, I removed the zerk and drove it round the block to remove excess/prevent over pressure, and put the zerk back in.

 

[shiftmx]

Sorry, I misread you saying you never owned a RWD. I just did this to mine. When I pumped in the grease, at about 15-20 pumps (yours will vary) the driveshafts started to expand and then slowly compress. When it got to this point, I continued to pump the grease but slowly until a little grease began to seep from the seal. Once it seeped, I went and bounced the bumper on the side of the driveshaft I was greasing. Wiped of the excess and that was it. A little more may come out from driving.

The driveshaft isn't pressurized so you won't damage anything. Greasing it is not much different than greasing the U joints with the exception of using a different grease. Just pump until you see the fresh grease and clean around the dust seal.

 

[SurferUK]

Sorry, I misread you saying you never owned a RWD. I just did this to mine. When I pumped in the grease, at about 15-20 pumps (yours will vary) the driveshafts started to expand and then slowly compress. When it got to this point, I continued to pump the grease but slowly until a little grease began to seep from the seal. Once it seeped, I went and bounced the bumper on the side of the driveshaft I was greasing. Wiped of the excess and that was it. A little more may come out from driving.

The driveshaft isn't pressurized so you won't damage anything. Greasing it is not much different than greasing the U joints with the exception of using a different grease. Just pump until you see the fresh grease and clean around the dust seal.

Do you get the famous 'thud'?

Also, what's your approach for the front driveshaft slip joint? I think I just put a few pumps in and called it good, but I'm wondering if I should have watched for movement in that driveshaft too.

 

[shiftmx]

I have something clicking when I reverse from my parking spot and use the brakes. My first thought was to try to grease the driveshafts since it was easy. It didn't fix my problem, sounds like it's coming from somewhere else, but at least I know they are well lubed

Both driveshafts are done the same way. Only difference is the front should take a little less grease since it's shorter, so wont take as many pumps before it starts to expand.

 

[shiftmx]

Just want to add that someone will probably disagree with what I'm telling you. That's ok, because to each their own. I'll just leave this here. It's a picture from the Haynes manual (not my pic) that says what I am stating. I trust Haynes much more that some online blog telling you just to put 5 pumps or whatever.

Edit: It won't let me post the image. Here's the link

Pumping the slip yoke full till grease comes out of the seals? : 4Runner

 

[SurferUK]

Just want to add that someone will probably disagree with what I'm telling you. That's ok, because to each their own. I'll just leave this here. It's a picture from the Haynes manual (not my pic) that says what I am stating. I trust Haynes much more that some online blog telling you just to put 5 pumps or whatever.

Edit: It won't let me post the image. Here's the link

Pumping the slip yoke full till grease comes out of the seals? : 4Runner

I know what you mean, there are different opinions out there but ultimately everyone just wants what's best for their truck!

 

[SurferUK]

Just want to add that someone will probably disagree with what I'm telling you. That's ok, because to each their own. I'll just leave this here. It's a picture from the Haynes manual (not my pic) that says what I am stating. I trust Haynes much more that some online blog telling you just to put 5 pumps or whatever.

Edit: It won't let me post the image. Here's the link

Pumping the slip yoke full till grease comes out of the seals? : 4Runner

Hey mate, just to say that I kept pumping the rear slip joint once it started expanding, and this time, new grease came through the seal a lot easier!
Maybe there was old dry grease in there before that needed to loosen up or something. So I pumped loads of fresh stuff through, then popped the zerk off just to 'zero' the pressure. The thud seems to have gone after a short test drive! :cheers:

The front slip joint, I kept pumping and pumping, but the seal only seemed to 'weep' slightly (Not sure if that's a term you guys use?), and I chickened out in case I broke a casing with the amount of expansion.

 

[shiftmx]

Hey mate, just to say that I kept pumping the rear slip joint once it started expanding, and this time, new grease came through the seal a lot easier!
Maybe there was old dry grease in there before that needed to loosen up or something. So I pumped loads of fresh stuff through, then popped the zerk off just to 'zero' the pressure. The thud seems to have gone after a short test drive! :cheers:

The front slip joint, I kept pumping and pumping, but the seal only seemed to 'weep' slightly (Not sure if that's a term you guys use?), and I chickened out in case I broke a casing with the amount of expansion.

Even if it was starting to weep out a little, that's good. That tells me that there is still enough grease in there. I would just drive it a bit and try again or just keep adding some at each oil change until you see fresh grease.

Don't just take my word for it, but I believe grease would come out of that dust seal long before anything would get damaged. Just think about the torque and stress on these components from off-roading a 4runner, but pumping a little too much grease would damage something? Not likely, to me anyway.

 

[SurferUK]

Even if it was starting to weep out a little, that's good. That tells me that there is still enough grease in there. I would just drive it a bit and try again or just keep adding some at each oil change until you see fresh grease.

Don't just take my word for it, but I believe grease would come out of that dust seal long before anything would get damaged. Just think about the torque and stress on these components from off-roading a 4runner, but pumping a little too much grease would damage something? Not likely, to me anyway.

That's exactly what I was thinking, just keep working at it slowly now I know it's rammed full of clean fresh grease. Great minds think alike!

 

[Hyde802]

If youre that worried about it, pull the shaft off on one side and pull it apart and grease it. If nothing else, will give you a good piece of mind.

Probably should mark where it came off mostly so that it stays in phase.

 

[SurferUK]

If youre that worried about it, pull the shaft off on one side and pull it apart and grease it. If nothing else, will give you a good piece of mind.

Probably should mark where it came off mostly so that it stays in phase.

That's what I was thinking of doing, but I wasn't sure if it was as easy as it sounds! Still, it seems the thud has gone away for now at least :biggrin1:

 

[4r-4ever]

this is what i did previously. i removed the bolts for my driveshaft connected to the differential and pulled it out. i had that thud at some point. had to mark it first so it bolts in to the same spline and bolts. you will not believe how much dried grease i removed there. after cleaning all the grease out and pumped in a really fresh grease, the thud disappeared for a long time and when the thud shows again, i pump in a grease and back to normal. i guess if you have not cleaned that for a long time, it's about time to do that.

If youre that worried about it, pull the shaft off on one side and pull it apart and grease it. If nothing else, will give you a good piece of mind.

Probably should mark where it came off mostly so that it stays in phase.