Greasing U-joints?

[spooner]

Hello,

New 4Runner owner here again.

I was checking the maintenance manual and they describe that the U-joints and Slip Joints required greasing quite often. I crawled under and sure enough there are several grease fittings. I don't have the manuals yet. What are the specifics about greasing these.

Questions:

1. source of grease. Where to buy the Molydinum Disulfide blah blah blah they call out. Should I try synthetic?, Marine? etc?

2. how many "pumps" does each one get. How do you know when you've lubed enough. What does the factory manual say? I've done this for my Cub Cadet and you usually just pump it until the grease oozes out but I don't see that happening here.

Thanks

Tom
98 4Runner
85 Supra
83 Volvo (for sale, cheap)
94 Voyager

 

[Greenhorne]

The manual calls for the use of:

Molybdenum disulphide lithium based ghassis grease NLGI No. 2 which you can buy at just about any auto store. I get mine at Autozone. I just stick to what it calls for and am not sure about the synth's.

On the u-joint you were right, you will just start seeing it come out around the knuckles.

The Propeller shaft sliding yoke (as toyota calls it) i.e. axle, if it is dry like mine, it will take a lot of the grease. As it gets full, you will start to see the axle elongate (move apart). Otherwords, watch the gasket/dust cover and you will see the movement when it is full. This is how it was explained to me at the dealership when I watch the tech do it the first time to my truck. The service manual doesn't specify just how much to use.

 

[spooner]

Thanks.

however, I don't see any boot/gasket/cover on the slip joints. I wonder if my 98 lost them somehow. I just bought it about 1 month ago.

Does anyone with an older 4Runner know if there should be covers on these.

Thanks

Tom

 

[Greenhorne]

On my 98 Tacoma, it really is not a cover persay... it is just where the two pieces meet. Right where the one slides into the other. if you look at that juncture while pumping in the goo, you will see it start moving apart.

Maybe soon I can get my digicam working. If so, I will take a photo of it.

 

[palwine]

I just lubed mine this weekend, but I wasn't sure if I missed any grease "nipples" if you will. I found two- one towards the rear and one towards the front of the drive shaft. Are there additional ones I missed?
I noticed a big improvement after lubing. No more "clunks" after hard/sudden stops.

 

[palwine]

Anyone with a third generation?? I pumped about 10 squirts of grease from the gun in each fitting but I still don't know if I put enough in. If you put too much in does it just fill into the axle?

 

[spooner]

I just did mine over the weekend. I just got the truck and didn't see anything in the maintenance records that this had ever been done. Also the fittings looked very clean so I'm guessing it was never done. Anyway, most of the fittings on the u-joints only took about 3-5 pumps from a full size grease gun. The slip joints took about 30 pumps and then finally I saw the joint start to expand. That's when I stopped. I plan to take a look underneath after driving for a few days. I'm wondering if that grease will ooze out if the joint gets compressed while driving.

Tom

 

[Jim]

front propeller shaft lube points

A while back, someone posted a scan from the maintenance section of their 2003 4Runner Repair Manual showing lube points. The illlustration shows a double cardin where the front shaft connects to the front diff. I just got my 2004 manuals and they have the same illustration. However, when I crawl under my 2004 V6 4Runner, there is only a regular u-joint at that connection - what gives? Is the double cardin only used on the V8 with fulltime 4WD?

Since I have a u-joint there, I assume that I should use the lithium based grease instead of the moly recommended for the double cardin.

 

[Capitan]

Ciao,

Jim, I scanned that page and placed in one of the sticky links at the top of the Problems and Warranty page of this site. This subject has been discussed pretty heavily. I have a 4WD V8 and couldn't find the double cardan slip joint so I figured it was on the 2WD or V6 models.

Read that whole thread and let me know if you have any questions afterwards.
Cheers,
Jon

 

[live4swell]

Same here, I dont see the double cardan slip joint on my V8, must be the V6 or 2WD V8.