HOW-TO: grease your drive shaft

[Theomoji]

My 2014 SR5 Premium only have spyder zerk fittings and none on the propeller shaft

I have a 2014 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Premium 4x4.

I made a YouTube video and you can see towards the end where I spin the propeller looking for other zerk fittings.

 

[1000MPH]

I recommend watching one or two of the YouTube videos on how to use a Lincoln grease gun, how to attach and detach from a Zerk, and how to prime and bleed the air out of it. Even if you’re experienced. This is my least favorite maintenance procedure without a lift.
Edit: Whoops, sorry Theomoji, this reply is not directed to you.

 

[osugsxr]

I recommend watching one or two of the YouTube videos on how to use a Lincoln grease gun, how to attach and detach from a Zerk, and how to prime and bleed the air out of it. Even if you’re experienced. This is my least favorite maintenance procedure without a lift.
Edit: Whoops, sorry Theomoji, this reply is not directed to you.

I watched a few videos and expected the worse to happen. It did but I prepared myself mentally for it. Like all projects you think are simple you run into hiccups. Overall it took maybe 20-30 minutes, coupler getting stuck is frustrating but does happen

 

[1000MPH]

It shouldn’t get stuck if you attach/detach at an angle and it shouldn’t leak too much if you pump when not at an angle. If it does it’s either your grease gun or the Zerk.

Alemite Hydraulic Lubrication System - What you need to know! - YouTube
How to Load and Prime a Grease Gun - Part 1 - YouTube

 

[CavPro]

The tip of that gun unscrews for a reason.

 

[1jzgte]

The tip of that gun unscrews for a reason.

just the tip?

 

[LowRent]

The slide yokes are another common area of confusion. Some people state that pumping too much grease in here is dangerous. You won’t necessarily hear these squeeze out when they are full like the spiders. Too much grease can cause too much pressure. Slide yokes allow some movement in your drive shaft. Too much pressure equals too little movement.

An easy way to do this is give the slide yoke zerk 4-5 pumps or so. Next using a 7mm socket, remove the zerk. Now push up and down on the front and rear bumpers to get a little movement in the slide yokes. Check back under the car and wipe off any grease that squeezed out. Replace the zerk. Do not overtighten this. Just needs to be snug. Now you can be sure there is not too much grease there.

Thanks, that's helpful information.

 

[1000MPH]

The tip of that gun unscrews for a reason.

Releasing from a properly working fitting is not the reason.

 

[bumbobee]

Anyone have a tip or trick on how to line up the shaft so the zerk fittings are accessible? I did this for the first time last year and it was a pain in the ass to line them up so they are accessible. I think I got in and out of the car moving it forward etc and going under it to check where the shaft rotated to.

 

[702_SR5]

...An easy way to do this is give the slide yoke zerk 4-5 pumps or so. Next using a 7mm socket, remove the zerk. Now push up and down on the front and rear bumpers to get a little movement in the slide yokes. Check back under the car and wipe off any grease that squeezed out. Replace the zerk. Do not overtighten this. Just needs to be snug. Now you can be sure there is not too much grease there...

I did a lube job about two weeks ago on my 2021 SR5 4WD with 63K miles.

For the slide yoke zerk, I probably pumped at least 10 times. Nothing came out then, and nothing has come out yet.

Today I tried removing the zerk. I can see fresh grease in the hole, but it's not coming out. I bounced the vehicle quite a bit, but still nothing came out of the hole (or out of the joint).

So, should I do a pump or two, pull the zerk, bounce, and check, repeating the process until something comes out of the zerk hole?

Supposedly this maintenance was being done, but the joints sure seemed dry. So maybe the slide yoke really was that dry.

If it matters, I live in the Southwest so the vehicle never been subjected to "winter driving" and not even that much rain. Also, few if any water crossings worth mentioning.

 

[Okierunner69]

I think this may be the best info I’ve seen on here thus far

 

[Bmnorm2]

Anyone have a tip or trick on how to line up the shaft so the zerk fittings are accessible? I did this for the first time last year and it was a pain in the ass to line them up so they are accessible. I think I got in and out of the car moving it forward etc and going under it to check where the shaft rotated to.

Engage Parking Brake fully, Chock wheel(s), Transmission in neutral: you can turn the driveshafts (4WD) by hand.

 

[- Rita -]

If it matters, I live in the Southwest so the vehicle never been subjected to "winter driving" and not even that much rain.

Did anything ever appear?