Newb question: is it normal?

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Frontier719

New member
I greased my drive shafts today and I noticed something that looked odd. When I was pumping grease into points 2 and 7, I noticed the drive shafts expanding at the joints circled in yellow--is this normal?

Also, I heard the normal popping noise as the grease came through the joints in all of the other grease points, but when I pumped it into points 2 and 7, i didnt notice any come out anywhere--how do you know when there is enough grease in it?
 

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If your pushing the drive shaft apart, that means the cavity in there is full. When you put more grease in it, its acting like a hydraulic cylinder, grease going in is pushing the "cylinder" out.

You can pull the zerk fitting off to release some pressure. You can pull the drive shaft too, and separate it, and service it that way. I usually just put a few pumps in it to keep it lubed up every oil change, keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn't start pushing apart.
 
Yeah, transfer case housing can crack!

MandAtaco said:
Here is a thread about an FJ80 on the I8MUD forum about the damage that can be done if you overgrease. Different truck, same principals.

Greasing your driveshaft may cause extreme pressures | IH8MUD Forum
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I pointed out this before. So 3-4 pumps from a SMALL grease gun is max for me. Bump the truck few times by hand and remove the 8 mm grease zerk to eject excess grease before you drive your truck.

Yes, the zerk is bolt on just like an ordinary bolt.
 
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Frontier719 said:
When I greased it, it moved about 2 mm before I stopped pumping. Is that a significant amount? or should I pull the zerk fitting to be safe?

Side note, do the zerk fittings just screw in?

Also, your willys is sick. I have been looking for one!
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sliders (2&7) are 3 pumps max, think you put much more than that in? But it sounds more than full, so yeah need to bleed some out most likely. :cowboy:
 
just took a look at the front slider--it appears that the grease oozed out and looks back to normal.

the rear drive shaft is not oozing at all and it looks like a hydrolic piston ;)--are there special tools to remove the grease fittings? it looks like a really small hex. not sure if I have a socket that small
 
I think it's an 8mm. Hit it with a shot or wd or similar. Use a 1/4 drive, go slow, don't strip or round. When out grease should ooze out. Extra if you feel, you can collapse the drive shafts a tad. Reinstall gingerly and snug. 2 pumps at next oil change.
 
Frontier719 said:
When I greased it, it moved about 2 mm before I stopped pumping. Is that a significant amount? or should I pull the zerk fitting to be safe?

Side note, do the zerk fittings just screw in?

Also, your willys is sick. I have been looking for one!
Click to expand...

Yea, small socket and it should screw right out. Just let it bleed off a little and reinstall Zerk. A couple squirts every oil change should be plenty.

Thanks man, the willy's is fun. I've got the body off now, down to bare frame. After I final weld all the suspension hangers on, and finish boxing the frame, I can finally start putting things back together! LOL
 
Frontier719 said:
When I greased it, it moved about 2 mm before I stopped pumping. Is that a significant amount? or should I pull the zerk fitting to be safe?

Side note, do the zerk fittings just screw in?

Also, your willys is sick. I have been looking for one!
Click to expand...

Alternatively, you can also take a small screwdriver or allen wrench and press in the ball bearing in the zerk itself without removing it. Watch out, it might spray if under considerable pressure.

I had to do this since my slip joints were COMPLETELY dry when I got it. I had to pump a ton of grease in there, drive it around the block and release the pressure by pressing in the zerk. I did this a few times until the driveshaft was completely lubricated again without having too much grease in it.
 
No zerk fittings

My '01 2WD Limited 4runner's drive shaft joints have no fittings, how am I supposed to grease it? Is it normal?
 
Sukirman said:
My '01 2WD Limited 4runner's drive shaft joints have no fittings, how am I supposed to grease it? Is it normal?
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Are you sure there's no fittings, and not just he drive shaft is pointed up or the shaft is caked in road grime? Sometimes they are hard to spot.
 
Sukirman said:
Oh ok, that is comforting to know. So I take it, the drive shaft never needs to be greased?
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As it came from the Factory, there's nothing to grease. The transmission fluid lubes the slip-yoke, and the U-joints are the so-called lubed-for-life type.
 
LeeMajors said:
My 2wd 00 has one in the front and one in the rear. :confused:
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Are you the original owner? If not, then I'd say that someone replaced the original lubed-for-life U-joints, with greaseable U-joints.

At least every 2wd 4Runner with OEM parts that I've seen has had lubed-for-life U-joints.
 
02SE said:
Are you the original owner? If not, then I'd say that someone replaced the original lubed-for-life U-joints, with greaseable U-joints.

At least every 2wd 4Runner with OEM parts that I've seen has had lubed-for-life U-joints.
Click to expand...

No, I'm not. Interesting. I always just assumed it was normal.

Learn something new every day.
 
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