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Want to learn how to properly lube the drive shaft in my Tundra

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by 1999cutiger, Aug 12, 2018.

  1. Apr 15, 2019 at 3:13 PM
    #121
    kw819

    kw819 New Member

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    no worries! I just ordered a little needle attachment will tackle it this weekend.
     
    gosolo[QUOTED] likes this.
  2. Apr 15, 2019 at 10:31 PM
    #122
    csuviper

    csuviper Moderator Staff Member

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    I just move the connection around or push it tight. It ends up working on all zerks if you try different positions.
     
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  3. Apr 16, 2019 at 8:51 AM
    #123
    kw819

    kw819 New Member

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    I definitely had it in tight, shoved it in and held it and it would just spew out from that contact point. hopefully the needle will work.
     
    gosolo likes this.
  4. Apr 20, 2019 at 3:45 PM
    #124
    SmokeyTT

    SmokeyTT Smokey The Tundra

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    Just update for my guys with a 2018+. I thought we had none and previously on this thread, users mentioned we had none but there are two fittings on each U-joint of the front driveshaft on my 2018 just incase you guys haven't taken a look. Mine were covered by the undercoating I had done.
     
    TTund16 likes this.
  5. Apr 21, 2019 at 3:53 AM
    #125
    rsgt

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    Just had my 19 in for toyota care paper worked stated propeller shaft lubed at service my manual says it does. Thats why I asked them to grease the shaft while up on the hoist.
     
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  6. Apr 21, 2019 at 4:13 AM
    #126
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Custom Specialized grease tip for 1st Gen Front 4WD Propellor.

    upload_2019-4-21_7-12-59.jpg
     
  7. Apr 22, 2019 at 8:26 PM
    #127
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    Is it possible Toyota switched to sealed units sometimes in 2018? Maybe some have it and some don't.

    I've seen it happen before with a same year car and depending on the vin number you get different parts.
     
  8. Apr 23, 2019 at 5:17 AM
    #128
    rsgt

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    Must be on to something I can take a picture of my work order that the tech noted shaft lubed. I do think if there was no fitting they would have noted that ! Strange why some 19s don't have them ?
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2019
  9. Apr 23, 2019 at 10:20 PM
    #129
    SmokeyTT

    SmokeyTT Smokey The Tundra

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    That's actually crazy. It is bothering me a bit now that I am missing more but I have looked at the rear driveshaft joints from every angle and haven't seen anything
     
  10. Apr 28, 2019 at 2:47 PM
    #130
    Justin.TX

    Justin.TX South Texas Tundra

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    Ummm. Stuff
    Lincolns are a great brand to go with. That is what I use on the farm equipment and it hasn't stopped yet like all of the cheap auto parts store's grease guns.
     
    tundras00[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Jun 12, 2019 at 10:08 AM
    #131
    Maddog94

    Maddog94 New Member

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    Just did mine yesterday so I figured I'd chime in here.

    2016 CM 4X4: 5 Zerks. 3 on rear shaft, 2 on front.

    As others have stated, the rear one on the front shaft is a biotch! I also had no luck with a needle, the grease just wasn't going in. So I removed the heat shield (2 bolts) and came in at a 90 degree angle from the driver's side. Perfect!

    Also as a side note, when 4WD is not engaged, the front driveshaft spins freely (no need to jack up the front end or anything like that). I won't work under a vehicle on ramps or jacks, I do not think it's ever fully safe. If you slide under and the rear driveshaft isn't pointing all the zerks straight down, just drive forward or backward until they line up.
     
    Pkahir12 likes this.
  12. Jun 12, 2019 at 10:59 AM
    #132
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    actually some time during 2017 model year. Mine does not have any. I don't think it is a big deal. Toyotas are the first trucks I have ever owned that had ujoints with fittings.
     
  13. Jun 12, 2019 at 12:47 PM
    #133
    VTYOTA

    VTYOTA I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!!

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    When I had my Land Rover Discovery II, one of the known problems was the non-greasable driveshaft. The u-joints would eventually dry up and eventually cause failure without warning. Upon failure, the transmission housing will most likely be toasted as well. I loved my Disco and even though I replaced my driveshaft with greasable u-joints, it was still a ticking time bomb for other reasons. Needless to say, it wasn't a great vehicle for reliably hauling the family around. That's why I have a Tundra now and I'm glad to have those little nubs to feed it grease at every oil change.
     
    gosolo likes this.
  14. Jul 17, 2019 at 8:25 PM
    #134
    Jesse30002000

    Jesse30002000 New Member

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    All i can find is this. Dont know if it can be greased or not and if so dont know how it works ‍♂️

    20190717_202004.jpg
     
    SuperWhite20 likes this.
  15. Jul 17, 2019 at 8:30 PM
    #135
    Inquiringone

    Inquiringone -Blue N Blac- an a little chrome

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  16. Jul 30, 2019 at 10:11 AM
    #136
    Justin.TX

    Justin.TX South Texas Tundra

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    Ummm. Stuff
    Buy a grease gun and a tube of grease. The socket of the grease gun snaps onto that nipple looking piece called a grease fitting. Pump the grease gun a couple of times. Do this at every oil change or every couple.
     
  17. Jul 30, 2019 at 10:13 AM
    #137
    Jesse30002000

    Jesse30002000 New Member

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    Will try that thanks
    Baught the stuff to do it and said "hey, where the f are zerks?"
    Was looking for more of a tire air zerk kind of shape....
     
    Justin.TX[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Jul 30, 2019 at 10:17 AM
    #138
    Justin.TX

    Justin.TX South Texas Tundra

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    Ummm. Stuff
    No problem. If grease starts coming out of the side of the grease gun socket instead of going in the fitting just trying hold the socket straight inline with the fitting and maybe applying a little pressure. If you have any more questions just post on here and someone will help you.
     
    norma30a and _khaki_ like this.
  19. Jul 31, 2019 at 7:34 PM
    #139
    Jesse30002000

    Jesse30002000 New Member

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    Nice. Appreciate it. Absolutely certain dealership didnt do this even thoight they charged me for it...

    Going to tighten propellar shaft too.

    Crack the nuts loose and then re tighten to proper torque as specified in a criss cross pattern like a tire?
     
  20. Aug 10, 2019 at 1:08 PM
    #140
    Jesse30002000

    Jesse30002000 New Member

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    After greasing my own u joints, all 5 are doable via regular grese gun, just the front 2 you might need to get out and move the truck a few inches at a time until you can get the right angle.

    Also pretty sure toyota didnt do it despite charging me since my back 3 had no grease in them until mine started coming out and hearing the air hiss while doing it.
     
  21. Nov 4, 2019 at 4:54 PM
    #141
    sdunlimited

    sdunlimited New Member

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    I greased my driveshaft today and it only had 3 zerks on the rear shaft. Looked all around the front shaft joints and couldn’t find any zerks.
    This was on a 2011 5.7L 4WD Crewmax TRD
     
  22. Jan 14, 2020 at 2:04 PM
    #142
    rockfordhx

    rockfordhx New Member

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    New Tundra Owner here and was going to do this service myself but I dont have any zerk fittings on my rear diff (2017 DC 2WD)
    20200114_093714.jpg 20200114_093444.jpg
     
  23. Jan 18, 2020 at 12:22 PM
    #143
    junior

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    Thanks for some of the tips in this thread! I was able to do this today on my truck—I also had the blue Lincoln grease gun that others have.

    My 2016 4x4 had 5 zerks, all of which were accessible using the standard grease gun tip. All but the rear one on the transfer case were pretty easy to get to in my opinion, but after moving the truck back and forth a couple times in 4hi I was still able to access it with the normal tip with it as someone else said here, with the zerk pointing in the 2 o'clock position. Every single zerk still had paint on it and took about 5-6 pumps to purge so I figure it's never been done before.

    Screen Shot 2020-01-18 at 12.17.04 PM.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2020
  24. Jan 18, 2020 at 12:56 PM
    #144
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    good info. I have a '16 and this helps.

    I think after they lube it, they put the undercoat/paint. ... I am sure Toyota is not that stupid to forget to lube. Hope not! lol
     
  25. Feb 10, 2020 at 10:49 AM
    #145
    Joe333x

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    I just read this whole thread and seems there's some conflicting info, do 2019 have any zerks?
     
    Ronin73 likes this.
  26. Sep 4, 2020 at 5:05 PM
    #146
    jayhawknavy02

    jayhawknavy02 New Member

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    2017 CM 4X4: 5 Zerks. 3 on rear shaft, 2 on front that I found. I have the Toyota Tundra book from Haynes and it says the slip joint grease fitting is located on the yoke and to pump grease into it until it comes out of the slip joint seal. From looking at my 2017 Tundra the slip joint looks like it is sealed so I'm assuming I don't lubricate that with the rest of the driveshaft.

    Appreciate the help.

    8-C814297-2522-47-D4-9-BD2-28-FE0026-AE9_29d3f823e45d97921d5e8db9f3d86516cb39e8d5.jpg
     
  27. Sep 5, 2020 at 7:27 PM
    #147
    SuperWhite20

    SuperWhite20 New Member

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    I started a technician career in a dealership 44 years ago. I started on the lube rack. Many Fords and Lincoln’s had the double Cardan joints. I just took the gun tip to the grinder and ground around the end of coupler. All you need to do and better than the needle any time.
     
    norma30a likes this.
  28. Sep 6, 2020 at 12:26 AM
    #148
    Marty McFly

    Marty McFly Nobody calls me chicken!! Except when off roading

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    I greased my shaft in the tundra today. I got about 4 good jerks, I mean “zerks” and now I have grease all over my hands and the steering wheel :laughing:
     
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  29. Sep 12, 2020 at 1:28 PM
    #149
    Bprose

    Bprose Old member

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    That tip about taking the little heat shield off for the front driveshaft was great.
     
  30. Dec 9, 2020 at 5:00 PM
    #150
    Corrosivetendency

    Corrosivetendency New Member

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    No mention of lithium vs. Moly based grease. An old and trusted mechanic friend of mine told me lithium is for roller/needle bearings and moly is always for bushings and splines. Moly tends to be too 'slippery' for needle and ball bearings and allows them to actually slide instead of roll, which can (over time and miles) cause flat spots/failure. Moly will essentially embed in the pores of the steel and allow for a smoother slide/slip.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2020
    Wallygator likes this.

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