Drivetrain throwing grease

2002 tundra limited ac 4x4.

Is it normal for these driveshaft parts to throw grease? I'm having vibrations when the truck is moving at just about any speed, and I'm trying to look for any obvious parts that need to be replaced.

Am I out of luck repairing the double cardan joint u-joints if it is bad? Will I just have to replace the entire driveshaft? From what I'm reading that seems to be the case.

Thanks!

 

They generally throw some grease just after they are greased. That stuff looks pretty old and crusty. When was the last time they were greased? Recommended to grease every 5K-10K. If they're dry you could get some vibrations and noise.

 

Mine looks like that. I have replaced u joints on occasion, so mine now have grease zerks.

I had a vibration I chased. It was a wheel bearing.

 

Vibration that happens consistently at basically all speeds is highly unlikely to be anything in the driveline. You need to be looking at your wheels and brakes. Especially if the vibration doesn’t increase in frequency with RPMs. Does the vibration stop or reduce when you tap the brakes?

 

Unsure of when they were greased. Just bought the truck a few months ago. I will try to put some grease in them.

 

I haven't noticed if the vibration changes when applying brakes. I will check that tomorrow. It does seem to get worse at higher speeds.

I have suspected u-joints and/or carrier bearing being bad since I get a weird noise when I take off quickly from a dead stop too. No jerking or anything, just a weird grinding type noise, and only when I take off somewhat quickly.

 

That sounds like pinion bearing to me. Any whining at all?

 

And I don't know how common bad pinion bearing is for 1GT, but this is one of a couple of examples of how to check. Again, I'll reiterate: I don't know if this specifically applies to 1GT or not, but the "grinding at takeoff" combined with vibration throughout speed range would have me suspecting pinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfGQjhIvAFo

 

So I payed close attention while driving today, and the vibration does seem to happen above 50 mph, and it stops vibrating when I let off of the gas and the engine is not under a load while at the same speeds above. I'll get out there and feel for any play like shown in your video Shifty.

 

No whining, just vibration.

 

U-joints.

 

So does that mean the double cardan fall in with those as well? And does the entire driveshaft have to be replaced IF the u joints in the cardan are bad? I can't find a source for the cardans anywhere? There's more to the cardan than just u joints from what I've read... A ball joint type connection between them.

 

Yes, there are no double cardan parts. But you might not need them. Try replacing just the 2 u-joints and you may be surprised.

 

I've never had a Double C u joint fail. It's always the joint at the pinion.

I've only had 1 carrier bearing go bad in 25 years. The bearing wasn't bad, just the rubber bushing around the cb. Even then the only time I noticed it was during aggressive shift changes.

I think your issue is down stream.

Pinion bearing or wheel bearing.

 

I don’t disagree on pinion bearing because of the grinding symptom. It’s pretty unique. But the other symptoms are pretty classic u-joint. I highly doubt it’s carrier. If it was wheel bearing I’d expect some WUB WUB WUB at speed with the vibration.

 

Thanks everybody, I will sleep better having a better idea of what's probably going on.