The Owner's Manual states that the 4WD universal joints should receive regular lubrication. After looking at the joints I noticed they had zerk fittings. I also noticed that the driveshaft u-joints didn't have the fittings. Why does Ford include them on one joint and not on another?

 

I have a 2006 F-250 6.0L and there is not a single grease fitting on the truck, nor are there any plugs to remove to install fittings. This would suggest that they are supposed to be life time lube joints.
But the service book states that the joints should be lubed.
Maybe the guy from the Ford motor company that post here can clarify this.
It sure was helped!!!!

 

If you have a 4x4 did you look at those u-joints?

 

It's a 2 wheel drive.
No fittings anywhere, no balljoint, none on the steering, none on the drive shaft.
No grease fittings at all.

 

You can thank the EPA for the lack of grease fittings.

I have heard that you want to shy away from aftermarket u joints with fittings because the manufactures are longer monitoring them or using them so the quality control is no longer there. It is basically a crap shoot on quality.

I have over 400K on the original rear shaft and joints in my 2000 1 ton, they have never been lubed or serviced and are still silent and slop free and yeha I'm getting nervous.

 

I think my 2005 has front U-joint zerks...but nothing else (i.e none in drive shafts). And I had to point that out to mechanic as they thought there were none all together.