Drive shaft lubrication
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
Drive shaft lubrication
Is lubrication of the universal joints unneeded on a '99 F350? I have looked all over the drive shaft and cannot find any point where grease would be injected.
It is possible that the U-joints are lubed for life? I find that hard to believe. "Maintenance Free" batteries still require water and I wonder if it is possible to have "lubed for life" U-joints.
Thanks for any information the brain trust can impart.
And a Happy New Year to all of you! 
Steve
It is possible that the U-joints are lubed for life? I find that hard to believe. "Maintenance Free" batteries still require water and I wonder if it is possible to have "lubed for life" U-joints.
Thanks for any information the brain trust can impart.
And a Happy New Year to all of you! Steve
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,245
Likes: 1
From: IL, USA
Drive shaft lubrication
>Is lubrication of the universal joints unneeded on a '99
>F350? I have looked all over the drive shaft and cannot
>find any point where grease would be injected.
>
>It is possible that the U-joints are lubed for life? I find
>that hard to believe. "Maintenance Free" batteries still
>require water and I wonder if it is possible to have "lubed
>for life" U-joints.
>
>
I took a quick look under my '01 and didn't see and grease fittings either. Ford probably used sealed u-joints. When they go out, I'm changing to the ones that can be greased.
>F350? I have looked all over the drive shaft and cannot
>find any point where grease would be injected.
>
>It is possible that the U-joints are lubed for life? I find
>that hard to believe. "Maintenance Free" batteries still
>require water and I wonder if it is possible to have "lubed
>for life" U-joints.
>
>
I took a quick look under my '01 and didn't see and grease fittings either. Ford probably used sealed u-joints. When they go out, I'm changing to the ones that can be greased.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
Drive shaft lubrication
I don't know when Ford started not putting grease zerks on u-joints, or if they ever did. However, we have a 1990 F-250HD that doesn't have them and we've only replaced 2 in 145,000 miles. The two new ones are kind of difficult to get a gun in to grease them, which may be one reason Ford doesn't use them. I would like them on the ball joints but again, the '90 doesn't have them and still original. I guess another reason for it may be that a lot of people probably over grease them which leads to failure. I actually kind of like servicing my Super Duty and only haveing to grease the tie rods, compared to the '97 Chevy we have that you have about 6 or 8 on the tie rods and can only get to 2 easily, then the ball joints aren't very easy either.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Troy USA
Drive shaft lubrication
I just had my U-Joints replaced under warranty and was wondering if the replacements would have zerk fittings on them. Mine went bad after 15,000 miles, i was getting vibration and they determined that was the cause. Seems to me that these should last a bit longer then 15,000 mi.
I know that i had to have one replaced in my D*dge Dakota once and it came from the factory with a sealed unit, but the D*dge rplacement had a zerk fitting on it.
I know that i had to have one replaced in my D*dge Dakota once and it came from the factory with a sealed unit, but the D*dge rplacement had a zerk fitting on it.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Drive shaft lubrication
You can get greasable ball joints and U joints but quite often they don't last as long as sealed ones. The sealed ones have better seals on them and dont allow as much water and crap into them. Greasable ones will last a long time however if you grease them regularly.....and most people don't.
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