Slip Yoke Grease Fitting Mod
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
Hey that an interesting idea! The only thing I would watch would be don't go crazy when you inject the grease, as if you fill it too full, when the driveshaft starts to move forward under power, the grease won't compress and you may damage something. I wonder how well the grease will migrate to all the splines...
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Thats exactly what my 88 had. If you shot too much grease in, it would ooze out the hole. I'm sure you could pull the u-joint off and drill a small one in there.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Do you remember if the older ones had the "blue" plastic on the splines? I can't remember, but I didn't think so.
I do remember the small bleed hole just under the U-joint in the tin end cap of the slip tube. I thought about drilling a small 1/64th hole down through the yoke end but elected not to because the spline "blue" plastic was just about worn all off. I figured the clearence would allow any pressure to push the grease down the splines and out. Also, if you look at the pictures 1975StroppeBaja shows, the slip yoke has a section that is void of splines; this may be to allow movement of the grease, or maybe simply just an alignment feature.
I'll keep and eye on it and report if I have any issues. Two weeks into it now and no problems.
I do remember the small bleed hole just under the U-joint in the tin end cap of the slip tube. I thought about drilling a small 1/64th hole down through the yoke end but elected not to because the spline "blue" plastic was just about worn all off. I figured the clearence would allow any pressure to push the grease down the splines and out. Also, if you look at the pictures 1975StroppeBaja shows, the slip yoke has a section that is void of splines; this may be to allow movement of the grease, or maybe simply just an alignment feature.
I'll keep and eye on it and report if I have any issues. Two weeks into it now and no problems.
Last edited by skoveng; Mar 5, 2009 at 07:28 AM. Reason: content
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Isn't it fun to re-engineer a part in your garage that Ford's multi million dollar engineering department was incapable of handling? The engineers that decide not to put grease fittings on steering, suspension and drivetrain components have probably never had the pleasure of wasting a weekend rebuilding a front end that would have lasted forever if it had 25 cent grease fittings on the components.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Isn't it fun to re-engineer a part in your garage that Ford's multi million dollar engineering department was incapable of handling? The engineers that decide not to put grease fittings on steering, suspension and drivetrain components have probably never had the pleasure of wasting a weekend rebuilding a front end that would have lasted forever if it had 25 cent grease fittings on the components.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
In all fairness, in regards to other parts not having grease fittings, many of the parts are engineered to last a lifetime without greasing.
To be able to grease a part, it needs to have channels or be drilled to allow the grease to get where it needs to go. If you do not engineer the part for maintenance greasing, it can be stronger overall.
For instance, a u-joint that is not drilled to allow the grease to get to the bearings is actually stronger than a u-joint that's drilled.
Theoretically.
So far, the greaseable Spicer u-joint I put in the rear of my driveshaft is holding up to everything I can give it. Meanwhile, the stocker failed at around 4 years old, it dried out and the bearings started seizing.
To be able to grease a part, it needs to have channels or be drilled to allow the grease to get where it needs to go. If you do not engineer the part for maintenance greasing, it can be stronger overall.
For instance, a u-joint that is not drilled to allow the grease to get to the bearings is actually stronger than a u-joint that's drilled.
Theoretically.
So far, the greaseable Spicer u-joint I put in the rear of my driveshaft is holding up to everything I can give it. Meanwhile, the stocker failed at around 4 years old, it dried out and the bearings started seizing.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
All auto manufacturers design all systems to minimize consumer interaction. They make a large percentage of their money on repairs and service. These engineers all know better they just have certain guidlines they need to adhere to.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
The way I look at it, you're one of the 3 types:
1. You maintain it yourself and know to grease the chassis (thats me)
2. You take it to a garage and they know to grease the chassis.
3. You do it yourself and don't know to grease them, in which case you have nobody to blame but yourself.
I have had to do total rebuilds of the front ends on every Ford truck I've owned due to lack of grease fittings. The only parts I've not had to replace were the few that happened to have grease fittings. For some reason, my 93 F150 has grease fittings on the steering linkage, so its original at 177,000 miles, whereas the ball joints were gone at 75,000, and the U-joints were gone before 50,000.
Its a real shame.
1. You maintain it yourself and know to grease the chassis (thats me)
2. You take it to a garage and they know to grease the chassis.
3. You do it yourself and don't know to grease them, in which case you have nobody to blame but yourself.
I have had to do total rebuilds of the front ends on every Ford truck I've owned due to lack of grease fittings. The only parts I've not had to replace were the few that happened to have grease fittings. For some reason, my 93 F150 has grease fittings on the steering linkage, so its original at 177,000 miles, whereas the ball joints were gone at 75,000, and the U-joints were gone before 50,000.
Its a real shame.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Slip Yoke Grease Fitting Mod - Up-date:
I have ~6K on the slip yoke grease fitting modification. When I first did the job I greased the yoke splines during re-assemble and then pumped (about 20 times from the grease gun) into the new grease fitting.
The truck went about 3K of smooth pull-out until the shutter returned.
I then pumped another 20 times into the fitting and drove the truck for a few days, no improvement.
I then pumped ~10 times and felt a resistance to grease flow, I pumped 10 more times.
I believe it took the first 50 pumps to fill in the void above the spline stub before it pushed down into the splines.
It's been 3K with smooth operation and no ill effect on the U-joint or other drive-line components; I did NOT drill a small relief hole.
I'll check back on this in 6 months or so with an up-date.
Steve
I have ~6K on the slip yoke grease fitting modification. When I first did the job I greased the yoke splines during re-assemble and then pumped (about 20 times from the grease gun) into the new grease fitting.
The truck went about 3K of smooth pull-out until the shutter returned.
I then pumped another 20 times into the fitting and drove the truck for a few days, no improvement.
I then pumped ~10 times and felt a resistance to grease flow, I pumped 10 more times.
I believe it took the first 50 pumps to fill in the void above the spline stub before it pushed down into the splines.
It's been 3K with smooth operation and no ill effect on the U-joint or other drive-line components; I did NOT drill a small relief hole.
I'll check back on this in 6 months or so with an up-date.
Steve
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
This is something I neglected. I guess I better get my *** in gear and do some greasing. Too bad Ford can't install a fitting from the factory but then again they don't put fittings on the other important parts like ball joints and u joints either.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Pete,
It's so-o-o-o-o-o little weight, so-o-o-o-o-o close to the yoke center-line it makes on difference to the balance. If it was a jet engine spinning at 30,000 rpm it would make a difference, but on on our Super Duties.
Steve
It's so-o-o-o-o-o little weight, so-o-o-o-o-o close to the yoke center-line it makes on difference to the balance. If it was a jet engine spinning at 30,000 rpm it would make a difference, but on on our Super Duties.
Steve
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
I understand what you're saying, Steve. It it were much farther from the center line, I know it would make much more of a difference, too. After thinking about it a little more, I guess the weight of the external fitting tip probably balances fairly closely with the weight removed from drilling through the yoke casing (the fitting doesn't go all the way through the casing hole and is also hollow).