Slip Yoke Grease Fitting Mod
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 1
From: Morehead, Ky.
I'm here to provide an up-date on the slip-yoke grease fitting modification.
First, I have not had any problems with the drive line with respects to the yoke end not having a relief vent hole. Once you start having the problem of the "clunking", the blue plastic coating is worn off of the splines, providing plenty of room for any excess grease to find its way out.
I have only been greasing the yoke when I notice the clunking returning during a pull-out from a stop. For me, it's about every 7 to 10K miles.
When greasing, using a standard level-style manual grease gun, I pump about 20 times.
I have about 20K miles on the truck since the modification and have not noticed any grease leaking from the spline boot.
I'm happy with the mod as the clunking when pulling out drives me nuts and ruins the joy of driving the truck.
I'll keep everyone posted at the miles roll on.
First, I have not had any problems with the drive line with respects to the yoke end not having a relief vent hole. Once you start having the problem of the "clunking", the blue plastic coating is worn off of the splines, providing plenty of room for any excess grease to find its way out.
I have only been greasing the yoke when I notice the clunking returning during a pull-out from a stop. For me, it's about every 7 to 10K miles.
When greasing, using a standard level-style manual grease gun, I pump about 20 times.
I have about 20K miles on the truck since the modification and have not noticed any grease leaking from the spline boot.
I'm happy with the mod as the clunking when pulling out drives me nuts and ruins the joy of driving the truck.
I'll keep everyone posted at the miles roll on.
Before doing the mod, wire tie a small nut to the drive shaft and drive it down the road. It will tell you if you are going to feel the vibration. Jim
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Like I said, it's only been 20K miles since the mod. My thoughts are that I haven't put enough grease in it yet to have found its way out of the boot.
As far as the nut goes, I was not getting a vibration; it was definenitly the lateral play in the yoke.
As far as the nut goes, I was not getting a vibration; it was definenitly the lateral play in the yoke.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Before I did mine, I looked at the eurekaboy write up and my driveshaft was different than his, so I did a write up on what mine was like.
2004 F250 Slip Yoke Service
As shown on my page, I used Valvoline Durablend grease on mine. So far its holding up well.
2004 F250 Slip Yoke Service
As shown on my page, I used Valvoline Durablend grease on mine. So far its holding up well.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Heres the way I did it on my 03. I put the grease fitting in the middle of the yoke. I took a 1/16th thick cut off wheel and cut a groove around the spline shaft. Not too deep. Just enough to give the grease a path to get to all the splines around the shaft. Works like a charm. Then I used waterproof marine bearing grease like I use on everything.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Heres the way I did it on my 03. I put the grease fitting in the middle of the yoke. I took a 1/16th thick cut off wheel and cut a groove around the spline shaft. Not too deep. Just enough to give the grease a path to get to all the splines around the shaft. Works like a charm. Then I used waterproof marine bearing grease like I use on everything.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
It needs to be machined tight otherwise there will be high speed vibrations. Plus putting the grease fitting in the middle allows grease to reach the end without packing too much behind the shaft. Once its full it just forces grease out the other end and Presto!!, the whole thing is greased. The waterproof marine grease keeps the moisture out if the boot isnt sealing all the way.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Duluth,MN
Thanks for this write up! I went a head and tapped the driveshaft and installed a zert. I also to a dremel and made a small grove all the way around the shaft for the grease to move all the way around. I greased the shaft and reinstalled it and then added about 5 pumps to the zert. I have no clunk and when I get one back I will pump 5 at a time untill it goes away. Here are some pics!
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
It needs to be machined tight otherwise there will be high speed vibrations. Plus putting the grease fitting in the middle allows grease to reach the end without packing too much behind the shaft. Once its full it just forces grease out the other end and Presto!!, the whole thing is greased. The waterproof marine grease keeps the moisture out if the boot isnt sealing all the way.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
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Hello every one ..I got 01 F250 W 5.4L ,I was planning on doing the slip yoke service by removing it and grease it , What is the right way to remove it..? Do I have to totally remove the drive line from the rear end or just simply remove the 8mm bolts that holding the u joint in place and pry the slip yoke back to allow it to be released which will keep the drive line attached to the rear end ..?
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Hello every one ..I got 01 F250 W 5.4L ,I was planning on doing the slip yoke service by removing it and grease it , What is the right way to remove it..? Do I have to totally remove the drive line from the rear end or just simply remove the 8mm bolts that holding the u joint in place and pry the slip yoke back to allow it to be released which will keep the drive line attached to the rear end ..?
Mark the shaft where you disassemble it so that it goes back in the same orientation. (At the U-joint. The spline cannot go in wrong)
I'm not a fan of the grease fitting modification, so I just pulled mine out and put a little grease on the splines, and did it right under the truck. Unless you are drilling and tapping for a fitting I see no reason to take the whole shaft out.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Im not a fan the the zerk mod either, it"s just a spline that takes a little grease. I would put my energy into removing a little material off the spline with a rotary brush on a drill with some grinding compound or some other abrasive.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Not sure if you have the two piece driveshaft like mine does, but all I did was unbolt the center bearing and drop it. That pulled the slip joint apart and allowed me to grease it, then put it back in the exact same spot. Mine was so stuck that all 150lbs of me hanging on the driveshaft wouldn't pull it apart!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 155
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Most important advice I can give you is to chock the tires well! Put the emergency brake on, and put your transmission in neutral.
Mark the shaft where you disassemble it so that it goes back in the same orientation. (At the U-joint. The spline cannot go in wrong)
I'm not a fan of the grease fitting modification, so I just pulled mine out and put a little grease on the splines, and did it right under the truck. Unless you are drilling and tapping for a fitting I see no reason to take the whole shaft out.
Mark the shaft where you disassemble it so that it goes back in the same orientation. (At the U-joint. The spline cannot go in wrong)
I'm not a fan of the grease fitting modification, so I just pulled mine out and put a little grease on the splines, and did it right under the truck. Unless you are drilling and tapping for a fitting I see no reason to take the whole shaft out.
,took the 8mm bolts apart hoping the thing will be apart in no time , But it was so stubborn to come out and I didn't pry at all at the U joint by the slip yoke fearing I might screw something up ...So I put things back together and started my forum search ....<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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