Two weeks ago I dropped the rear torque tube (drive shaft) and performed the grease fitting modification to the slip yoke. The job took me about 45 minutes from start to finish.

I don't know what the heck I waited so long for. I put up with the truck shuttering when pulling out for about four years.

Now it is smooth and makes it a pleasure pulling out from a stop.

If you are thinking about it, DO IT!

Things I used:

12mm 12 point 3/8 socket to drop the shaft at the rear pinion (make sure you mark it's position both at the yoke are rear pinion). Just cut the band on the rubber boot at the slip yoke, no need to remove the band at the carrier bearing yoke stub.

Drill press with a letter "D" drill bit.

1/16-27 pipe tap.

standard grease fitting and grease.


How I did it:

I drilled the yoke just above where the slip tube joins the yoke arms. I then hosed out the yoke to remove any chips and blew it out with shop air.

Installed the grease fitting.

Install the drive shaft.

Greased the heck out of it.

I then used a wire-ty to secure the boot back onto the yoke.

All is well

 

Thanks for the writeup. I just might go out and do this when it warms up. 20 is way too cold right now.

 

Thanks for the concise write up. Rep 2U.

 

It would be nice to see a PIC of the finished job.....so we could see EXACTLY where you drilled/placed the grease fitting on the yoke.

 

I'll take a picture and post it in my album and give the link.

 

Good info, reps sent. I'm looking forward to the pics

I greased mine a while back and was considering a grease fitting but didn't do it. I'll probably do it next time it needs greased.

 

Here is the link to the tech article write up with pics. It doesn't include any pics or procedures of the zerck fitting installation that Skoveng did.

Slip joint regreasing

 

Take a look and let me know if you guys can see the photo; first time I tried to add one.

 

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...

 

Back in the day ('70's), the slip yokes would come with the grease fittings in them. Never had a problem with too much grease, it always found a way out around the splines. But you never know; pump the gun a dozen times and take it for a ride. You can always pump in some more.

I can tell you the driveability is a lot better.

 

Oh, I was just thinking out loud. Were you able to find teflon grease in an injectable tube? I can't seem to find it whenever I look...

 

I used the old fashion grease.

 

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.

 

Rep points given....Thanks!

 

Very nice job on your write up!

I wonder about the grease fitting idea that others have talked about, as far as I know the slip joints that have a fitting also have a groove around the circumference to allow grease to flow to all the splines.