Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train UV Joint Grease Fittings

How in the hell do you grease the ones that are in the corner of the inside of the UV joint? The ones that stick out on the outside of the joint are obviesly easy...Does anyone have any good technique to get to this grease fitting? thanks

If you can't get to it with a grease gun (with a flexible end), then it's probably installed wrong. It's not really wrong, just that you can't get to the cap to lube it. You could either replace it, pull it out and reinstall it, or be creative and try to get the grease in there (doesn't usualy work). Good luck. John

I just ran into that same gripe. I reinstalled a new u-joint behind the tranny and duplicated exactly the set-up the way it was. Unfortunately it was put in wrong the last time. The zerx fitting is facing front and the grease gun sleeve can't get on the nipple. In my case I will have to let off the U-bolts on the tranny yoke and slide the front trunnion back on the prop shaft to get the grease gun in there. Then the u-joint can be reconnected. Maybe that would work for you.
At least I lubed it good before I bolted it all back together.

There is a thing called a grease needle which may allow you to get some grease into the joint. You take the normal end off your grease gun and install the needle(has a tapered and pointed end). You push the pointed end into the bb of the zerk. You should be able to get one at any auto parts store.

i know what a grease needle is.....can you insert that into a grease fitting...there is a little ball in the fitting and i would think that it would get messed up pushing a needle into it....

Jason,
I have the same problem on my truck. I went to the local hardware store and picked up a small piece of that hobby type brass tubing that is about the size of the threads on a zerk fitting. I cut it to about 1 1/2"- 2" then forced a zerk fitting into the tube. If I hold the other end tightly against the fitting on the U joint I can grease the joint.
Works for me.
Jim

The needle will work fine. I have used one many times. It only pushes the ball back against the spring while you are greasing it. Doesn't hurt a thing. Joe

what about removing the zerk fitting and replasing it with a 90 deg one?

Malicer-- That would be too easy. I actually hadn't thought about that.

Honestly though, unless you already have the needle or brass tubing, why not just remove and reinstall the right way. It doesn't take that long at all. Not to mention it's free, and you don't have to run around looking for stuff. Just a couple pennies. Good luck. John

if i were going to pull the u-joint and turn it i would replace it at the same time unless it is fairly new,or sure as hell that's the one that will give out on you in a month or two,they're not all that expensive and you wont be doing it twice....jim

i tired the needle and all it doe sits bend the tip.....So by all of your input it seems the best way to do it is redo the UV joint or remove and reinstal....what a pain in the ass...if anyone has an easier way i can ue please feel free...i wont be replacing or reinstalling anytime soon..thanks...

You apparently aren't using the right kind of needle. It shouldn't bend. If it looks like a hypodermic syringe needle, it isn't right. Those are for putting grease into a sealed bearing. Maybe this will help. Joe

no it doesnt look like a hyperdermic needle...it has a very sharp point on it and when i tried to put it into the fitting it just bent the tip a bit...

If I understand correctly, you're trying to grease the zerk that's in the "web" between the trunions, and is pointing straight out between the trunions? If so, I have never seen one that couldn't be greased with a regular gun, but then I haven't worked on everything either. Are you sure it's not just a matter of rotating the driveshaft until the zerk is in a spot where the space around the zerk isn't being "pinched" by the yokes?

at what point is it not going to be pinched i mean the drive shaft isnt at that much of an angle i dont think to where all it has to be is rotated...any ideas

Although removing the u-joint and reinstalling it in the correct orientation would be the "right" way to do it, I am still going with the grease needle solution. You must have a different type of needle than I do. Mine is a cylinder that only tapers down to a point the last quarter inch or so. You would have to try pretty hard to bend this thing. I have to remove the "stock" end from my grease gun hose then thread the "needle" on to the end of the hose. It's what I use on my u-joints that I apparently installed wrong and it works well.

I wasn't trying to imply that the needle wouldn't work. It just seems to me after reading all of this that perhaps not all of us, mainly me, are visualizing this situation the same way. If the zerk is where I think it is, then fliping it around won't serve any purpose. I guess more questons are in order. (pictures would be nice)

Is this a one piece or a two piece driveshaft setup?

Just which joint exactly are we dealing with?

Do you have a shop manual for it?

Is the centerline of the zerk pointing in the same direction as the truck (north/south), or does it point towards the side of the truck (east/west)?