Greasing U-Joints

[Papa Rick]

I do my own greasing every two weeks, and have always greased both fittings on each u-joint. I was talking to a mechanic about this, and he told me that you only have to grease one fitting and it would be good for all of your u-joint.

I still grease both fittings on the u-joint, but my question is should I continue to do this or do as the mechanic told me?

[allan5oh]

It's just a Y fitting. You're wasting time/grease doing both. It goes to the same spot.

The only reason there's 2 is for convenience.

tip: make sure grease is coming out of all 4 ends of the u-joint.

[Part Time Dweller]

Just grease one. As allan stated, there are 2 so the chances one will be accessible are double, without having to spin the drive shaft.

[sodbuster]

Rick I thoght every 2 weeks was excesive, so I looked in my Kenworth owners manual and it said every 10,000 to 15,000 miles but it said for standard (non SPL XL) for the SPL XL 100,000 miles how does one tell the differnce between the different kinds.

[Kranky]

Rick I thoght every 2 weeks was excesive, so I looked in my Kenworth owners manual and it said every 10,000 to 15,000 miles but it said for standard (non SPL XL) for the SPL XL 100,000 miles how does one tell the differnce between the different kinds.

Rick has stated previously that he hauls logs.

That is severe service and requires more frequent greasing than OTR.

for the SPL XL 100,000 miles

Please tell me this is a typo.

[sodbuster]

no type-o the book say's 100,000 miles for SPLX driveline, that was my question how do you know if you have the SPLX dirveline.

[allan5oh]

There will be a number embossed into the u-joints, the parts that are held in place. I don't really know how to explain it.

mine are SPL's, supposedly longer service, better sealed units.

There's also longer service slacks/cam bushing kits. Some of my slacks even one grease squirt is too much. Same with the cam tunnel. They're sealed that well. One squirt and either new stuff comes out, or you can see the rubber gasket on the slack swelling too much.

[Papa Rick]

Not trying to doubt any advice, but when I am greasing my u-joints, I have one that will have grease coming out of three of them, but not the fouth???

What would you suggest that I do to get this fourth one to take grease??????

As for greasing every two weeks, after I bought this truck (it was hauling logs prior to me buying it) I have had several items that had to be replaced due to poor maintenance on the truck.

I know it is a 1985 Truck, and I am learning everyday about this, but when I started greasing it every two weeks, my maintenance problems have went way down.

I really appreciate the advice and suggestions that everyone gives me, as it has helped me more than people know.

[allan5oh]

Not trying to doubt any advice, but when I am greasing my u-joints, I have one that will have grease coming out of three of them, but not the fouth???

You can do one of two things:

1) keep pumping.

2) if it's the bottom one, push up on the driveshaft while pumping.

As for greasing every two weeks, after I bought this truck (it was hauling logs prior to me buying it) I have had several items that had to be replaced due to poor maintenance on the truck.

No problem whatsoever greasing every 2 weeks, especially in your application. But you can over grease certain parts.

[bob h]

[quote="Papa Rick"]Not trying to doubt any advice, but when I am greasing my u-joints, I have one that will have grease coming out of three of them, but not the fouth???

What would you suggest that I do to get this fourth one to take grease??????

roll the driveshaft 1/2 turn. the fact that you're now using a different fitting has nothing to do with which cup purges grease, the shift in the load on the joint is what helps it grease the other cup... same reason alan recommended pushing up on the shaft

the grease goes to the center of the cross before the cups/bearings