How to grease a u-joint

[JHZR2]

Hi,

This may be simple or stupid, but how does one grease a u-joint? My truck had a squeaky one, so I took it to the dealer and they put in an aftermarket (small mom and pop dealer, use what the mechanic thinks is best after consulting with the owner, which is very nice) U-joint.

THe OE ones were not greasable, these are... the thing is, I dont know how. It is not a zerk fitting, it is a little thing that looks almost like a cup, with the center haing a little hole where the bearing pops up to seal.

Do I need to use a needle, or something else?

Any info would be great. Thanks!

JMH

 

[Eddie]

I think you pop the plastic cap out and install a zerk fitting.

 

[JHZR2]

thing is, it isnt a plastic cap... its metal. It has a bearing in it in a center hole, which looks like that in a zerk fitting.

 

[tom slick]

is it shaped like a mini funnel, sort of inverse cone shaped? you'll need a fitting like this

 

[cousincletus]

Don't know what kind of grease they put in the non-greasable joints, but in industrial applications they actually last longer than the greasable kind. FWIW GM has been using them since at least 1970, as I had a 1970 Camaro with them.

 

[Eddie]

Sorry. I was thinking it was like the U-Joints on my old Jeep which used plastic screw ins that were to be replaced with jerks for greasing.

 

[mechtech]

If the U joint is squeaking, it's toasted.

 

[JHZR2]

The old one was, the new one isnt and since its greasable, Id like to keep it like new...

JMH

 

[ralphmalph]

Apologies if this seems a silly response but I am not familiar with the zerk fitting you refer to.

Is it not just a grease nipple...

 

[tom slick]

zerk = grease nipple.

 

[andyd]

RM yes Zerk invented it. JHZ, the double cardan joint on my Grandwagoneer has the same type of grease fitting as what you describe. You need a cone type adapter for your grease gun, Or you can remove the existing fitting, put in a regular Zerk , grease it, then replace the original.

 

[ralphmalph]

"zerk = grease nipple"

okedokey, don't I look like a dill now then (lol)

 

[JHZR2]

How do I remove the existing one? THere is no way to remove or unscrew it that I can see...

JMH

 

[tom slick]

quote:

---

"zerk = grease nipple"

okedokey, don't I look like a dill now then (lol)

---

we are the ones with the silly name for it.

 

[JHZR2]

I found this one:

I have an 18ga needle grease gun attachment... Can I use the needle tpo press the bearing inward and then just squirt grease in? Id venture to guess that it would either be too close and not let grease out, or it would come backwards, out of the fitting...

Thanks,

JMH

 

[JHZR2]

Eddie,

that sounds like a more convenient method!

JMH

 

[tom slick]

does the fitting look anything like this?

or this?

 

[JHZR2]

tom,

the "fitting" loks kind of like the top one, only it certainly doesnt look like a screw in part. It doesnt have a hex-head, it is just more or less flimsy metal coming out of the hole in the joint to make the sides of the cup, no hex edges or whatnot.

Thanks,

JMH

 

[andyd]

the top pic is the one I was refering to . It doesnt use the needle you showed JHZ, The adapter is more of a cone shape.

 

[Kestas]

I maintain an instrument in our lab that has the upper fitting in tom slick's post. We use a grease gun with the mini funnel in tom slick's other post. Just press and grease. I've seen such funnels that use the same thread as the tips on a regular grease gun. It should be a simple matter of switching tips to grease the u-joint.

It sounds like you can't replace the fitting with a zerk, since there's no hex to grab onto. It's pressed in there and you're stuck using a mini funnel tip.