Lubrication Interval for Universal Joints

[TheLawnRanger]

I have Spicer u-joints on my Colorado. I've greased them around 5-6 thousand miles so far. What is the normal interval for doing this?

 

[ripcord]

Most cars? Never. I think you're about right on the money with what you're doing.

I haven't had a rig with zerk fittings on the U-joints for a long time (except for the antiques).

 

[Chris142]

Spicer says 3k. Many never get greased and still last a very long time. Imo you're 5-6k is fine

 

[Creekside]

I do mine whenever the oil is changed in the light trucks. In my dump truck it is done every 50 hours with everything else and on my road tractor it is done once every couple weeks when I am running it a lot. I am more concerned about pushing any moisture out rather than lubrication as I'm sure the grease I use would be good for a long time.

 

[ka9mnx]

Most vehicles I have owned that have zerk's have stated 15 to 30k. I do mine at every oil change which is around 5k miles.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I do the steering stabilizer and front u-joint on my 2012 Ram at every oil change. This is anywhere from 4,500 to 7,500 miles. Fresh grease is good, lack of moisture is better.

Just my $0.02

 

[AutoMechanic]

I think what you are doing is fine. I’ve never greased any of those components. So not really sure.

 

[Kira]

If Spicer says 3k...until you learn different.

 

[ABN_CBT_ENGR]

Pick whatever interval that suits you and that's what will define normal for you.

In truth its an undefinable question for any joint that never makes a complete revolution ( relative to its center axis) in its service life but is subject to centrifuging forces and water ingress.

 

[BrianF]

I ended up with every spring and fall on my u joints. Works out to 10 or 15,000km. I was a once a year guy and noted black grease being exiting the seals. I moved up to twice yearly and still noted black grease exiting. But twice a year is all I can tolerate to deal with it.

 

[idahopotato]

If Spicer says 3k...until you learn different.

If they say 3k then they expect you might do it every 10k. Maybe every 3k as they nearing end of life.

 

[naterbomb]

I would go every six months or every oil change which ever comes first with a good quality grease.

 

[kstanf150]

Unless your seals are leaking and slinking out the grease

u-joints can only hold so much grease

if not

nowhere for it to go

 

[Falcon_LS]

I've got a Spicer u-joint on the main driveshaft on my Mitsubishi, and I'm going to be following the 3,000 mile recommendation. The original u-joint lasted exactly 300,000 miles before it started making weird noises, and I replaced it last week. The service manual recommended greasing every 25,000 km (~16,000 miles) and that was what I did before it finally kicked the bucket.

New u-joint, new bolts, washers and nuts from Mitsu and I'm back on the road.

 

[Bighorn2500]

Every tire rotation when it’s up in the air I hit the u-joints & ball joints with a couple pumps.

 

[nobb]

Out of all the grease points on the driveshaft of my 4Runner, I notice the rear most u-joint coming out from the differential gets dirty the fastest. Could be just due to the position (eg. Low, exposed, and largest angle of movement).

Even at 3000km grease intervals, it always comes out black and looking like there's water mixed in there. Makes me feel like greasing this every oil change is not enough. Anyone notice the same?

 

[anndel01]

Redline CV2 at every oil change ~5,000 miles.

 

[Snagglefoot]

This is very interesting. I have over 200,000 miles on my sealed U joints on my 3/4 ton Chevy. They don’t have zerks and have never been greased.

 

[Chris142]

My truck and Jeep get LOF every 2500-3000 miles. I grease the joints then. The Toyota goes 4500-5000 miles on it's oil so I gets greased then.

I tend to slack off on the front driveshaft on the Toyota because the front driveshaft only spins when in 4x4 which is not much.

 

[mpack88]

I only grease them when I think about it.