U-joint greaseing

[caymann]

Both the U-joints (front and rear) by the driveshaft is refusing to take any grease.
As i pump, the grease spills out on the sides of the zerk and when i take my grease pump out,
new grease oozes from the zerk ball bearing hole.

I took out the zerk and installed new ones....still the same result.

Isn't the old grease is suppose to come out somewhere?

How do i clean the u-joint grease inside without taking it off the driveshaft or the yoke?

[Shadowcatche]

Both the U-joints (front and rear) by the driveshaft is refusing to take any grease.
SC is this a task that is supposed to be performed?

As i pump, the grease spills out on the sides of the zerk and when i take my grease pump out, new grease oozes from the zerk ball bearing hole.
I took out the zerk and installed new ones....still the same result.

SC The question is assuming this is a task that needs to be done (It might be life time lubed) this should have pushed grease into the U joint and out the bearings. Which bring up the is there actually a passage in the U joint for it to go through, possibly a manufacturer's defect. There should be a cross passage that is X shaped and terminates at the end of each bearing cap

How do i clean the u-joint grease inside without taking it off the driveshaft or the yoke?
SC you don't. there are a whole bunch of needle bearings in there and trying to clean it and get it all back into one piece is a PITA. I have done it where no replacement was available (OLD car) and it was not fun.

[Steve Ownby]

Caymann, is this a job that you have done before? If so, what has changed? Maybe the connector on the grease gun is the problem and not sealing correctly. I know on some zirks, I need to keep the gun connector centered & tight against the zirk while pumping to grease.

Good luck & keep trying. That's a very important job.

[whem2fish]

time for new ujoints if you can do it yourself it is only $20-40 and peace of mind

[dsbike]

before you take the driveshaft out & replace the ujoints, go buy a needle grease tool that will have a zerk fitting on the tool that will hook up to your grease gun or thread onto the grase gun hose. Place the needle into the u-joint zerk & try to get the grease to flow. If it does not then remove the fitting & try greasing directly into the u-joint case. If this fails then you may need to replace the u-joints in time. I would try a few other tricks first , but I make no garuntees they would not do more damage to the u-joints, 1st is drive the vehicle & then try greasing again, this may heat up the grease a little enough to get the grease flowing, 2nd add heat to warm up the grease. Again do this at your own risk. I would never do this to a customers car.

[Buford B]

Too many variables to say for sure but I agree with Steve, replace the grease gun or the connector first. If that fails then the U-Joints.

[okie-dokie]

Okay this is where my "OKIE" engineering comes in. Try a small piece of thin cotton cloth and place it over the grease pump hose end, and then insert it over the grease zerk fitting. This will give you a better fit. It works for me.

[Logthumper]

Sounds like you need a new coupler. Push the coupler onto the zerk. Apply small grease gun pressure. Release any hand pressure holding the coupler onto the zerk. The coupler will “lock” tight onto the zerk and will take a tremendous amount of grease pressure without leaking any grease.

[Diplomat Don]

caymann....I've been lubing u-joints and grese fittings on my vehcles for over 30 years, yet everytime I do the u-joints on my coach, especially the driveshaft, I have a difficult time getting them to accept grease. I have two or three nipples for my various guns (air and pump) that I finally get them to accept grease. I think I will try the needle tip next time.

The u-joints should be greased on your coach every 5000 miles. There are two zerks on each u-joint, but you only need one to accept grease, to fill all four caps. You'll see grease ooze from under the caps.

You also have a u-joint on the driveshaft slip joint. When you apply grease to this zerk, you need to use your finger and plug a small hole on the end of the slip joint. Slide your finger between the u-joint and slip joint and you'll feel the hole on the end of the slip joint. If you don't plug this with your finger, the grease will pump out of the hole.

[caymann]

I think the cold temperatures in spring had something to do with the grease not coming out.

I finally solved the problem by driving around the coach so the old grease inside the ujoint was warm/hot. As soon as i stopped, i went under and used a new coupler. I pumped real hard until i started to see the old grease come out.

I have done this twice, after each drive, so all the old grease is out and new ones in. Thank you all for the great suggestions.

[moisheh]

shadowcartch: Of course this is a task that must be done! Any u joint that has zerks needs greasing. Lifetime ( not really) joints do not have any fittings. A joint without passages is something one would not likely ever see! Any 2003 Sig that had never been greased would need new u joints ASAP.