Front Driveshaft Grease Fitting doesn't want to take grease

[JD 500]

Hi guys,

On 4th oil change, at roughly 24,000 miles. Have greased front driveshaft before with no issues. Using Amsoil Lithium based grease.
Have not used 4wd much at all.
Tried to grease front driveshaft with 4th oil change, and have a lot of resistance to pumping grease into the fitting.
used a paperclip to make sure little ball bearing and spring still move in fitting, and they do.
Put truck in 4hi and got truck up to 50mph in straight line. (Which did fling excess old grease onto bottom of floor etc...)
Still won't take grease.

Any thoughts on what might be going on and how to resolve ?

Thanks very much,

JD 500

[verdesardog]

OH-OH, maybe the joint is ready to freeze up. You should hear bad nioses before it does though. Take it apart and look at it or just let it go till it starts complaining...

[OffroadTreks]

Take it out. It's easier to do with that thing removed than with it in the truck. I know it's a slight hassle, but you'll have better luck.

[RustyPW]

Take it out. It's easier to do with that thing removed than with it in the truck. I know it's a slight hassle, but you'll have better luck.

2X! Twinstick takes his out everytime he greases his.

[OffroadTreks]

Take it out. It's easier to do with that thing removed than with it in the truck. I know it's a slight hassle, but you'll have better luck.

2X! Twinstick takes his out everytime he greases his.

[JD 500]

Thanks for the replies. As I'm still under warranty and have to go in for a U53 recall, I think I'm going to let the dealer take a look at it.
No clue how to take the front driveshaft out, but I guess I'll have a look in the event I have to do it in the future.

[OffroadTreks]

It's just a couple bolts.

[verdesardog]

With my free spin hubs I don't ahve to do anything except turn theThe only time I took my truck for an oil change at the dealer, they didn't even touch that fitting. I took it back and asked them why not, they didn't even know about it! Then the service manger said it's too difficult to lube!
With free spin hubs on my truck all I have to do is rotate the driveline till I get a good angle to insert a needle to lube it.

[Low_Sky]

Thanks for the replies. As I'm still under warranty and have to go in for a U53 recall, I think I'm going to let the dealer take a look at it.
No clue how to take the front driveshaft out, but I guess I'll have a look in the event I have to do it in the future.

50/50 odds the dealer won’t have a clue because they don’t grease it or know it’s there.

You’ve said you don’t use 4WD that much, is it possible the thing is just full and doesn’t want to take more? What was the temperature when you were trying?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JD 500]

Thanks for the replies. As I'm still under warranty and have to go in for a U53 recall, I think I'm going to let the dealer take a look at it.
No clue how to take the front driveshaft out, but I guess I'll have a look in the event I have to do it in the future.

50/50 odds the dealer won’t have a clue because they don’t grease it or know it’s there.

You’ve said you don’t use 4WD that much, is it possible the thing is just full and doesn’t want to take more? What was the temperature when you were trying?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Was 55-60 degrees. It is possible it's "full", although I've noticed in the past when greasing it, you can see the grease come out the back side of the joint. After trying to grease it unsuccessfully, I took it out and shifted Tcase into 4hi on a straight road. Gassed it up to 50mph and then slowed for a light and shifted Tcase back into 2wd. When I got back to house I got under to take a look and there was definitely grease on bottom of truck that had been slung off driveshaft. I also checked with a paperclip to make sure this wasn't an issue with the little ball bearing and spring in the grease fitting.

[Colibri]

https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... 8MQAvD_BwE

[JD 500]

https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... 8MQAvD_BwE

That's a pretty cool tool. Uses a motivator to get that grease going !
Makes me wish the driveshaft had that traditional style grease fitting. May still be the answer, but definitely looks like the shaft would have to be removed from truck to use that tool.

[Low_Sky]

https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... 8MQAvD_BwE

No problems putting a needle on that thing?

[Colibri]

I’ve done it a few times with a needle/cone fitting. It works, you just have to hold it with man hands firmly into the fitting and hit it squarely. I don’t know if mine is that specific brand or not because I’ve had it so long, but mine has a threaded end just like a grease gun so you can swap out the tip

[NickTF]

The key is to use the thicker of the the two common needle grease fittings and to use serious pressure with your hand like said above. I want to say I got mine at one of the local auto stores (autozone, napa, or advanced auto) or tractor supply. Mine has a zerk fitting that I press into end of the female fitting on flexible hose attached to gun.