I changed the oil on the truck yesterday and noticed that the grease in the front drive shaft was seeping out. It had seperated and the liquid oozed out. At 20k miles the grease inside the CV joint was black as the 600's engine oil and definatly smelled burnt. The greese inside the cross of the joint had turned semi hard. It was that consistancy that candle wax gets after it starts to harden when ya put the flame out. Even worse is that it had no slipperyness to it! I got it just in time to save the joints as there was minimal scuffing but this is pathetic. Subgrade grease from the factory and no zerk fittings. My truck doesnt go of road and sees easy miles most of the time. I really need to check and see if the rear shaft can be disasembled or if they used that nylon crap instead of snap rings.
On a side note my front axle shaft has no grease fitting either. After complete disasemmbly the only greasable spot on the CV joint is a weep hole. Not a needle fitting like is suggested by the sticker under the hood. It is located directly behind the rear most Ujoint in the very center of the CV joint. Not only is there no zerk fitting on it, there is no way to keep crap out of the CV joint! Also the center ball joint of the CV, between the U joints, was almost compleatly dry! If anyone gets bored over the long weekend it may be a good idea to regrease your front drive shafts.

 

UH, CV JOINT,, ON A RAM ??...

 

The double cardan on the front driveshaft is often referred to as a CV joint.


phox

 

Sorry about the confusion. Just what I was taught to call them years ago when cars where still rear wheel drive for the most part and all 4X4s had straight axles. Phox is right on the name.

 

There is a needle fitting on the front joint at about a 45 degree angle. The weep hole on the back one is just as you said, a weep hole. You have to look very hard for the needle fitting. Get up under there and pick your head up next to the joint and you can see it. May need to jack up one front wheel and turn the shaft while you look. Its there and needs to be greased EVERY oil change or you end up like yours did.

 

No grease fittings at all on mine. It is actually sitting on the work bench disassembled right now. I have been planning on pulling it for awhile just to find the needle fitting and the grease breaking down was the final straw at getting around to it. Wheel bearing grease shouldnt break down this fast. Honestly how many people take their front wheel bearings apart every oil change, being its the same grease. Dont get me wrong. I do grease all zerks on my vehicles atleast every oil change but I have never been able to find this one fitting.
For those of you with a greasable front shaft, how is yours constructed in the middle? My shaft has a rubber coller seal mounted to the drive shaft that mates up to the outside of the ball and socket joint. I am curious if DC changed the driveshaft design.

 

I had this same thing happen on my 99 but I wasn't so lucky. I ended up having to send the shaft in to be rebuilt.

 

Mine has one, it's right here


Very hard to get at and when I get some millage on the truck and go to change u joints, they will be greasable for sure. Also use a high quality grease. I use the red synthetic stuff (moble I think) no problems yet. I think on the front they use snap rings, rear is that plastic crap.

 

TAS05CTD610 Is that the hole directly behind the Ujoint in the middle? If so that is only a vent hole. Not a grease fitting. I am thinking about taking the whole shaft down to the dealer and see if it was a mismade part from the factory.

 

i found mine, but even with a needle adapter on my grease gun, i cannot get into it. my torx bits will not fit past the ears at the front u-joint, so i cannot just take the whole thing out. i need to find a skinnier needle adapter.

 

Try this one .Rob.