Okay, so I go to NAPA today and get the grease needle BK 700-1193 (2 in a bubble-pack) after finding the little shiny spot on the coupler last night. The shiny spot is *exactly* as shown in the photo linked above.

But for the life of me I cannot get the needle into the little ball. No matter how much I swear it still won't go in (I ascribe to the credo that a man can do anything given enough swearing).

This bolsters my opinion that those who engineer these things must, by law, perform the maintenance function by themselves everyday. Lying on the ground, sliding themselves under the truck.

 

I have a 06 with 102,000 miles. Changed oil filters yesterday and have been trying to find the little grease fitting for 18 months. Remove driveshaft and got it on work bench. Took a few minutes but I found it. Put some grease to it. Could not find it when drive shaft was on truck.

 

Actually, that might be the right thing to do. I think it would likely be easier to drop the whole driveshaft, do the maintenance as well as check and lube the splines and put the whole thing back in.

 

Yeah, you'd think so wouldn't ya? LOL But those same engineers aslo decided to use T-40 bolts in the front with locktite. They can be pretty fun to get off. Mine were REALLY tight. I mucked up a couple of T-40's to get it off there, largely due to the fact that it's very hard to get straight on them with the drive shaft in the way. I had to take the back loose first and hold the shaft up out of the way as much as possible to get a decent shot at those little jerks.

In any case, when you are finished replace them with shouldered hex head bolts (preferrably grade 8) from your local hardware store. I believe they are 8mm x 1.25

good luck

 

As mentioned in the recent thread, "Lubrication Fitting. NOT!!", with great pictures, is a needle fitting by Plews Lubrimatic, #05-037, that actually works very, very well. I bought one from O'Reilly Auto Parts the other day, tried it out, and it fits like a glove in the fitting hole. No mess, no fuss. It is light years better than any of the other needle fittings I have seen or used.

It was designed to poke into a boot, but it is the perfect size for that nasty grease fitting.