Some time ago I posted that I was having difficulty getting a certain fitting greased on my new truck. There is a sticker in the engine compartment that states it is necessary to grease a certain joint on the front axle at each oil change. Well, I've been all across the country and no one, be it a dealer or independent shop, has been able to locate it. Up to this point I thought it was just incompetency among the various service personnel and/or they didn't possess the proper tool for the job.

This morning I brought the truck to the Dodge dealer in Johnson City, TN on the outside chance that they might be able to help. (After all, the sticker did say that you must lubricate this particular joint). Well, the service manager called me to join him under the truck while it was elevated on the service lift. As he and I watched he had an assistant slowly turn the wheel so that the driveshaft would rotate. We inspected both U-joints on the front driveshaft very carefully and determined there is NO fitting or hole of any kind in which to add grease.

He's familiar with the special "needle" type of fitting that is needed to lubricate the U-joint on SOME Dodge trucks. Evidently, not all of the new trucks have greaseable fittings and we discovered my truck was one of them.

In conclusion, if you are the owner of a new Dodge RAM truck don't be surprised if you see written instructions to lubricate this certain fitting and nobody can find it. There's a possibility it's not there.

 

The fitting is not on the U-Joints per se, it is on the Cardigan joint (not sure spelling is right) which is some type of double U-joint found on 4x4 trucks. My dealer also said there was no fitting. I printed off a pic that I found in someone's post and took the truck back in for next service. Mechanic was totally surprised and called me in and showed me where he had found it. It is almost totally hidden and without the picture he said he would not have found it. Mind you this is on an 07 and this was the first one he had ever greased. He thanked me and said he would look at them all for the joint and do the required service on them now that he knows about it. The tech's just need to know what they are looking for. Do a search and you should also fine the picture to give to your tech.

And remember I think it's only on the 4x4 trucks.

 

yes, it's almost a dimple with a fine hole in center.

 

[IMG][/IMG]

 

[/quote]

Several months ago I saw that same picture and have it stored on my computer. Nonetheless, neither the service manager or I could locate the fitting. While we carefully checked both joints, we did concentrate more on the one closest to the front differential. So, I'll probably take the truck back once more and take a little more time locating this "phantom" grease fitting, concentrating on that one joint. At least this dealer has the proper "needle" tip needle to do the job properly. Some other dealers I've been to didn't have it, so they couldn't grease the fitting even if they knew where it was. Thanks for the replies, guys...

 

Don't feel bad - I've been looking for the phantom fitting on the '05 for 3 years now... pretty much come to the conclusion that it's easier to just buy a new truck when that cardan joint wears out!

 

I have one on mine, and cant get grease to go in it, its either stuck shut, or something? I have the correct needle tool to do it, but it never takes any grease...

I figure when its time to replace, ill just pick up a front DS(it was $200 when I priced it last year). Not bad complete with all u-joints...

 

Well mine is there but is not a ball fitting like the one pictured. Mine is a rubber plug and I use a syringe to inject the grease directly through the plug.

 

The tips are sold at Napa for a few bucks. I just jack my front left tire up off the ground so that I can spin the drive shaft while looking for it. Now I have it marked with a yellow paint marker.

 

Anyone have a picture for the right grease tip????

 

I have both the cone style and the needle style fittings. The advantage of the cone style is that when you use it, the zerk is easier to find the next time because of all the excess grease spread all over the area. The fitting that looks like a hypodermic needle is the one I actually use now. It fits right into the hole and inserts the grease with no fuss and no muss.