How to Grease U Joints without Fittings? Explained

U joints are a type of drive shaft coupling found on automobiles, typically in rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles. They are made up of two U-shaped parts that fit over the ends of the drive shafts to transmit torque from one shaft to the other. However, greasing U joints is essential for their proper functioning.

They allow the transmission of rotational power between two shafts. The needle bearing that is fitted into the inner ring can be removed easily and regular greasing can be done without removing it.  A grease nipple attached to the U joint allows grease to flow into it and lubricate its parts while they are still mounted on the vehicle, which saves time and money compared to removing them for greasing, repairing, or replacing them.

Well, in this article, we’ll go over all you need to know about greasing. Continue reading.

Should you grease U-joints?

Maintaining your truck is essential if you want it to last longer. Typically, people inspect only the vehicle’s accessible parts, such as the filters, brakes, and instrument panel. Many of us, however, ignore the necessity of grease, which can help avoid further harm.

For U-joints, grease should be used, but first, you must know what type of U-joints your car has. U-joints that are permanently lubricated are also permanently sealed.

They don’t require any grease. Greasable u-joints, on the other hand, have a grease zerk on the top bearing cap. If your car has greasable u-joints, you should grease them after every 5000 miles.

To determine whether or not your vehicle has greasable joints you can see if the u-joints have grease zerks installed. If there is a grease zark, the u-joints are greaseable; if not, they are permanently sealed.

How do you Grease U-Joints without Zerk Fittings?

This is a common question among Car enthusiasts and they want the proper answer to this question. Fortunately, you are in the right place because we will cover the query in detail. You can follow the below steps to accomplish the task without any error.

Necessary Tools & Supplies:

Before digging further, let’s see what goodies we are going to need in this greasing process.

• Grease: Before you choose, make sure the grease is OEM suggested grease or a Heavy Duty Lithium Synthetic or Marine grease.
• A Grease Gun: Choose a gun that can be handled easily. Usually mini grease gun simplifies the greasing process.
• Rag: Keeping yourself clean during work is important. Using a rag can do that for you. It allows any leakage to show up and smoothen the working process.
• Flexible Hose: It is very necessary equipment since grease zerk is almost impossible to connect directly.

That’s all you’ll need to follow the below steps. So, without further ado, let’s grease some U joints that have no fittings.

Step 1: Inspect the Boot

It’s crucial since leaking grease is caused by tearing and leaking joints. If you see that the boot has too much damage, you should replace it to avoid further contamination.

Step 2: Cleaning the Boot and Joint

Cleaning will assist you in removing debris and preventing clogs. It is preferable to have gleaming metal before applying grease. Cleaning should be done with a rag.

Step 3: Attach Grease gun and zerk fitting

With the grease gun, attach the zerk needle. If your coupler is adjustable, you can twist and loosen the clamping mechanism for a more convenient application. Make sure to avoid poking your finger in the needle’s tip, and remember to tighten it before pumping.

Step 4: Insert the needle

Apply consistent pressure while inserting a needle into the side of the boot; as a result, the grease will be placed in the bearing. You can continue to grease until you see the boot swell.

Step 5: Cleaning Off Excess Grease and Drive the car

After removing the needle from the grease gun, wipe away any excess grease. Finally, drive the automobile to see whether any of the joints are leaking.

How often should you Grease U-Joints?

Ensuring that you lubricate your vehicle on a regular basis is highly crucial. Normally vehicle has many moving parts. These parts must operate smoothly without putting too much strain on the machine. Which occurs when friction between two parts increases. Consequently, it leads to causing wear and tear of many parts and shortening the estimated life of the vehicle.

The U-Joints in your car should be greased every 5000 miles in most circumstances. Experts recommend lubricating a truck every 12000 miles. Depending on whether the car is running in a normal environment and your desire to make your car healthy this range could change.

Our advice is to lubricate your vehicle as frequently as possible.

Can you over-grease U-Joints?

You can grease up to a point before grease starts to leak from all four caps. That means you can grease U-Joints, but you should not grease after the grease swell from the caps. However, you may undoubtedly over-grease bearings, which are distinct from U-joints.

Signs of a Bad U-Joint:

U-joints failure is a very dangerous situation. Knowing the sign of malfunction before you fall into the trap may save you from getting into danger.

Clunking or clanging- If Damage happens at connecting points of U-Joints, you will likely hear a loud clanking or clunking sound.

Strong vibration– Defective U-Joints may make the driveshaft imbalance and you will fill the vibration that increases with the speed.

Grinding or Chirping- Bearing without grease for a long time may make grinding or chirping sound

Loud Banging- The car will create loud noise if the joints break apart, which happens very rarely.

What is the best Grease for U-Joints?

Grease can be found in the local market, but the quality should not be compromised. If the grease is of poor quality, it may have the opposite effect. On the basis of effectiveness, we have chosen the best grease on the market.

• Valvoline General Purpose Amber Grease 1 LB:

This grease is designed for both automotive and industrial uses. It can be used for general-purpose. It is recommended as a chassis and wheel-bearing lubricant for some automobiles.

• Red Line 80402 Synthetic Grease:

It is designed to withstand extreme temperatures and pressures. The excellent quality of this grease enables it to out-perform even the best conventional or synthetic greases.

• Quicksilver 8M0071841 High-Performance Extreme Grease:

One of the best grease-making companies in the world. The quality of this has no question. The quality of this grease is tested through some of the most rigorous environments and testing procedures.

Conclusion

We learned about U-Joints and how to optimize their function by applying grease to them. We also learned how often to grease U-Joints and how to grease U-Joints without Zerk fittings in a step-by-step process. You would also get an idea about the three best greases in the market.

U-joints are essential components of your truck. Greasing this joint, as well as all other parts, should be a critical stage in the vehicle’s maintenance process. Greasing the car on a regular basis not only improves its performance but also extends its estimated life.

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