Wrong Grease for U-Joints?

[NYChaze]

Hi everyone,

Thought i would share the latest mistake i made...

About a week ago I started to hear a chirping/squealing sound, very faint (only could hear it if i had a concrete barrier around me to echo the sound) didnt go away with braking or turning the engine off...so i figured it must be the u-joint, greased it up and the noise went away.

The last time i greased it was at the most 5k-7k ago.. didnt grease it during my last oil change because I have to pull the shaft to access the fittings with a grease gun on the transfer case side...all my zerks are straight on my Tom Woods shaft, does anyone else with a TM shaft have to pull the t-case side to grease it? (going to replace the straight zerks with angled ones the next time i mess with it)

Anyway...the last time i greased it i bought some new grease that was probably the most expensive stuff in the store...Lucas Red N Tacky...
Red 'N' Tacky Grease : Lucas Oil
i got it because it said it had good low temp properties and it was about winter time so i figured hey its cold out so i will get some stuff for colder temps....It seemed a little too liquid when i put it in but didnt think much of it.

Well, when i was under there this last time i found that the grease had literally been flung out of the u-joint. There were lines of grease on my exhaust and the underbody that lined up with the u-jount....friggin awesome...

Did i just use the wrong grease or are my seals bad?? and do you think i should replace them since they went dry for a brief period?

What grease do you use?

Cant remember when i exactly bought the shaft maybe around 50-55k and have about 25-30k on it now. Rebuild time?

[OneRyan]

i've had the same results with that grease.
not sure what the correct answer is so i just pump more through every 5k

[Disco Mike]

Is it possible you over filled the fittings?
Did you fill each u-joint till the was grease seeping from all the boots?

[NYChaze]

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

Is it possible you over filled the fittings?
Did you fill each u-joint till the was grease seeping from all the boots?

I filled them until i saw a little coming out of the boots.

But was so surprised that it started making noise with less than 5k-7k from the last greasing.

I used the same grease this last time since that what was in the gun and didnt want to buy new stuff without knowing if it was the u-joint making the noise or not...

I am going to switch to a different grease and re-do it pretty quick here, anyone have a recommendation on grease?

That lucas stuff was too "liquidy" ...probably just go back and buy the cheapest stuff instead of the most expensive and be OK.

[acamato]

I used green grease in my driveshaft that I rebuild 500 miles ago. The stuff is very very sticky.

Google it.
Green Grease GC LB? - Bob Is The Oil Guy

[Disco Mike]

Mobil 1 or Royal Purple if you can find it.
Alot of people use a good HD marine grease also.

[OneRyan]

i know i've overfilled mine..
it's a mess under there, but after water excursions i like to pump it until i see it coming out. better safe than sorry

[antichrist]

I've posted this so many times I can't believe people are still posting about it, but with people continuing to post misinformation about correct greasing it's not surprising.

Again, it's not possible to overfill a u-joint. You must pump in grease until you see new grease coming from around all 4 seals. this could mean pumping in a lot of grease. I've had u-joints where it's taken over 1/4 of a tube to get them greased correctly.

Service interval for normal service is every 5,000 miles. There's absolutely no harm in greasing every 3,000 miles at oil changes. You could grease them every day if you want and it wouldn't hurt anything.
If you grease them correctly you're going to get spray unless you spend the time to clean off the u-joints when you're done.

As for the grease, you want NLGI #2.
I use Castrol Pyroplex Blue because it's designed for off-road use and get's tackier when wet and doesn't wash out as bad. But any quality NLGI #2 should do.

[belew]

Originally Posted by antichrist

I've posted this so many times I can't believe people are still posting about it, but with people continuing to post misinformation about correct greasing it's not surprising.

Again, it's not possible to overfill a u-joint. You must pump in grease until you see new grease coming from around all 4 seals. this could mean pumping in a lot of grease. I've had u-joints where it's taken over 1/4 of a tube to get them greased correctly.

Service interval for normal service is every 5,000 miles. There's absolutely no harm in greasing every 3,000 miles at oil changes. You could grease them every day if you want and it wouldn't hurt anything.
If you grease them correctly you're going to get spray unless you spend the time to clean off the u-joints when you're done.

As for the grease, you want NLGI #2.
I use Castrol Pyroplex Blue because it's designed for off-road use and get's tackier when wet and doesn't wash out as bad. But any quality NLGI #2 should do.

Execelent explination, The idea being to flush out all the old gease with new. Not simply add grease as you would to simply top it off, like being low with oil. Wonder how many actuallty do that.. don't think I ever have.

[antichrist]

Well, given how often I hear idiots saying things like, "be careful you don't want so much you'll blow the seals" and "give them a couple of pumps", I'd say a lot.

[OneRyan]

Yep it’s a mess, but I pump till it starts to come out every 5k. again if i’ve been running through water then I pump till I see new grease.
Can’t be too safe!
Never heard of anyone saying anything about blowing a seal but that sure is funny. Don’t forget to change the headlight fluid

[NYChaze]

Originally Posted by belew

Execelent explination, The idea being to flush out all the old gease with new. Not simply add grease as you would to simply top it off, like being low with oil. Wonder how many actuallty do that.. don't think I ever have.

Good point.

How many miles between rebuilds?

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by OneRyan

Yep it’s a mess, but I pump till it starts to come out every 5k. again if i’ve been running through water then I pump till I see new grease.

No, always pump until you see new grease coming from all 4 seals, not just when you've been through water.

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by NYChaze

How many miles between rebuilds?

I have about 150,000 on the DII propshaft I installed on my '95. It's still in good condition.
But I also grease it as I described.