Driveshaft Zerk and Orientation question

[Matmal]

While I was rebuilding my front axle/diff last summer, The front driveshaft separated/fell apart while it sat waiting for the rebuilt diff.

Having not planned for this, I didn't mark the shaft.

So, no big deal, the 3 zerks line up just like in the FSM and your good to go....

Well, the U-Joint on the transfer case did not have a zerk on it... My thought originally was it had been replaced with a grease-less joint at some point.

I put the driveshaft in-phase, drove it and it has seemed fine (no vibe that I can tell anyway)


Got around to thinking today, maybe my U-Joint zerk fell out?

2 questions -

1 - Is it possible to have a zerkless U-joint?

2 - As for the vibration/balance. Lets say I am 180 degrees off, but cant feel any vibration (that stands out from normal engine/road stuff) should I worry about bearings in my tranny/new front diff if the balance isn't perfect?

 

[BILT4ME]

Yes, non greasable U-Joints exist and do OK. My PO installed them on my truck and I have driven over 84K miles with them and no issues. When I install new ones, I will install the Matsuba greasable ones to match as close as possible to Toyota.

If it is 180 out, but in the correct phase, then you may be OK.

If you feel no vibration, then you're OK.

 

[snorkie70]

Yes, non greasable U-Joints exist and do OK. My PO installed them on my truck and I have driven over 84K miles with them and no issues. When I install new ones, I will install the Matsuba greasable ones to match as close as possible to Toyota.

If it is 180 out, but in the correct phase, then you may be OK.

If you feel no vibration, then you're OK.

When you say in phase, do you mean that both the yokes are lined up? My u joint just snapped on the highway and when I crawled under the wagon, the yoke in the back didn't seemed lined up with the one in the front.

 

[BILT4ME]

When you say in phase, do you mean that both the yokes are lined up? My u joint just snapped on the highway and when I crawled under the wagon, the yoke in the back didn't seemed lined up with the one in the front.

Yes, in-phase means the yokes are aligned.

The rear should be in phase and the slip yoke at the transfer case.
The front should be 90* out of phase and the slip yoke at the front differential.

 

[snorkie70]

Thank you. I will use an inclinometer or angle finder to line it up put in back together (mating spline to shaft). My other option is to remove the rear shaft and take it to the tech with a balancing machine. Which would be more preferable?

 

[BILT4ME]

You can set it on a hard flat surface to confirm if it's in phase.

Only need to balance if it's been damaged or rebuilt. Place it in phase, if it doesn't align perfectly, try moving the yoke one spline to.line it up. If not then, try it 180*. If not then, the DS is twisted and needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

 

[snorkie70]

You can set it on a hard flat surface to confirm if it's in phase.

Only need to balance if it's been damaged or rebuilt. Place it in phase, if it doesn't align perfectly, try moving the yoke one spline to.line it up. If not then, try it 180*. If not then, the DS is twisted and needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

Thank you so much. I will do just what you recommended.

 

[snorkie70]

Thank you, again. This was the state of affairs when I crawled under the wagon. The local auto shop is pressing the new one in and I will align it and bolt it up. Fingers crossed.

 

[BILT4ME]

Thank you, again. This was the state of affairs when I crawled under the wagon. The local auto shop is pressing the new one in and I will align it and bolt it up. Fingers crossed.
View attachment 2015158

I don't know what brand that U-Joint is, but it's not original. Easy to break off that zerk on the end of the cap.

U-Joint crosses should have the zerk in the CENTER of the cross, not in one cap.

Matsuba are the better ones for these per most of the threads here. I use Spicer in my American stuff.

Make sure the zerk is oriented correctly so it can be greased when installed and rotated down.

 

[snorkie70]

They pressed in an aftermarket one into the spline shaft. A little stiff on one axis but I hear it breaks in once installed. Not balancing the DS or replacing anything else. I am going to line up the yokes and bolt it on. The last one was from autozone and it lasted 5 years. This one is from advance auto. I have 387000 miles on my wagon.

 

[snorkie70]

Thank you for your help. I will be putting it all together tomorrow. One axis seems stiff and someone said to just tap it on the yoke a bit. They did not line up the zerks but i never have an issue greasing.

 

[KTP]

You can set it on a hard flat surface to confirm if it's in phase.

Only need to balance if it's been damaged or rebuilt. Place it in phase, if it doesn't align perfectly, try moving the yoke one spline to.line it up. If not then, try it 180*. If not then, the DS is twisted and needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

I just had my two DS balanced. but now I'm getting a horrible vibration. Especially under load (like a bad u-joint). So after your comments i'm guessing i'm out of phase or clocking. i do have a DC on the front shaft. how do i line these up correctly? Thank you for your help don't be deceived by my picture as i have a 97 LX450, oh and a 99, 100 too, and about to pounce on a 55 sometime = I'm down with the Sickness

 

[greentruck]

I just had my two DS balanced. but now I'm getting a horrible vibration...SNIP

When you reinstalled, how much grease did you pump into the slip joint?

If you overdo the grease, it won't slip anymore and instead gets stiff and causes bad vibes. Remove the zerk and if a bunch of grease spews out under pressure, that's your problem. Let the grease spew out, then reinstall the zerk. When greasing in the future, watch the slip joint and quit greasing when you see it first start to move.

 

[KTP]

When you reinstalled, how much grease did you pump into the slip joint?

If you overdo the grease, it won't slip anymore and instead gets stiff and causes bad vibes. Remove the zerk and if a bunch of grease spews out under pressure, that's your problem. Let the grease spew out, then reinstall the zerk. When greasing in the future, watch the slip joint and quit greasing when you see it first start to move.

Thank you, heading out to give that a try, Your the BEST,,,,,,,if that works ...lol

 

[BILT4ME]

I just had my two DS balanced. but now I'm getting a horrible vibration. Especially under load (like a bad u-joint). So after your comments i'm guessing i'm out of phase or clocking. i do have a DC on the front shaft. how do i line these up correctly? Thank you for your help don't be deceived by my picture as i have a 97 LX450, oh and a 99, 100 too, and about to pounce on a 55 sometime = I'm down with the Sickness

Front shaft should have the DC section at the T-Case.
There is no "correct phase" with a DC shaft so I'm told.
The angle of the pinion to the DS at the front should be almost straight, with no angle to allow the DC to do it's job. If you have angle at both ends, you probably don't need a DC.

The slip yoke on BOTH DS are to the FRONT of the truck.

 

[mrtodds77]

Yes, in-phase means the yokes are aligned.

The rear should be in phase and the slip yoke at the transfer case.
The front should be 90* out of phase and the slip yoke at the front differential.

How important is it to have the front DS 90 out of phase. I just got mine back from installing new U joints and getting them rebalanced and the front and back are both in phase. I don’t really want to take it apart to put it 90 out of phase since they already balanced it.

 

[BILT4ME]

How important is it to have the front DS 90 out of phase. I just got mine back from installing new U joints and getting them rebalanced and the front and back are both in phase. I don’t really want to take it apart to put it 90 out of phase since they already balanced it.

Install it, drive it, check for vibration.

If it vibrates, then reorient it. Otherwise, take it back to them to check balance in the correct phase.