Is this a grease fitting on my steering shaft ?

[mep1811]

I dropped off the truck (1985 FJ-60) for a service and saw this fitting on the steering shaft . It kinda looks like a grease fitting . Or a provision for one ?

Thanks

 

[Seth S]

It used to be a grease fitting but it looks like the nipple has sheared off. It allows you to grease the U joint slip joint. I guess I'd clean the area real well and see if its in fact gone or if its just caked in dirt and rust. if it is sheared off you should have it replaced so you can grease that joint every now and then.

 

[mep1811]

I had no idea there was a fitting there . Just happened to be in the right posistion.

 

[Seth S]

Everywhere that you have a U joint you should have a grease fitting.

 

[mattressking]

It looks like a zerk still, you just need to clean it...angle is a little hard to tell for sure, hit it with some degreaser/gasoline/brake cleaner and scrub.

 

[stevebradford]

That grease nipple is not for the universal joint it’s for the slip joint above.

The stock 60 universal joints don’t have grease nipples but you can get replacements that do.

From here. Some info saved

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I've never noticed a fitting in that area. Must take another look!

 

[stevebradford]

Normally it’s covered by a shield held in place if I remember correctly by one 10mm bolt.

I threw my shield away... wich I assume is there to prevent debris from falling into the universal joint and jamming the steering. Living dangerously!

 

[georgebj60]

I was told the cover was there as an exhaust heat shield to save the u-joint from early failure. Not sure how much truth there is to that, but my cover was off when I bought my truck and my U-joints were loose.

I more-or-less had to have them replaced at the shop that was doing my safety inspection as I was running out of time for getting my truck legally imported into Canada. The shop that did it charged me somewhere around $1,000 to do it. I was not impressed. After that I put the cover back on.

 

[mep1811]

Going to clean up the area. First time I've seen it in 20 years.

Just happened to be at the exact perfect angle for me for me to see

 

[mep1811]

Going to have the U joint replaced. It is 20 years old and I have a 12,000 mile trip ahead of me

 

[Whatever]

Good luck on your trip sir. Here's a screenshot from the Maintenance Procedure for 1986 Land Cruiser showing grease positions, may want to hit them at some point during your journey. FWIW, I've had good luck using a needle attachment for my grease gun, may want to check them out, added bonus they make packing bearings a breeze.

 

[stevebradford]

My cruisers have a few more grease nipples than that. I have a thing for nipples more keep showing up.

 

[mep1811]

Thanks . O Reilly Auto parts are amazing. They just seem to have every part I need on the shelf or in a day . I ordered the u Joint yesterday afternoon and picked it up this morning.

 

[g-man]

I never realized that grease fitting was there. So thanks for bringing this up. BTW and FWIW...original equipment may and usually does far outlast aftermarket parts. EVEN if it is 20 years old or more. Don't discard your original piece. You may end up putting it back in after the aftermarket part fails, doesn't fit right, doesn't work right. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddd...if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[mep1811]

After 33 years , I should do some PM on the steering parts.

 

[FJ40Jim]

86-later Cruisers do not have a greasable slip yoke, FWIW. The spline is plated with a magic teflon kinda substance and seems to last forever, even with no grease.

 

[portcruiser]

That Ujoint is the same part number as the KE2# corollas transmission Ujoints .

 

[mep1811]

I found an OReilly's part that worked out PRE 365 . The rubber boot on the steering shaft disintegrated so Efrain at the shop used a step down hose in it's place. A perfect fit.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/search?q=pre+365

 

[FJ40Jim]

That looks shiny & new.
To keep is looking & working like new, the steering shaft would really benefit from installing the OE heat shield, as seen in post #8 above