Grease Ram Front 4x4 Drive Shaft

BenK wrote:
I like that ones which cover the whole orifice and only use the hypo-needle
in my small hand grease gun

Grease ages and drys out. Mostly at the extremities of whatever joint needing
grease. It will BLOCK any new grease...unless you can FORCE it into that distant
area

Had a rubber nosed one, but lost it...used it on my K5's front driveshaft
and is where learned that it needs to have a lot of force to push fresh
grease out to the far reaches of that joint

Hypo-needle is used for bearings (bicycle, auto, etc), brake slide pin...behind
their O-Rings, etc. Also my Suburban's era had squeaky door hings
and tough to get oil in there...let alone grease. This does the job.
Ditto most other places around the house needing grease

Only use high temp disc brake grease loaded with molyb for EVERYTHING
Even my guns...

Just to clarify, what you pictured is the wrong tool for the RAM front drive-line. Chris

I like that ones which cover the whole orifice and only use the hypo-needle
in my small hand grease gun

Grease ages and drys out. Mostly at the extremities of whatever joint needing
grease. It will BLOCK any new grease...unless you can FORCE it into that distant
area

Had a rubber nosed one, but lost it...used it on my K5's front driveshaft
and is where learned that it needs to have a lot of force to push fresh
grease out to the far reaches of that joint

Hypo-needle is used for bearings (bicycle, auto, etc), brake slide pin...behind
their O-Rings, etc. Also my Suburban's era had squeaky door hings
and tough to get oil in there...let alone grease. This does the job.
Ditto most other places around the house needing grease

Only use high temp disc brake grease loaded with molyb for EVERYTHING
Even my guns...

otrfun wrote:
Pic of the Lincoln #5803 Grease Needle. Works very well---very little seepage. Seen them for sale on eBay and Amazon for about $10.

I did a little searching and it was cheapest to get from Amazon. $10 with free Prime shipping. It should arrive tomorrow and I'll try again this weekend.

KJ

That #5803 needle is not the needle I use. They make another needle called an injector needle. That 5803 just pushes against the hole. The injector needle is like a hypodermic needle just like you get an injection or shot at the doctors office and actually goes into the hole on the yoke. It fits on the grease gun the same as that 5803.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"ALSO at every oil change it is required to lube the outer tie rod ends."

Have you been under your truck? There are NO outer tie rod ends that have a grease fitting. The ONLY grease fitting on the current RAM trucks is the front driveline.

I think the manual does state lubing the non existent fittings.

My manual said that about the outer tie ends as well.

The RAM tech said that only applies to the bigger trucks (over 3500?). They all use the same manual?

But that same tech also said there was no front drive shaft grease fitting soooo I take what he says with a grain of salt.

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

otrfun wrote:
I certainly don't have any of the hassles ....I use a standard pistol grip grease gun with a Lincoln #5803 grease needle screwed into the end of a 12" flexible hose.

That's good to know because this weekend I tried to get under my '14 Ram 2500 to grease my front driveshaft and failed miserably. I tried for 30 minutes to get the needle to seat and all it did was squish out grease on the U-joint.

I'll have to see if I can locate one the Lincoln #5803 locally and try it again.

KJ

Pic of the Lincoln #5803 Grease Needle. Works very well---very little seepage. Seen them for sale on eBay and Amazon for about $10.

otrfun wrote:
I certainly don't have any of the hassles ....I use a standard pistol grip grease gun with a Lincoln #5803 grease needle screwed into the end of a 12" flexible hose.

That's good to know because this weekend I tried to get under my '14 Ram 2500 to grease my front driveshaft and failed miserably. I tried for 30 minutes to get the needle to seat and all it did was squish out grease on the U-joint.

I'll have to see if I can locate one the Lincoln #5803 locally and try it again.

KJ

I remember some vehicles having instructions that you were supposed to remove the plugs, install grease fittings, lube the tie rod ends (or whatever), then remove the fittings and reinstall the plugs.
Most often, the instructions were ignored. Either the plugs were never removed, so the joint never got lubed, or grease fittings were installed and left in place.

I have a vibration from the front of my truck when it is in four wheel drive. I suspect the CV joint has never been lubed, and the centering ball is loose. When I can get under the truck without laying in snow, I will check it. If it is the driveshaft, I will replace the whole thing with a new or (good)used part rather than messing with rebuilding it.
I will, of course, make sure it is properly lubed before installation!

"ALSO at every oil change it is required to lube the outer tie rod ends."

Have you been under your truck? There are NO outer tie rod ends that have a grease fitting. The ONLY grease fitting on the current RAM trucks is the front driveline.

I think the manual does state lubing the non existent fittings.

CampingN.C. wrote:
It's still there and lots of new Ram owners don't even know about it.

It is on a sticker under the hood right at the front with a notation that it has to be greased at every oil change. ALSO at every oil change it is required to lube the outer tie rod ends.

Since I full time and have my Oil changed at different dealers (over two trucks) I have noticed that some dealers have NO IDEA they are supposed to do these lubrications at the oil change and I always bring it to their attention and make sure they have the right tool.

One dealer in Imperial Valley CA actually admitted he didnt have the tool and was not the least bit interested in doing this lube. I made them note this on the work order and my receipt.