Just greased the U joint spline on my Dodge Ram. A lot of folks & some dealers say its not there, but it is. I have done it several times & it is never easy, but thought I would share a couple tips that seem to make it somewhat easier, or at least for me.I move the skid plate under the transfer case. Its a 13mm bolt & 4 of them. Take out 3 and loosen one & rotate the plate out of the way for somewhat better access to the joint. Then locate the hole for the needle grease fitting to go into. I then take a paper clip & bend it open & stick it in the grease hole. The grease fitting hole has a ball & spring inside to seal the hole & heat, grease etc from driving sometimes stick/weld the ball & make getting the needle in to grease very hard. The paper clip pushes on the ball inside & free's it up to insert the needle on the grease gun. Its a PIA and some what a poor design, but Dodge & Ram have used this for years. Good Luck...

Whiskey River wrote:Just greased the U joint spline on my Dodge Ram. A lot of folks & some dealers say its not there, but it is. I have done it several times & it is never easy, but thought I would share a couple tips that seem to make it somewhat easier, or at least for me.I move the skid plate under the transfer case. Its a 13mm bolt & 4 of them. Take out 3 and loosen one & rotate the plate out of the way for somewhat better access to the joint. Then locate the hole for the needle grease fitting to go into. I then take a paper clip & bend it open & stick it in the grease hole. The grease fitting hole has a ball & spring inside to seal the hole & heat, grease etc from driving sometimes stick/weld the ball & make getting the needle in to grease very hard. The paper clip pushes on the ball inside & free's it up to insert the needle on the grease gun. Its a PIA and some what a poor design, but Dodge & Ram have used this for years. Good Luck...Just be sure not to over grease it!If you fill it all the way, the spines will not be able to move the way they should.... The seal will probably give way. Then you will need to either fix that, or grease much more often.

No splines, he is talking about the double cardan joint on the front shaft. I took a paint pen and marked the shaft to ease finding the little grease hole.

Thanks for posting this as its something I have been missing. 490k I have never done this.

VernDiesel wrote:Thanks for posting this as its something I have been missing. 490k I have never done this.Not 100% sure your 1500 EcoDiesel has the same driveshaft......

Greasing Ram U-Joint/Spline | Good Sam Community

Huntindog
Explorer
Nov 23, 2018
Whiskey River wrote:
Just greased the U joint spline on my Dodge Ram. A lot of folks & some dealers say its not there, but it is. I have done it several times & it is never easy, but thought I would share a couple tips that seem to make it somewhat easier, or at least for me.
I move the skid plate under the transfer case. Its a 13mm bolt & 4 of them. Take out 3 and loosen one & rotate the plate out of the way for somewhat better access to the joint. Then locate the hole for the needle grease fitting to go into. I then take a paper clip & bend it open & stick it in the grease hole. The grease fitting hole has a ball & spring inside to seal the hole & heat, grease etc from driving sometimes stick/weld the ball & make getting the needle in to grease very hard. The paper clip pushes on the ball inside & free's it up to insert the needle on the grease gun.
Its a PIA and some what a poor design, but Dodge & Ram have used this for years. Good Luck...
Just be sure not to over grease it!
If you fill it all the way, the spines will not be able to move the way they should.... The seal will probably give way. Then you will need to either fix that, or grease much more often.
gsbrockman
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
boogie_4wheel
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
No splines, he is talking about the double cardan joint on the front shaft.

I took a paint pen and marked the shaft to ease finding the little grease hole.
VernDiesel
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
Thanks for posting this as its something I have been missing. 490k I have never done this.
gsbrockman
Explorer
Nov 24, 2018
VernDiesel wrote:
Thanks for posting this as its something I have been missing. 490k I have never done this.

Not 100% sure your 1500 EcoDiesel has the same driveshaft......
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Nov 24, 2018
My 2011 4x4 did NOT have the grazable joint. The head Mechanic looked for it at the Pahrump, NV Dealer he said some did not have them. The head west coast Warranty Rep happened to be there and he said they do! Well after 5 minutes of looking with and without his glasses he declared it did not!

My 15 for sure has one. Only time I have done mine I tried with the needle tip but bagged it and removed the whole assembly and greased it. I think a lot of people "THINK" they have done it but in reality they are just greasing the indented area! You need to see it come out of the joint fittings.
garyp4951
Explorer III
Nov 24, 2018
I use 4h for a few miles a month just to lubricate the shaft, and differential, other wise it never turns.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 25, 2018
^ Wut????

Wish my truck didn’t have that greeesable front cardan joint. It’s a pain in the _____.
It doesn’t need done often though thank goodness, unless maybe you run in 4wd for the majority of yourmiles.
SteveB
Explorer
Nov 25, 2018
A one hand operated grease gun and bent grease needle makes it easier to lube. There is a hole in the back of the joint where the excess grease comes out.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Nov 25, 2018
Good to see you got in there and found it!

They are telling me it can't be greased either on a 4x4.

Question: Can a bad u-joint make a loud banging noise when they start to go. Not the usual clanking but a hard bang usually after a stop and then go, and not all the time either?

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Greasing Ram U-Joint/Spline

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