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Whiskey_River's avatar
Nov 23, 2018

Greasing Ram U-Joint/Spline

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...

14 Replies

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