About a year ago, I pulled the front shaft from my Disco II and had a local driveshaft/axle specialist rebuild and balance it using 3 Precision 344 joints and a Precision 617 ball kit. (This gave me an excuse to put a D1 CDL shifter in, so I could drive it while the shaft was being rebuilt). The old shaft had the non-greasable joints, wasn't making any noise, had no play, but at 9x,xxx miles, I didn't want to take any chances.

Here is my question: I grease the three front and one rear U-joint every oil change. I have read how people with TW shafts need to be sure to grease the centering ball, etc. Is this something I should be doing also? The only way I could see how with the centering ball kit I have would be to use a needle, and inject grease between the seal and the ball (?) but would this even make it to where the grease needs to be?

I am extremely **** about maintenance, and do not want to be overlooking anything.

Thanks in advance!

 

"I grease the three front and one rear U-joint every oil change" and also the slip shaft. (Just wanted to add that before someone jumped me for forgetting something)

 

I don't think your centering ball is serviceable.

 

Funny, I just did this yesterday actually. I used a small tube and a syringe to inject grease in behind the dust shield. I worked it in there good and it seemed to loosen the joint up some (it was already pretty loose). It seems like some of it would get all the way in there if you rotate it enough. Try it, see if the joint gets looser you have nothing to lose. Of course you have to unbolt the ds to do this. Of course I'm curious how much actually got in behind the joint too.

 

The best way to grease the centering ball is to remove the entire drivehshaft.

 

lipad for the win.

 

Putting grease under the dust shield is unlikely to get any in to the centering ball.
There is a tiny vent hole behind the centering ball that you might be able to use to get grease in, but you'd need a tiny curved needle.

Technically the centering ball in these are not greaseable.

 

anti...so do this mean that the centering ball leaves the factory "sealed" with grease in it? I'm writing specifically about the Precision 617 ball. Do any centering ***** have grease ports?

 

None of them for the OEM propshaft are considered serviceable.

 

OK. I think my question has been answered. (?) lol. I am definitely pulling the shaft off to grease it next oil change, and I'm going to get a closer look at the replacement centering ball to see if anything can be done or just ignore it. First time I greased the shaft, all wheels were on the ground and zerks were easily accessible. Next time I did it on a lift at work, and I just rotated the shaft. This last time, I spent 20 minutes pulling forward, checking, backing up, checking, over and over until the zerks were facing down. (couldn't put it in neutral due to sloped driveway, and don't trust chocks)