So I've read all the threads and looked at the pictures, where is this darn recess for the needle? I've cleaned and scraped rust looking for this thing. Is it on the cardan "cross looking piece" or the yoke? I've got an 04.5 regular cab long bed.

TIA,
Eric

 

This is probably the single most PITA maintenance item on the truck. It's on cardan cross piece and is only (partially) visible when looking through a gap in the transmission cross member (on my NV5600 truck). I've managed to get grease in it once, this past summer, on clean dry concrete, with the left front wheel jacked up to let me spin the drive shaft. Sore neck afterwards. Tried last month, on a lift where we tried rolling the truck back and forth - no go. Dumb design.

I think everyone who told me they greased it, lied.

 

When I did my fuel and oil filter pm the other day I finally got that sucker greased good, must have taken twenty pumps and I finally saw the grease circulate around the joint. The first time I found the needle grease point I marked it with a silver pen on the joint. I find it's easiest to grease with the grease point at a 45 degree angle to the tranny and cab base. A good flashlight helps a lot to.

 

Man I am about to drive my self nuts looking for it. Where I am thinking it should be on the cardan I don't see or feel anything except little raised bumps cast into the cardan itself. It seems like this is where the hole should be, but after cleaning and scraping I still can't find it.

Would anyone care to take a pic with a small screw driver/pick touching the darn hole for me?

Random FYI my rear drive shaft has a grease point on it.

 

Yes this is not a fun thing to do, mine took about 20 pumps the first time as well. I now keep 2 spare grease needles around as they seem to bend REALLY easy. Here is the picture I used for reference. To make things worse, where you grease is usually rusted. I used brake cleaner, very small wire brush and some q-tips to initially clean things.

 

It is def a PITA... Mine 06 had never been done since it was new (previous owner )... I couldnt find it because it was so rusted and corroded around the area... I ended up taking the drive shaft out, it only took about 20 min to do... Put the driveshaft up on the bench and went to down cleaning out the area around the joint and the hole... Did take at least 20 pumps to get it filled. Took the CV joint and moved it around 2 dozen times or so to get it all moving.. And then put more in, took another 5 or so pumps of grease. If you take the driveshaft out make sure you have a nice 14mm (It think it was 14mm) open end wrench (standard depth socket and u-joint wont fit) and also several T40 bits for the front mounting flange (Don't know why they wouldn't just use a Cap screw), the T40's like to snap with excessive torque on them. Also, after you get the whole thing greased you will notice after driving that the grease will sling all over the heat shielding right underneath the cab ...

CP

 

My truck doesn't have one, I've even had the driveshaft off and looked, not there.

Thinking I must still be crazy I asked the driveline shop when I had the front shaft checked fr balance and they looked at me like I was crazy and said "there isn't a grease itting on this shaft".

Thanks Chrysler!

<not>

 

^^^^ Are you sure there isn't one? The dodge dealer my dad (an 05) goes to claimed there was not one either until he showed it to them after I showed him. If its never been done, it is really, REAlly, REALLY hard to find. A little cleaning and it should show up... Although I have been wrong before as well... once, well, maybe twice...

 

I pumped mine full of grease too and then a week later looked under the truck and WOW! Grease everywhere. Before its too late get a rag with some brake cleaner on it and wipe down the area under the cab....maybe Im too **** but that kinda stuff bugs me.

 

Like many of you, it's been hit or miss finding the stupid thing. I've had luck before a couple of times, but the last I tried I could not find it, and it probably hasn't been greased now in about 12-15K. Hoping it doesn't snap and wreak havoc.

Thanks for posting the pic again klx650a2.

 

IIRC they added the greaseable joint to the front drive line in 2005. IIRC the 2004.5 and older trucks don't have one unless the joint has been updated to one that can take grease. One you look at the above photo of its location its a good idea to mark or paint a spot the the drive line to help you and others to locale the grease point.

 

This makes things very confusing, can anyone confirm with an 04.5 and older if they have the grease hole? The picture above is great, but I am still unclear on which component of the shaft it is actually on, it's hard to tell in the photo. The cardan is the cross in the middle of the yoke, but the picture almost looks as if the hole is on the inside of the yoke behind the cardan?

 

They need cv joints on that dang thing.

 

That picture is the best reference for finding the grease point, but even with that it's still very hard to find it. When I first tried finding it, it took me forever because the silver coloring of the eyelet was covered up with black grease. (If you unable to find the eyelet, this is most likely the problem, as at the least, all 06 to current MY trucks will have this fitting.) Also, it doesn't help that you may have to move the truck forward a few times in order to get the shaft turned to the right point to actually see the eyelet.

 

I can find mine, but greasing it is an entirely different problem. Stoopid idea Dodge..... PITA every time...