By L_Tilly on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 05:46 am: Edit

Ok, get the minds out of the gutter... ;-)

I'm in the process of renewing my 96 Disco's fluids and picked up a grease gun and the recommended grease (white lithium, IIRC). First, as an obeservation, the grease nipples on the shaft are all a PITA. Thanks to Murphy, only one of them is actually "easy" to get to. Is there a way of manually turning these shafts (maybe put the truck's trans and transfer gear each in Neutral?) for better access?

Also, this is my first time going at the truck w/ the grease. How can I tell when the unit is filled? I do NOT want to over pack the grease for fear of blowing out something (is that even a possibility?). On the other hand, I doubt any grease has been injected since the truck left the dealer's lot in 96. When the grease chamber is filled will the grease safely overflow?

Finally, other than the front and rear drive shafts, are there any other points I should take the gun to? Please remember to mention if it's the same or a different grease needed at any additional fill points.

advTHANKSance!!!

L_Tilly lnctilly@mediaone.net
96 Disco "Beowulf" - NH, USA

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 07:16 am: Edit

Good thing you didn't post this topic on the d90 board, might have got some fun comments...(merv).

Anyway, I am assuming what is giving you troulbe is getting at the fill points on the U-Joints. There is an easy way if you have a decent floor jack, stands, and chocks.

Throw the wheel chocks under one end and jack up the other to both tires are off the ground. Use your jack stands to safely support the vehicle. At this point, you can put the trans and CDL in neutral. After that, you can spin the shaft to make it easy to get at the grease nipples. Repeat for the other side.

By the way, I think you may be able to leave one wheel on the ground and just jack up a corner and use this method if your diffs are still open. Mine are locked, so I put the end all the way up.

As far as overfilling the U-Joints, you can't. Just fill it up until you see it squirting out of the ends. I always overfill them a lot to be sure to get all new stuff in there.

Tom

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 08:08 am: Edit

If you have trouble getting the grease gun nozzle in the uj, just grind it down so that it is tapered. I did this to mine, and while I could get it in there before, now it is MUCH easier. BTW, you don't want white lithium grease. I don't think you can even get that stuff in tubes. Just regular grease works fine, I use the red stuff from valvoline, or the grey semi-synth if I'm feeling frisky

Alex

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 08:10 am: Edit

ah. good approach, alex!

tom

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Wednesday, August 08, 2001 - 08:12 am: Edit

Oh, one more note.. Get a flex tube for your grease gun, then you will be able to hit the zerks even if they are not visible, just reach around the driveshaft.

Alex

By greasemonkey on Thursday, August 09, 2001 - 05:32 am: Edit

"As far as overfilling the U-Joints, you can't. Just fill it up until you see it squirting out of the ends. I always overfill them a lot to be sure to get all new stuff in there."

If things havn't been lubricated/greased for a while, keep pumping grease until you see new grease coming out the other side. That way you can be pretty sure that you have purged the old cruddy stuff

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Thursday, August 09, 2001 - 05:59 am: Edit

word