What Are U-Joints?
U-joints, or universal joints, are a pair of hinges that are connected by a cross-shaft and oriented perpendicular to each other.
They connect the driveshaft to the differential, and sometimes connect the driveshaft to the transmission or two driveshafts to each other.
U-joints are used to connect those components in order to compensate for normal motion that occurs during operation.
They differ from ball joints, which are spherical and are used to connect the control arms to the steering knuckles.
U-joints and ball joints in your truck require greasing on a regular basis. They need greasing because the metal components can grind against each other if not properly lubricated, causing friction and unnecessary wear.
How To Grease your Truck
It’s not just U-joints that need to be greased. Your ball joints, tie rods, steering linkage, and the area where the control arms connect all need to have lubricant applied to them at regular intervals.
Doing so is relatively simple. Fill up your grease gun with the proper amount of grease, press the tip on the top of the fittings, and pump the necessary amount of grease.
It’s important that you follow the manufacturer’s specification for proper greasing. These steps are meant to be guidelines, and the proper way to grease the U-joints will be explained in the manual.
Be careful not to overlubricate the U-joints. Overlubricating the U-joints can cause the bearings to be too loose and compromise the life of the equipment.
You will be able to tell that you have enough grease when the grease starts to protrude out of the side.
How Often Should You Grease Your Truck?
Your truck should be greased at regular intervals. This will prevent unnecessary wear and friction, causing increased repair costs and wasted energy.
In general, you should be greasing your truck every 40,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on manufacturer specifications. Another good rule of thumb is to grease your truck every time you change your oil. Since trucks require fewer oil changes than consumer cars, this rule of thumb works well for greasing your U-joints.
In Summary
● It’s important to keep your truck well greased in order to prevent expensive repairs and unnecessary wear on the joints.
● Grease your truck’s U-joints, ball joints, tie rods, and steering linkage every 40,000 to 50,000 miles.
