D2 Front Drive shaft grease nipple

[CaptainJack]

So, final steps in my complete head to toe overhaul since i bought the D2 was to change the diff oils and grease the drive shafts this weekend.
After some light reading last night, i realised there has been some issues with the factory fitted front drive shafts.
On closer inspection, must have been an issue for the previous owner of mine as the font drive shaft is not original, rather a realitivley new one, with ALL the grease nipples fitted - so pretty happy.
However, today when greasing them all went fine except for the grease nipple in the front UNI joint. Its impossible to get the grease gun on. Not enough space to get it to clcik over the end.
I have some spare grease nipples so i thought i hould change it to see if that helps, but you cant event get a spanner or socket onto it.
Just wont go on far enough becuase it hits the metal of the uni joint.
What am i missing here or doing wrong - or just dont know? Any advice appreciated.

Pics below ...

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm24/CaptianJack/Discovery/897EC1D2-B64F-458C-8761-392AC7CA6DDF_zpspk0o25l2.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm24/CaptianJack/Discovery/11A76520-FE09-41BE-AE2C-54654744E899_zpslflrefil.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm24/CaptianJack/Discovery/64F9474E-C314-4D36-9A53-3CC9712BBA43_zpsdq1eintr.jpg

[simmo]

Jack, that looks remarkably similar tot eh defender uni joint and drive shaft. It's bit trickey. I had the same problem , ( I started with a new drive shaft fitted but with no grease nipple, by reputable LR garage).

Mt suggestion is remove the grease nipple , ( use long socket from 1/4" socket set, or very small ring spanner ). then go to auto pro, super cheap etc. There are different configurations of the same size grease nipple, angled various extension lengths etc) The one that worked best for me has a slight extension. I also use the flexible hose grease nipple connector . cheers simmo

[Rick122]

Get yourself a needle attachment for your grease gun.


Sent using the AURLO App

[DiscoDB]

I can get a flexible hose connection in to grease mine. You could also grind two flats on the end of your grease gun nozzle to make it a bit narrower.

[CaptainJack]

Jack, that looks remarkably similar tot eh defender uni joint and drive shaft. It's bit trickey. I had the same problem , ( I started with a new drive shaft fitted but with no grease nipple, by reputable LR garage).

Mt suggestion is remove the grease nipple , ( use long socket from 1/4" socket set, or very small ring spanner ). then go to auto pro, super cheap etc. There are different configurations of the same size grease nipple, angled various extension lengths etc) The one that worked best for me has a slight extension. I also use the flexible hose grease nipple connector . cheers simmo

Thanks Simmo
I hace a flexible hose on the grease gun, but it just wont go over it.
issue is i cant get a socket or a spanner on it to take it off.
(I do have every lenght of known sockets in my tool chests - much to my wifes dismay) - nothing gets in there.

Next step is to try some pliers and twist it out and replace with a longer one, but a bit hesitant as once you go down that path and it snaps off you f*#$&%

[CaptainJack]

Get yourself a needle attachment for your grease gun.


Sent using the AURLO App

ok thanks Rick - dont know what they are but i will google it.

[CaptainJack]

I can get a flexible hose connection in to grease mine. You could also grind two flats on the end of your grease gun nozzle to make it a bit narrower.

Hey theres a thought. The nipple is fine - the centre bearing relases so it will take grease. Might have to try some modifications on the felxible grease gun connector with my grinder :D

[discorevy]

Did you try letting the front diff hang , as in replicating a 2 post hoist, then coming in from the top on to the grease nipple.?

[CaptainJack]

Did you try letting the front diff hang , as in replicating a 2 post hoist, then coming in from the top on to the grease nipple.?

I hear what your saying and no i havent tried that but i dont think that will make a difference. I can get to it fine, but the issue is that where the nipple is seated, the UNI joint metal will not allow you to push the grease gun connector on to it becuase it hits the sides of the uni joint thats its seated into.

Even if i took the shaft out of the car, and pulled the uni joint apart, i cant see how a grease gun would fit on it.

I will first try grinding down my grease gun connector a bit and see if that allows it to connect.

I guess my curiosity is wondering why nobody else is having this issue. I cant find any example of it on the net. Suurely my setup is not unique to just me? - or if it is, perhaps i should feel special :angel:

[CaptainJack]

Well finally got around to sorting this out today. Used the suggestion and attacked my grease gun fitting with my grinder, and now it fits in the gap. Problem solved, and front drive shaft fully greased. Feel a lot better now knowing its pumped full of grease.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm24/CaptianJack/Discovery/IMG_2742_zpsyddmyzs2.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm24/CaptianJack/Discovery/IMG_2743_zpsiqr02euv.jpg

[Rick122]

For what it's worth, this is what the needle attachment looks like. You can also use them to grease non-greasable ball joints etc.

[AndrewMilne]

For what it's worth, this is what the needle attachment looks like. You can also use them to grease non-greasable ball joints etc.
Hi Rick,
I've never seen one of those before.
Can you actually depress the spring-loaded ball inside the "target" grease nipple with the pointed end, and inject grease into the nipple that otherwise cannot be reached?
Or does it just apply grease to the general area?
Regards,
Andrew

[Rick122]

Yes, the proper ones can inject into the grease nipple as long as you can get it fairly straight on. You can get some that have a syringe type end which wouldn't work as well as they have an angled cut.

[AndrewMilne]

Yes, the proper ones can inject into the grease nipple as long as you can get it fairly straight on. You can get some that have a syringe type end which wouldn't work as well as they have an angled cut.
Hi Rick,
Yes, I 've looked at a few on various websites since our last posts, and noticed that some have a conical end, while others have an end like a syringe needle, with an angled cut.
Injecting grease might be a bit slow with the first type, but better than not even being able to reach the nipple at all, or having grease squirt out sideways with the second.
Thanks,
Andrew

[mrapocalypse]

Hi,

I had a nasty time with my Grease nipples and actually broke one off trying to get the crap repco gun off the nipple. It took no effort at all and just snapped inside the nozzle. That meant I had to swap in a new shaft because the uni still has the stub of the nipple in it and easy outs were threatening to snap in there.

So just take it easy under there fellas (And Greasy Ladies too).

Ian.

[d2dave]

When I service my D2 I remove the front shaft completely and grease it in the vice.

I cannot get to the center bearing grease point on the carden joint when it is in situ.

[Fluids]

That's what I did last time ... but just dropped the cardan end only so I could grease the DC Join ... all the other nipples are accessible.

Going to get me one of those zerk needles like shown further back on this post.

[d2dave]

Going to get me one of those zerk needles like shown further back on this post.

Do you know where to get these?

[Fluids]

Lincoln Industrial 5806 Grease Needle Nozzle 6 Inch | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140951757548)

Sealey Needle Nose Grease Dispenser | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/191446657358)

Still looking for a cheaper source ... but i've dealt with the second seller (UK) before and may go that way.

[goanna_shire]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/discovery-2/93756d1431341144-d2-front-drive-shaft-rebuild-grgrgrgr.jpg

Here is a grease nipple idea.

Cheers,
Brian.

[tommo1166]

Hi all
For many years I have used one of these nozzles for uni joint greasing, just have to push and hold gun on to nipple, used on a seperate grease gun filled with moly disulphide grease. Not sure where I got it from now, too many years, too many beers :)

[Fluids]

$22.15 delivered ex UK.

Needle looks small enough dia' to reach the DC grease point ! :)

... Should make THAT job so much easier than dropping one end of the shaft every time I need to grease it !

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/07/1070.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/07/1071.jpg


It dismantles ... for ?? ... whatever ! :p

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/07/1072.jpg