Thread: Front driveshaft grease points?

Originally Posted by Alex 110

G'day, been reading here that the double cardan, uni & expansion joints on the front driveshaft aren't greasable, but I've got 2 grease nipples on the double cardan joint, & one each on the uni & expansion joint.
Is this normal or do I have an uprated front driveshaft?
(I was told it was recently replaced when I bought it last December, but I don't know what with)

No not normal from what I have seen, looks like the replacement was well built, good luck there.

grease nipples in the double cardan means its an upgraded greasable one,-- is good. Expansion joint usually had a nipple, or a hole for one, except in some later D2a's(like mine) which have a "sealed for life" joint. Not sure whose life but I've done 135k and ok so far.

There is also a SPLINE grease point,,
looks like a bandaid on the shaft, peel it off insert the correct grease nipple, fill, remove nipple, replace patch.

am I close?

The correct procedure is on the RAVE cd,,

Good idea to check that the air-con is not draining on the front drive shaft, [ which they do from new ], if so, find the drain hose & extend it to the other side of the car, where it can do no harm. Bob

Originally Posted by discolaw

grease nipples in the double cardan means its an upgraded greasable one,-- is good. Expansion joint usually had a nipple, or a hole for one, except in some later D2a's(like mine) which have a "sealed for life" joint. Not sure whose life but I've done 135k and ok so far.

The d2a td5 auto shafts have ball bearings rather than a slip joint. Bundalene post pics to the forum at a similar age to yours and the joint looked new. The revised joint was to address an issue where the td5 autos caused the slip joint to bind at around 2400rpm and transmit vibration to the cabin.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

There is also a SPLINE grease point,,
looks like a bandaid on the shaft, peel it off insert the correct grease nipple, fill, remove nipple, replace patch.

There SHOULD be a blanking plug that screws in. It takes a 3 or 4 mm allen key from memory, or if you don't mind to butchering it you can follow Urban Panzers example and use a screw extractor.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

There is also a SPLINE grease point,,
looks like a bandaid on the shaft, peel it off insert the correct grease nipple, fill, remove nipple, replace patch.

am I close?

I think this is what I am calling the expansion joint - with the grease nipple left in...

Like Paul outlined ... the D2a Td5 front shaft is an upgraded unit over a D2 (didn't know it had bearings!) with a sealed (gaitered) slip join and NO provision for greasing said joint (it's covered with a gaiter, held in place by bandit style straps, not wormdrives, and there are no grease nipples, or plug there, able to be removed to fit a grease nipple) ... sealed for life ... mine's at 163k but I have a TW shaft to fit when get around to it.

The factory D2a front shaft has a grease nipple in the uni at the diff' end of the shaft, but none in the DC centre bearing, or the two DC uni joins. The D2 shaft didn't have a gaiter over the shaft spline, but does have a small stud which can be removed and replaced with a grease nipple for greasing (then you should remove the grease nipple and refit the stud).

The TW shaft is greasable everywhere, but has an open sline like the D2 shaft (I have a gater to fit to mine as we drive the beach and sand makes great grinding paste)

wow, sounds like I have a TW shaft with a gaiter on the splined joint!! And there I was thinking my disco was bog standard (oil leaks & all)