The Mysterious Fifth Lube Point

[sdwindansea]

Well, it's at least a mystery to me. PeasBugs said he found 5 of them. I should also mention that I have no clue what the names of the various parts are, unless "doohickey" is an acceptable term. I only found four on my 2007 Ford E350 PSD 6.0. The pictures are below. Can anyone point me to fifth (and any others)? Thanks as always for the help.

One by the driver side front wheel.


Two by the passenger side front wheel.


One over the front axle, closer to the driver side.

[PeasBugs]

The fifth zerk is on the main drive shaft slip yoke. When you are under the van find the main drive shaft, the one that goes to the rear axle (not the 4x4 drive shaft that goes to the front axle). Where the drive shaft meets up under the bottom of the van. The fitting is on the actual drive shaft (you may need to feel around because the fitting might be facing the van out of view). Sorry no picture it's pouring outside and it is to warm and dry inside.

[sdwindansea]

Thank you so much PeasBugs. I appreciate the time and the great description. I will crawl around there either tomorrow or the following day and hopefully find it. Daylight savings has killed my evening, outdoor project time. Just to make sure, the main drive shaft slip yoke = doohickey, right ?

[scatter]

Check your U-joints too. The ones on my rear drive shaft have zerks. Again, you have to look hard and feel in between the X on the U-joint. Here too you might need to move the van to rotate the shaft to get to 'em.

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by scatter

Check your U-joints too. The ones on my rear drive shaft have zerks. Again, you have to look hard and feel in between the X on the U-joint. Here too you might need to move the van to rotate the shaft to get to 'em.

The u-joints are greaseable???? Yeah, ask me how I know.


Herb

[scatter]

Yeah Herb, there's nothing like learning the hard way to make one remember in the future. At least that's what I've been told....

[deminimis]

Should have three zerks on the front driveline too, if not mentioned already.

I think I mentioned this elsewhere, but your local Napa may be able to order you Spicer U-Joints. They ordered a pair for me at only $19/ea. That's freak'n cheap. Why spicer (again, if I already posted this, you can hit me with a shoe)? According to Tom Woods Driveshafts:

"Spicer u-joints are the best and worth asking for. Independent testing done by Warn Industries found that as far as sheer breaking strength, the closest competitor was 85 percent of the Spicer and the other brands went down from there."

Also, its not enough to have zerks. you should check them all for tightness. Zerks have a habit of coming loose. When I got my SMB, it had a missing zerk on a front u-joint. I use blue loctite when installing zerks as a little added insurance.

[sdwindansea]

Thanks PeasBugs. I found the zerk on the main drive shaft. It was pretty dirty, hence hidden.

Now here is where I get to really prove my ignorance...

Scatter - what/where are the U-Joints? I searched around and couldn't find any more zerk fittings.

Deminimis - Where on the front driveline are you referring (and what is the front driveline)? Is this in addition to the pictures I posted?

Thanks again everyone for helping me through this learning experience.

[Ford_6L_E350]

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

what/where are the U-Joints? I searched around and couldn't find any more zerk fittings.

Universal Joints (u-joints) are at the ends of the driveshaft. They allow the needed flex (when the axle goes up/down, or when the engine/trans moves on the rubber mounts) to occur without breaking anything. The slip joint allows the driveshaft length change as the axle moves up/down.

Mike

[deminimis]

I have greasable front u-joints and slip yoke just like on the rear.