Propeller shaft grease flung out?

[wildbird Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wildbird]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here as just bought my first Prado which is a 95 series RV6, I have done some service on it and I found that there are some grease has been flung out from the propeller shaft where linked to the transfer case, not only the rear one but also the front one, there are 3 points where show the grease been flung around. (please see the attached pics, sorry for the image quality) It's very dirty as the grease attracted dirt to build up thick mud, but I'm worrying the more important part -- the shafts -- Are these flung grease indicate serious problem? Do I need to replace something?

Thank you very much for any advice

Ted

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

That amount of grease flung from the slip joint usually indicates over greasing. The slip joint only requires a shot or two of grease every service. There is a lip seal there but I can't see if it's damaged in the photo's, They are usually fairly robust though and only keep the dirt out.

There's often grease flung from the universals after a service as it's near impossible to wipe out all the expelled used grease from inside joint unless you have Alien fingers.

Mick

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Nothing to worry about, as what is said above, just been over greased. Looks like it was done a while ago too as it is old looking grease.

[wildbird Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wildbird]

Thank you Mick and Croozza, I fell much relaxed now

Cheers

Ted

[D4Dforme Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dforme]

That's very bad and the only way to fix this is by fitting a lift kit and proberbly some sort of winch also............well that's what your gunna tell the mrs anyway!

Dan

[wildbird Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wildbird]

Haha that's right Dan, you know me well

Cheers

Ted

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

I hope the previous owner wasn't pumping in half a 450g cartridge of grease every time he did the greasing. A mechanic wouldn't have done that surely. He would've heard the grease getting forced through the seals on the last 10-15 pumps on each nipple maybe??

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Nothing to worry about. I'd rather see some splatter then nothing but also don't want excess but what's in your pics is nothing to be concerned about. I had the same in my last two 95 series and the same on my current 120 (maybe a little less). As mentioned above it looks like its old grease been there a while. Personally I would give it all a degrease wack In a couple if pumps (remember to do all of them including uni's) uni's I pump in gently untill you hear a slight cracking/popping sound and you see the old grease just come out (gently does it) shafts I actually do about 4 to 5 but this is with a hand pump not an air operated one. It also depends on how you use the vehicle. Some do it every 5k if going into water mud etc some do it every 10k..... Cheers Steve

[wildbird Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wildbird]

Thanks Brett and Steve, yesterday I took my car to a mechanic and ask him to re-grease all the points, I saw him did about 7-10 shots on every points via the air powered grease gun, when I asked him he said it doesn't matter to put a bit more grease into it.... well I'm going to clean the area up this weekend and then see what's going on after a few hundred k's.

Thanks mates I really appreciate your help

Cheers

Ted

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Don't be too concerned if he has just done it and you clean it up and go for a run then see more splatter when you get back, this will be normal. It will also depend on how much flexing you do to how much the slip joints (splines) slide in and out to how much excess grease will be expelled (pushed) out. I'd rather see it then not. Don't worry about it being on the under body etc it won't hurt anything under there just might look a bit messy if excessive. 7 to 10 shots is a fair wack of grease but it may have been really dry...... All sounds good anyway, enjoy.... Cheers Steve

[wildbird Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wildbird]

Thank you Steve for your kind help

Cheers

Ted

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Sounds like the mechanic way overgreased it. Only requires 1 to 2 shots per nipple every oil change. Anything more is a waste and can pop the seals.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

Completely agree, Derb. When I re-grease mine every oil change only 1 to 2 pumps of the grease gun fills it back up. I pump the gun nice and slow and as soon as I hear the cracking sound of the seals I stop immediately and move onto the next nipple. Wipe the nipples clean before pumping and wipe them clean again after pumping.

Wildbird, you should've grabbed your mechanic by his skinny shoulders and yelled in his face, "Settle down turbo!!"