How To Lubricate Your Driveshaft Slip Joint

silverflash

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my dealer told me a couple weeks ago that the part is on back order. i don't think it is. just checked and i can get it from many sources. why do dealers suck?
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Kemo Sabe

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This past weekend I finally decided to do something about the clunk/thunk I was feeling in the drivetrain when stopping / starting (i.e., when coming to a stop light). The most common culprit for this issue is a slip joint in your drive shaft that needs to be lubricated. I could not find any good guides / videos on how to do this procedure on our trucks, so I filmed the process to share here. Hopefully this is useful to some other forum members:



I'll mention that I'd never lubricated a driveshaft slip joint, so I may not have done some things perfectly. I'd love to hear if I could have done something better.

This completely eliminated the thunk/clunk I was experiencing when coming to a complete stop and then pulling away again.
So far, no clunk, no grease required! Sure hope I don’t need that job. Too old for that and that’s the reason I bought new; so as not to have to do mechanical work. Hope this, my first Ford, doesn’t let me down. I’ve always been a Bowtie man,
 

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So far, no clunk, no grease required! Sure hope I don’t need that job. Too old for that and that’s the reason I bought new; so as not to have to do mechanical work. Hope this, my first Ford, doesn’t let me down. I’ve always been a Bowtie man,

I know what you're saying (I’ve always been a Bowtie man) because I've always been a Ford man. But it seems like now with all the parts shortages and lack of workers there's really not one stand out auto manufacturer out there out of the big 3. They're all having QC problems now so even if yours develops this I wouldn't get to discouraged just yet. It could be worse, have you seen all the problems with the new Bronco? :shock::lipssealed:
 

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This past weekend I finally decided to do something about the clunk/thunk I was feeling in the drivetrain when stopping / starting (i.e., when coming to a stop light). The most common culprit for this issue is a slip joint in your drive shaft that needs to be lubricated. I could not find any good guides / videos on how to do this procedure on our trucks, so I filmed the process to share here. Hopefully this is useful to some other forum members:



I'll mention that I'd never lubricated a driveshaft slip joint, so I may not have done some things perfectly. I'd love to hear if I could have done something better.

This completely eliminated the thunk/clunk I was experiencing when coming to a complete stop and then pulling away again.
Very nice vid. How do you lift the rear to put on stands?
 
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Very nice vid. How do you lift the rear to put on stands?
I used a hydraulic floor jack to lift right at the center of the bottom of the rear diff, then placed jack stands under the rear axle out near the wheel on each side, then lowered the jack.
 


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Do you happen to have the TSB number?
Sorry I do not. I think if you go to your service advisor and tell them you have a clunking when stopping and you understand there is a TSB on it, then they will admit to it. If not let me know and I’ll ask my service advisor.
 
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Dsc

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Very nice work.
 

Mr.Mel

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Good job on this and does anyone remember when universal joints had grease zerks for greasing those?
 

Langwilliams

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Good job on this and does anyone remember when universal joints had grease zerks for greasing those?
I remember when "lubed for life" suspension components came out. Years later we wonder were they better or just cheaper an wear out faster to give your service dept some work.
 

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This past weekend I finally decided to do something about the clunk/thunk I was feeling in the drivetrain when stopping / starting (i.e., when coming to a stop light). The most common culprit for this issue is a slip joint in your drive shaft that needs to be lubricated. I could not find any good guides / videos on how to do this procedure on our trucks, so I filmed the process to share here. Hopefully this is useful to some other forum members:



I'll mention that I'd never lubricated a driveshaft slip joint, so I may not have done some things perfectly. I'd love to hear if I could have done something better.

This completely eliminated the thunk/clunk I was experiencing when coming to a complete stop and then pulling away again.

I just performed this maintenance item this weekend. Have driven the truck about 35 mines since and the occasional thunk/clunk is gone. Thanks for the tip and the video.
 

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I used a hydraulic floor jack to lift right at the center of the bottom of the rear diff, then placed jack stands under the rear axle out near the wheel on each side, then lowered the jack.
View attachment 115870
I used a hydraulic floor jack to lift right at the center of the bottom of the rear diff, then placed jack stands under the rear axle out near the wheel on each side, then lowered the jack.
Ford doesn’t like that:
56ED0368-02F9-40BA-A549-36694B63F27F.jpeg
 

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Bob902

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I can't find that grease anywhere around here.
 

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This past weekend I finally decided to do something about the clunk/thunk I was feeling in the drivetrain when stopping / starting (i.e., when coming to a stop light). The most common culprit for this issue is a slip joint in your drive shaft that needs to be lubricated. I could not find any good guides / videos on how to do this procedure on our trucks, so I filmed the process to share here. Hopefully this is useful to some other forum members:



I'll mention that I'd never lubricated a driveshaft slip joint, so I may not have done some things perfectly. I'd love to hear if I could have done something better.

This completely eliminated the thunk/clunk I was experiencing when coming to a complete stop and then pulling away again.
Picture says a thousand words, but a video is priceless!! ;) Thanks for taking the time to video and share :like:
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