1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Lubricating u joints. Why retorque propeller shaft bolt?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Timgabe, Apr 7, 2022.

  1. Apr 7, 2022 at 8:03 PM
    #1
    Timgabe

    Timgabe [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2021
    Member:
    #22612
    Messages:
    6
    Gender:
    Male
    2018 4 runner. I believe dealer is not lubricating u joints. Read in maintenance to lube propeller shaft and retorque bolts. Is there disassembly involved? I only see zerk fittings.
    Thank you
     
  2. Apr 7, 2022 at 9:08 PM
    #2
    Potsie

    Potsie New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2022
    Member:
    #25412
    Messages:
    245
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2022 Army Green 4Runner ORP
    I doubt they even bother. I'm curious as well because I'll be skipping my toyota scheduled maintenance and do what I can myself
     
    CommanderDave and Toy4X4 like this.
  3. Apr 7, 2022 at 10:06 PM
    #3
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    They shouldnt skip it…I just did mine a little on the long side of 10,000 miles. You can tell the difference just putting it into drive, none of that little clicky sound of the driveline initially loading up.

    edit: can tell the difference, I should say
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2022
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  4. Apr 7, 2022 at 10:34 PM
    #4
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2021
    Member:
    #20442
    Messages:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    265-70-17 Ridge Grapplers, TRD Pro rims, 3M precut bra, N-Fab nerf/steps
    You know the old saying,

    “if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself”.

    This would apply to the U-joints.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2022
  5. Apr 8, 2022 at 1:57 AM
    #5
    Daddykool

    Daddykool Photography enthusiast

    Joined:
    May 5, 2021
    Member:
    #21295
    Messages:
    1,400
    Gender:
    Male
    Agree with DIY, but on this 4Runner I admit I have gotten a bit lazy. However, my dealership does lube them when I ask, as I can see the evidence on the zerks afterward.
     
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  6. Apr 8, 2022 at 2:21 AM
    #6
    Toy4X4

    Toy4X4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2020
    Member:
    #15580
    Messages:
    6,728
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Vehicle:
    2020 Offroad Prem. 4-runner
    RevTek 3" front- 2" rear leveling, JBA uca's, LED interior lights, Cooper 275-70-17 AT3 LT
    We caught the dealership "NOT" greasing our driveline.. u-joints and slip yokes. No reason to get twisted over it, it will be done at home in our own shop along with oil changes and general maintenance. As far as the bolts on the driveshaft flange, it's a pull of a wrench to see if they are tight, curiosity as to why they would even recommend re-torquing.
     
  7. Apr 8, 2022 at 5:16 AM
    #7
    MrSmartypants

    MrSmartypants New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Member:
    #25116
    Messages:
    57
    Vehicle:
    '17 4R TRD Pro
    They didn't lube mine with the free service (for the original owner). My 2017 needs a new front prop shaft at 60k miles since it corroded and now binds (got the bump when stopping/starting). Design on the front slide yoke/u joint is worse too as it's above the exhaust.
     
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  8. Apr 8, 2022 at 8:00 AM
    #8
    rangers1976

    rangers1976 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2021
    Member:
    #24720
    Messages:
    49
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Markus
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD ORP
    You don't have to disassemble anything to lube it. It only takes a few minutes to hit the zerks.
     
  9. Apr 8, 2022 at 8:45 AM
    #9
    munit85

    munit85 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2020
    Member:
    #17404
    Messages:
    26
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    '19 trd off-road
    eibach lift, southern style offroad bumper with light, falken at3's stock size, homemade sliders
  10. Apr 8, 2022 at 10:28 AM
    #10
    rageandlove

    rageandlove New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2020
    Member:
    #15427
    Messages:
    166
    OP is asking about torqueing bolts, not greasing things. That article is good but doesn't address his question.

    https://www.4runners.com/threads/propeller-shaft.7601/

    "The next recommended thing on that service is to tighten the propeller shaft bolts. You have 8 total, 4 from shaft to transmission and 4 from shaft to rear diff. The hex is 14mm and the torque spec is 63ft#'s. Let me know if you have any other specific questions."
     
    CommanderDave and Toy4X4 like this.
  11. Apr 8, 2022 at 11:16 AM
    #11
    jasonmcelroy

    jasonmcelroy Recovering perfectionist

    Joined:
    May 17, 2021
    Member:
    #21537
    Messages:
    205
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jason
    San Jose, CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Grey Trail
    Bilsteins, KO2, sound system, RedArc towing
    Yep. My son (8yo) and I do ours every other oil change. Easy enough. He thinks it's cool working under the truck. You better believe I have some SERIOUSLY beefy jack stands to let him under there.

    Jason
     
    Curt56 and rangers1976[QUOTED] like this.
  12. Apr 8, 2022 at 7:33 PM
    #12
    runnerjimmy

    runnerjimmy Wannabe

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2021
    Member:
    #23530
    Messages:
    1,239
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Scottsdale Az. Castle Rock Co.
    Vehicle:
    2021 ORP Barcelona red
    Fox 2.5 DSC. 2 1/2” front, 2”rear. Falken Wildpeak 255/80/17
    Teach your children well
     
  13. Apr 8, 2022 at 9:03 PM
    #13
    7harper7

    7harper7 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2021
    Member:
    #24698
    Messages:
    58
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2022 AG TRD ORP
    And the 8 on the front shaft..... They have been saying this for at least 25 years as same thing to check on 97,99,06 and 10's I owned . I have never seen one loose and usually way tighter then 63 ft/lbs when I took them out.
     
    CommanderDave and Toy4X4 like this.
  14. Oct 31, 2022 at 9:02 AM
    #14
    bobcat931

    bobcat931 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2022
    Member:
    #28569
    Messages:
    9
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Roger
    I have yet to see this procedure (Lubricate propeller shaft Re-torque propeller shaft bolt) anywhere on any invoice after a 5k or 10k routine maintenance at the dealership. 2018 TRD off-road premium. Shouldn't they be doing this??
     
    2Toys likes this.
  15. Oct 31, 2022 at 9:06 AM
    #15
    Daddykool

    Daddykool Photography enthusiast

    Joined:
    May 5, 2021
    Member:
    #21295
    Messages:
    1,400
    Gender:
    Male
    I request the lube ever second oil change or so. Not sure what the recommended frequency is.
     
  16. Oct 31, 2022 at 10:50 AM
    #16
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    I find it curious that such a “mechanichy” thing like greasing zerks on a driveline is ignored by dealers. Not only is it important for lubrication, but if you have grease in the yokes, then there wont be space for winter salt water or de-icing brine to hang out.

    Judging from the lack lf complaints of bad u-joints, I doubt ignoring this maintainance leads to immediate failure. But why give yourself another headache at 200k miles when you have to add them to the list?
     
    bobcat931[QUOTED] and Toy4X4 like this.
  17. Oct 31, 2022 at 11:08 AM
    #17
    jasonmcelroy

    jasonmcelroy Recovering perfectionist

    Joined:
    May 17, 2021
    Member:
    #21537
    Messages:
    205
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jason
    San Jose, CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Grey Trail
    Bilsteins, KO2, sound system, RedArc towing
    Reason #512 to do your own maintenance or go to a REAL shop where you can ask the person DOING THE WORK if they greased the zerks

    And after that . . . roll under your car and look for evidence that it was done
     
    bobcat931[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Nov 1, 2022 at 3:39 PM
    #18
    Redwood

    Redwood New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2021
    Member:
    #23750
    Messages:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2022 4Runner TRD Off Road
    Re-torque of the propellor/drive shaft is what I can't figure out. Why is it in the owner's manual? Now that said my dealer admits they don't do that. But I've been in the business a long time and fail to see a need for this given that the bolts all have Loctite applied to them from the factory. Seems to me that loosening them and then re-torquing them would break the factory Loctite seal. My guess is if you paid for this service they put a wrench on it and said yup it's tight.
     
    Toy4X4 and Slopemaster like this.
  19. Nov 4, 2022 at 8:35 PM
    #19
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s

    Maybe retorquing them is literally just suppose to be clicking a torque wrench at 67ft lbs?
     
  20. Nov 5, 2022 at 6:44 PM
    #20
    2Toys

    2Toys Imperial Star Cruiser

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2020
    Member:
    #15337
    Messages:
    1,080
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gordon
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRDORP
    a few goodies
    In the world of aviation, "retorque" is defined as loosening and then torque again to specification. A torque check is specifically what it means - setting the torque wrench to minimum torque (or whatever the book says to set the wrench at) and verifying the torque. Easy to confuse, but means something very different.
     
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  21. Nov 5, 2022 at 7:31 PM
    #21
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2021
    Member:
    #20442
    Messages:
    2,838
    Gender:
    Male
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    265-70-17 Ridge Grapplers, TRD Pro rims, 3M precut bra, N-Fab nerf/steps
    I’ve never concerned myself with the re-torque thing, both on my 4Runner and previous Tacoma.

    I do however, grease the u-joints and slide yoke’s about once a year. This is probably more than most owners ever do.
     
    Toy4X4, Singleminded and 2Toys like this.
  22. Nov 6, 2022 at 12:58 AM
    #22
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Yeah, kind of figure it would be the same for auto mechanics too…but it seems a shame to break a perfectly locktited seal lol
     
  23. Nov 6, 2022 at 8:29 AM
    #23
    Too Stroked

    Too Stroked New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2021
    Member:
    #23370
    Messages:
    424
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    South shore of Lake Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2021 SR5 Premium
    Just to add a tidbit. Removal torque has very little relationship to application torque.
     
  24. Nov 6, 2022 at 9:47 AM
    #24
    2Toys

    2Toys Imperial Star Cruiser

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2020
    Member:
    #15337
    Messages:
    1,080
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gordon
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRDORP
    a few goodies
    Removal torque is / was not measured in my work as it had no meaning for the situation at hand - ever. But thank you for your comment.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top