08 Ranger Lube Points (Driveshaft)

[nobb]

So I did search and it appears the late model year Rangers don't have any lube points. However, I noticed that on the driveshaft closest to the transmission end of a RWD Ranger two points which appear to allow for grease:

1. On the rubber dust boot of the transmission output surrounding the shaft, there is a small hole which you can pump grease via a needle tip. However, pumping grease only seems to fill the boot and surround the shaft, but it doesn't seem the grease actually gets in deep and doesn't serve much purpose mechanically speaking.

2. On the aluminum driveshaft itself closest to the U-joint, there is a rubber grommet with a hole. Once again, you can put a grease needle in there. However, the grease only seems to go inside the driveshaft, serving no purpose. The grease does not push out through the slip yoke.

Can someone confirm that the driveshaft is 100% maintenance free? Maybe these two points are only there for assembly purposes and serve no real purpose.

I'm used to religiously lubing the various grease points on my Toyota, so the idea of sealed for life components scare me! It seems everything on the Ranger's driveshaft is sealed, including the u-joints and slip yoke? I could find no grease zerks on the various suspension components and whatnot.

 

[adsm08]

Ford moved away from greasable joints about 10-12 years ago. Not having a hole drilled in them makes the joints physically stronger, and they are sealed well enough that I have seen Rangers with non-greasable joints go 100K miles or more without needed replacements.

 

[pjtoledo]

on my 2005 I replaced the u-joints at 180,000 miles. they were still good, only replaced them because it was clutch time.


FYI, sealed non-greaseable suspension parts tend to be more water proof than greaseable ones. it seems the ability to let old grease out leaves a path for contaminates to get in.