Looking at doing a grease job andoil change on my 04 4x4 later in the week. Just bought it in december and there is 51,000 miles on her.

How many places am I looking for to grease? Anything else I should be looking for while I'm under neath?

I have read on hear about picking up a grease injection needle and using it to grease inside the boots. What am I looking at greasing with this?

Any help would be appreciated as this is my first experience with a Dakota.

 

I do not reccommend using a grease needle to grease non-greaseable components. This means that you would have to get the needle in between the seal and the housing, shooting grease in (which you will probably over-grease and bulge out/blow out the seal) and then the seal will never seal tight like it did from factory. Now you have introduced dirt, water, and salt to your component, which will cause premature wear. The same goes for if you were to tap it and put a grease fitting in. Now you have small shavings in the grease, and again an overfilled seal. Greaseable seals are designed to "Purge" out the grease and seal again, unlike the "Greased for life" ones. In other words, don't do it.

How many are you looking to grease, It depends on what components have grease fittings. Check out your Outer tie rod ends, upper and lower ball joints, universal joints (on the driveshaft)

While your under the hood check out your:
-tranny fluid (level, looks and smell)
-Brake fluid
-power steering fluid
-air filter
-any loose wires or hoses (or cracked hoses)
-Belt condition

Check tire wear, condition of brakes (and brake hoses), Play in the front end... This is just a good list that should keep you safe and on top of the condidtion of your truck. Good luck.

 

I agree with everything 4x4kota said, but would like to add the little coupling "looks like a miniature u-joint", on the steering shaft where the shaft bolts to the rack. These seem to rust up pretty fast and fail. I use WD-40, and give it a spray every oil change. I doubt if much actually gets into the joint, but it acts more of a rust deterrent, and if one of the rubber seals has failed, it would get in. On an 04, you will not really have anything to grease unless the ball joints, tie rods, universals have been changed. The factory ones don't have grease fittings.

 

"lubing the chassis" is becoming outdated as newer models have "maintainence free" components. Check for leaks underneath the vehicle and give the underside a good visual inspection

 

maintainence free = throw away. my dakota i already had to replace ball joints, tie rod's, spindles, hubs. and now looks like i have to replace the rack. a whole wopping 86K on the truck. ya i am also getting whining in the transmisison in reverse too. also i replaced the water pump and alternator too about 20k ago.

 

bomrat ...i agree on some things, for me id rather have greasable, however only 25% of vehicles get correct maintence, thus they went to non servicable parts...

 

Thanks for the quick replies.

Anything I should be looking for in the way of worn parts?

Does anybody have a part number for this intermediate rod, in the steering? I believe it's the same part as "ricbrk" mentionedI should spray WD-40 onabove. I've notice a steering problem this week and it sounds like this is the problem.

Anyone know where I can download a service manual?

Thanks again for all the help. Great forum!

 

Try the link on the home page, soming like (fixed) merry christmas fsm.