L2501 front axle grease points ?

[Mudball]

There are two axle supports (front and rear) for the front axle assembly that hold the drive propeller shaft (See attached picture) that have to be greased.
The front (or forward)axle support has a breather plug that you remove, then apply grease through zerk until grease comes through breather port, and then reinstall the port plug...no problem.
So my question is there suppose to be a breather plug on the rear support (the one indicated in the picture as a dotted line circle) for the 4wd propeller shaft ?
When I try to apply grease to the rear support zerk (the one that doesnt have a breather plug), then I have complete resistance on my grease gun and it will not except any grease and I dont want to force it and damage a seal. Again my concern and questions are directed to the axle support shown in the picture that is indicated by a dotted line circle (the rear axle support).
Anyone else experience this ?
Is this normal, or did they forget to drill and tap a breather port for the rear bracket ?

 

[Mister]

My MX appears to be similar to yours, in that the rear doesn't have a plug. That said, when I grease mine it'll take what I squeeze in. Can't see where it goes, and can't tell if I'm adding too much or too little. I'm guessing maybe your zerk fitting has some mud clogging it a bit

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[85Hokie]

Pull the zerk - see if grease will go through it - if not, small sharp tip to move the ball, or replace zerk. Tis strange that it does not have a place to "ooze" out from!

 

[Mudball]

My MX appears to be similar to yours, in that the rear doesn't have a plug. That said, when I grease mine it'll take what I squeeze in. Can't see where it goes, and can't tell if I'm adding too much or too little. I'm guessing maybe your zerk fitting has some mud clogging it a bit

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Thanks for explaining your personal experience with this procedure.
Sounds like you might be right about being clogged.
Thanks

Pull the zerk - see if grease will go through it - if not, small sharp tip to move the ball, or replace zerk. Tis strange that it does not have a place to "ooze" out from!

Good idea, I will remove to see if grease flows through the zerk itself.
And yes its strange that there would not be a place for the excess to escape.
Thanks

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The front needs have a vent because there is no place for the grease / air to go it's sealed.
The rear has two seals for the grease / air to leak out of thus no need for a vent.

 

[Mudball]

The front needs have a vent because there is no place for the grease / air to go it's sealed.
The rear has two seals for the grease / air to leak out of thus no need for a vent.

Got it on the front being not vented and the rear has seals for grease to exit if need be. Before I did any work or troubleshooting I wanted to make sure that the resistance on my grease gun wasnt normal.
Im going to pull the zerk soon and eliminate that first.
Thanks

 

[Mudball]

Can't see where it goes, and can't tell if I'm adding too much or too little.

Update: I removed the grease zerk and one pump straight through so fitting is working correctly. So I reinstalled, attached grease gun and still a lot of resistance but I continued and as I continued to pump grease the resistance became much less and you could start hearing the gurgling of grease and air displacement as I continued well over 20 pumps. I finished all of what was left of around 1/4 tube or less and still no signs of grease on the exterior. So I see what you meant Mister about not knowing if you added too much or not enough so I continued until I stopped hearing air/grease displacement and I think I achieved that but I will need more grease to be sure.
I know from the continuous sound of air displacement that this was never properly greased to begin with.
I will have to get more grease within the next few days and try to apply more I guess.
Thanks again for all the help here on this forum because I sure didnt get any help from whomever was responsible for greasing, fluid levels, tires, etc...that works at the dealership.

 

[Mister]

Update: I removed the grease zerk and one pump straight through so fitting is working correctly. So I reinstalled, attached grease gun and still a lot of resistance but I continued and as I continued to pump grease the resistance became much less and you could start hearing the gurgling of grease and air displacement as I continued well over 20 pumps. I finished all of what was left of around 1/4 tube or less and still no signs of grease on the exterior. So I see what you meant Mister about not knowing if you added too much or not enough so I continued until I stopped hearing air/grease displacement and I think I achieved that but I will need more grease to be sure.
I know from the continuous sound of air displacement that this was never properly greased to begin with.
I will have to get more grease within the next few days and try to apply more I guess.
Thanks again for all the help here on this forum because I sure didnt get any help from whomever was responsible for greasing, fluid levels, tires, etc...that works at the dealership.

Glad to hear it. You may consider using synthetic grease from here out. It lasts 8X longer, which means you won't have to deal with it nearly as often

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[Blondie70]

I have been wondering about the exact same thing. Good posts !

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The extra grease is just going into the front drive case.
Just a few pumps every time you grease it will keep it lubed up good.

 

[Mudball]

Glad to hear it. You may consider using synthetic grease from here out. It lasts 8X longer, which means you won't have to deal with it nearly as often

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I will see who sells that before I go to town. Thanks

I have been wondering about the exact same thing. Good posts !

I learn something new everyday. Glad it helps.

The extra grease is just going into the front drive case.
Just a few pumps every time you grease it will keep it lubed up good.

I think from the sound of air displacement that it had to be getting full as it starting to become silent toward the end. I thought there had to be access to that propeller shaft enclosure and so now I know. Now that most the air pockets are gone, from now on I will just top off. Thanks

 

[muddhogg]

Old thread @Mudball - have you had any issues with the grease in your front drive case? I just did the same thing and pumped a log of grease in there.

 

[Mudball]

Old thread @Mudball - have you had any issues with the grease in your front drive case? I just did the same thing and pumped a log of grease in there.

No problems at all.
Last time I greased, it worked fine.

 

[muddhogg]

No problems at all.
Last time I greased, it worked fine.

Thanks! I did the same thing you did, except I found the grease and removed it.

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