U-Joint Angles Phasing & Driveline Balance - Monaco 2009 Knight Owner's Manual

To Drain and Replace Lubricant:
1. Place a large container
under the axle.
2. Remove drain plug and
allow axle to completely
drain.
3. Properly dispose of oil.
4. Clean the drain plug and test (replace
the drain plug if needed).
5. Install and tighten drain plug to 35 to
50 ft. lbs.
6. Clean the area around the fill plug
from the axle-housing bowl.
7. Fill the axle with approved lubricant
until the level is even with the bottom
of the fill plug hole.
WARNING
When checking or changing the
lubricant, always ensure that the axle
is not hot. Oil temperature 90º F or
hotter can easily cause severe burns.
NOTE
When
checking
the lube
level also
check the
housing
breathers
on top
of axle
housing. Clean the breathers if dirty or
replace them if damaged.
Drive Shaft:
The drive shaft transfers the power produced
by the engine to the drive axle. A worn or out
of balance drive shaft causes chassis vibration
that generally increases in intensity with road
speed.
21
Lubrication Maintenance:
The drive shaft requires periodic lubrication
maintenance. Lubricate the slip joint and
universal joints every 5,000 miles or 6 months,
whichever occurs first. Use NLGI #2 chassis
lubricant.
090467b
Fill Plug
NOTE
It will be necessary to move the
motorhome forward or backward to
access all fittings on the drive shaft.
Greasing the Drive Shaft Universal Joints:
Check the drive shaft for looseness.

Repair if loose or worn.
Apply the specified grease at the grease

fitting on the universal joint. Apply
until new grease purges from all the
seals.
If new grease does not purge at the

seals, loosen the bearing cap bolts and
re-grease until all four caps purge.
If new grease still does not purge,
disassemble and clean or replace the
universal joint.
NOTE
Depending upon
application,
universal joints
090467d
may have two
grease fittings
each. It is
necessary to
apply grease to each fitting to properly
lube the universal joint.
Greasing the Drive Shaft Slip Yoke and
Splines:
Check the drive shaft for looseness.

Repair if loose or worn.
With finger, cover the rear air hole so

grease flows to the front seal. Apply the
specified grease at the grease fitting on
the slip yoke. Apply until new grease
purges and forces finger away from the
air hole in the end of the slip yoke.
WARNING
Rotating
shafts can be
dangerous.
Rotating
shafts can
snag clothes, skin, hair, hands, etc.
causing serious injury or death. DO
NOT work on or near a shaft with or
without a guard when the engine is
running.
U-Joint Angles Phasing & Driveline Balance
Correct U-joint working angles, U-joint
phasing, and driveline balance is vital to
maintaining a quiet-running drivetrain and
long life of drivetrain components (including
driveline components).
When in phase, the slip yoke lugs (ears) and
tube yoke lugs (ears) are in line. Normally this
is the ideal condition and gives the smoothest
running shaft. There may be an alignment
arrow stamped on the slip yoke and on the
090417d
tube shaft to assure proper phasing when
Dual Zerk U-Joint
assembling these components. If there are no
alignment marks, they should be added before
disassembly of the shaft to assure proper
reassembly.
Phasing is relatively simple on a two-joint
set. Be sure the slip yoke lugs and the tube
yoke lugs are in line.
090341