Lube propeller shaft

I am doing the 30,000 mile maintenance on my 2018 4wd Tacoma. The maintenance schedule tells me to lube the propeller shaft. I can't find any grease fittings. Am I missing something?

 

I believe the front driveshafts grease fittings are in the center of the joints rather than on a cap like the rear

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-trd-sport-grease-lubrication-points.522396/

Front prop shaft only on the 3rd gen.

 

I don’t have fittings on mine… I believe Toyota started removing zerk fittings on tacomas throughout the years.

 

2016 had them. 2017+ did not as I remember.
Bed cubby storage disappeared, glove box divider also.

 

My 2016 has 5 Zerks. Your 2018 may have 2 Zerks on the front shaft. This old thread will show you where all 5 Zerks are if you have any to grease.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/check-your-u-joints.409042/

 

2021 trd OR here. 0 zerks.
Toyota started to remove them throughout the 3rd gen years.
You might have only 2 in the front

 

Here is an interesting article on greaseable vs. non-greaseable joints.
"Bottom line on strength: The non-greaseable joint is slightly stronger than a greaseable joint. The exact number, how much stronger, is unknown and we do not believe it to be very significant.

Bottom line on wear life: A regularly greased greaseable joint will outlive a non-greaseable joint. But a non-greaseable joint will outlive a greaseable joint that does not get greased properly. "

https://4xshaft.com/blogs/faq/greaseable-vs-non-greaseable-joints-which-is-better

 

A lot of maintenance literature is from old schedules.

You're supposed to tighten them as well.

 

Toyota lags when it comes to editing the maintenance manuals; especially in regards to lubrication of the prop shaft. Probably copying/pasting...

I believe the 2nd gen had 2 different greases listed; with and without moly.
Moly was for the CV joint; which only came on 1st Gen Tacomas.

 

at least u-joints are pretty cheap

 

you can't really do that unless you have zerks on your shaft

 

My 21 OR has no zerks on the shaft. When it comes time for new u joints.. ehh. I'll probably get grease able at that point.

 

2017 has on front shaft.

 

The Torque Spec. Guide | Tacoma World

 

My 09 4x4 has a zerk on every u joint..i was changing the oil on my 23 last night and noticed it doesnt have any ...
but i think i read thats the way 2wd are

 

Sometime in the 21's Toyota went to sealed fittings, none of the newer trucks will have any zerks.

 

the sealed u-joints with no zerks are slightly stronger. guess Toyota decided they would last longer.

 

Only because most greasable do not get serviced properly on the regular from day 1. A greasable u-joint that sees regular service will outlast a sealed.

https://4xshaft.com/blogs/faq/greas...strength: The,outlive a non-greaseable joint.