Which action is appropriate if a universal joint cross shows that one bearing is not receiving lubricant during servicing?

• A. Replace the entire U-joint
• B. Ignore the condition
• C. Remove the cross bearing that is not receiving lubricant for proper servicing
• D. Increase grease only on the affected cross

Answer: (C)

When a universal joint cross shows one bearing isn’t receiving lubricant during servicing, you need to remove the cross bearing that isn’t getting grease so you can service it properly. The lubrication path through the cross and seals must reach every bearing, so a dry bearing often means the grease passage is blocked or a seal has failed. Simply adding more grease won’t fix a blocked path or a damaged seal.

By removing the affected cross bearing, you can inspect for wear or damage, clean out any debris, reseal or replace seals, and repack the bearing with fresh grease. If the bearings show excessive wear, or the damage is beyond repair, you’d replace the U-joint. If not, you reassemble and verify that lubrication is flowing to all four bearings.