Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

I am in the process of rebuilding the drive shaft on my ‘32, and I am up to the point of reassembly. I am perplexed as to what lubricant to use in the universal joints. Technical literature refers to using an oil, but there was clearly grease in them when I disassembled them. They are lubricated by grease fitting, but it seems that a single grease fitting would have difficulty lubricating four hardened pins unless the entire cavity was flooded with grease. Ideas?

I continue to lubricate the joints on my '34 Eight with heavy gear oil but I expect a grease would also give a satisfactory result as long as the grease wasn't allowed to harden and plug one or more of the passages to the needles. Heavy oil is probably the safer choice and it was Packard's recommendation.

Note that replacement joints generally had an alemite fitting, the OEM joints did not.

This was found in the 1934 Service Letters: