Driveshaft maintenance, how often?

[rich_kildow]

I know the splines need maintenance every 10k or so, so I'm just going to make that an every winter and new tire thing.  But what about dropping the final drive and pulling the driveshaft/checking the u-joint?

[Gavin_Sons]

I do it all every year. Sometimes twice if I need a new tire half way through the season.

[KSDragonRider]

When you do your rear end maint, pull the final drive, inspect everything from the transmission back.  Ujoint, drive shaft, pinion cup, drive splines, and flange splines.  I go ahead and do an oil change on the final drive with it on the bench as well.

You are that far anyway, it only adds about 30 min to an hour to do it all.

[rich_kildow]

So if the wheel is off, might as well pull the pumpkin, drain it, and check stuff out.  I've read everything and asked before but didn't quite get the answer I needed.  I know that everything on the tire side of the pumpkin gets moly paste, including the thrust washer.  I have Honda Moly 60 ready for that and new o-rings.  The rear diff gets 150mL of 75W-90 Hypoid rated gear oil, right?

What do you lube the drive shaft ends, pinion cup, and engine output (to the u-joint) shaft with?  I've read everything from moly everywhere to waterproof grease to a 50/50 mix.  This is my first time into the rear end and I want to do it right and not miss any spots that need greasing.  Did I miss any?

[9Ball]

Honda manual calls for moly grease...3% or greater moly, NLGI #2 or equivalent....Molykote BR-2 plus.

That's what I use.

[rich_kildow]

I found answers after stumbling across the service manual online.  I think the big problem is none of this is all in one place that I've been able to find.  Plenty of great info on lubing the splines, less on the drive shaft/pinion cup/u joint side, and all sorts of varying info and opinions on what lube.  I know there are lots of people who know more than I do about these machines and I greatly appreciate the help, but I was getting to the point of half expecting a homemade lube recipe from moly paste, marine bearing lube, and baby seal blood on every new forum post I found.  On top of that, for every how-to there are 2 horror stories about destroyed splines and rusty pinion cups.  Sorry for the rant...I'm a frustrated new guy feeling slightly overwhelmed.

I couldn't find a service interval in the manual on anything other than the final drive oil at every 8k.  Based on my riding, I'm going to make this an every 10k miles/tire change/over the winter, which ever comes first...which will most likely be winter.Hopefully this helps others:

The u-joint end of the driveshaft gets a new oil seal and .02 oz (.5g...not much) grease.  This is lithium based multi purpose NLGI #2 or equivalent.

The other end gets a new stopper ring and .04oz of 3% or greater moly grease.  

The pinion cup gets .08oz of 3% of greater moly grease.  

Wheel hub gets a new o-ring smeared with moly paste and more paste in the groove.

Drive flange and mating surfaces on wheel get .11oz of moly paste.  

Thrust washer gets smeard with moly paste on all surfaces.  

Drive flange o-ring gets moly paste on it and in the groove.

Dust seal on the wheel gets grease (see above for spec)

Driven flange splines get .11oz of moly paste

Final drive splines get .05-.07g moly paste and an o-ring with moly, but that third o-ring isn't specified in the manual.  

Final drive oil is #80 and it gets 170mL or CC at disassembly or 150mL if drained.  Manual calls for a new o-ring.  

Torque brakes stopper bolt to 51 lb-ft, axle to 81 lb-ft, and final drive mounting bolts to lb-ft in that order.  

[rich_kildow]

Honda manual calls for moly grease...3% or greater moly, NLGI #2 or equivalent....Molykote BR-2 plus.

That's what I use.

Thanks!  3% moly in the pinion cup and mating splines and lithium multipurpose goes into the u-joint. 

[9Ball]

It sounds like you've got a good plan.  You at least have a baseline maintenance schedule and lube program that should keep you away from expensive repairs and downtime.

Good luck...