Driveline System: U-Joints

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Mariner and 2008 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The center and rear U-joints are:

a lubed-for-life design that requires no periodic lubrication.
equipped with nylon thrust washers located at the base of each bearing cup which control end play, position the needle bearings and improve grease movement.

The staked-in type U-joints are installed with the driveshaft as an assembly. The snap ring universal-type joints are serviced individually.