Wheel bearing grease type?
- Thread starter MtnHaul
- Start date
Black dawg
Registered User
The way I understand it is, that the base stays semi solid until it is sheared (squished and reduced in viscosity) and what is sheared is what does the lubrication. I have heated up many greases, (wheel bearing type grease) and never found one that thins out or ever comes any where near thining out to where it could flow just from heat.
The reason I asked the question was, I recently tore apart a pickup that the guy said hadn't had the bearings packed in 100k. The grease that was in there was very oily and could obviously flow around inside the hub.
Brown Beast
Registered User
You should use an NLGI Number 2 Disc and drum wheel bearing grease for any self contained wheel bearing system. ie Front wheels on your 4x4 or trailer wheel bearings etc....
I agree that Moly is not required and can actually cause the wheel bearing to slide instead of rotating which creates heat and could damage the bearing. Chassis grease was not designed for wheel bearings.
You should never pack the tapered roller bearings on your full float rear wheel bearings when installing them.
The grease will block the gear oil from flowing through the system, and something most of us don't think about is the wheel seal used on a full float rear wheel system is designed for oil retention, which means it needs more pressure on the seal seat to prevent oil from leaking. The seal also needs the oil flow to help keep it cool and prevent wear to the sealing lip.
Last comment: Grease is actually oil that is suspended in a paraffin wax and if the oil is separating from the wax and flowing then the grease is most likely degraded and not working properly. When you apply the grease to the inside of the wheel hub it is not there to flow to the bearings, it is used to prevent the hub from corroding, which creates dirt and debris which will destroy the wheel bearings.
I agree that Moly is not required and can actually cause the wheel bearing to slide instead of rotating which creates heat and could damage the bearing. Chassis grease was not designed for wheel bearings.
You should never pack the tapered roller bearings on your full float rear wheel bearings when installing them.
The grease will block the gear oil from flowing through the system, and something most of us don't think about is the wheel seal used on a full float rear wheel system is designed for oil retention, which means it needs more pressure on the seal seat to prevent oil from leaking. The seal also needs the oil flow to help keep it cool and prevent wear to the sealing lip.
Last comment: Grease is actually oil that is suspended in a paraffin wax and if the oil is separating from the wax and flowing then the grease is most likely degraded and not working properly. When you apply the grease to the inside of the wheel hub it is not there to flow to the bearings, it is used to prevent the hub from corroding, which creates dirt and debris which will destroy the wheel bearings.
rsaltaresjr
Registered User
It’s expensive but, Mobil SHC-100 is hands down the best wheel bearing grease I’ve ever used.
Mobil - SHC 100 Synthetic Aviation Grease, 4.4lb SHC100AVI4-4L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A6BL44/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_t0OoFbT9GX10S
Mobil - SHC 100 Synthetic Aviation Grease, 4.4lb SHC100AVI4-4L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A6BL44/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_t0OoFbT9GX10S
