Wheel bearing grease?

[sixdogs]

What grease do I use for trailer wheel bearings? I used to use stuff in a can--marked for disc brakes even though I had drum brakes--but am now confused. I went to buy some and read the back of the cans and tubes and the grease in the can appears to be no different that typical quality grease from the tube. Am I wrong here? Seems like I can use my typical grease gun grease--that's #2 and marked for wheel bearings and call it good? Certainly that would work for ag bearings(?) but what about trailer bearings?
In the old days I was perfectly happy with the short fibered wheel bearing grease but I think that's filed under "stone age" these days. Hope not a dumb repeat queation but a search was inconclusine and full of dead ends.

 

[Mace Canute]

I use TRC 880 Crown & Chassis #2 NLGI grease, works great.

Years ago we campaigned a 1987 Camero stock car in the "Street Stock" class. One track we ran at had long straightaways and tight corners, so high speeds at the end of the straights with a lot of braking. After the feature race one particularly hot raceday everybody had their hoods up letting their engines cool down and we noticed that everyone without exception had a grease line on the hood right above the inside of the right front tire...except us. The only thing we could think of to explain it was that the wheel bearing grease they were using was liquefying and escaping past the seal, ergo their grease was a lower quality grease while our grease was a high quality grease. Nothing loads a right front wheel bearing like short track racing does!

Btw, we won 8 class championships in a row with that car. I built it in my garage one winter.

 

[downslope]

I use TRC 880 Crown & Chassis #2 NLGI grease, works great.

Years ago we campaigned a 1987 Camero stock car in the "Street Stock" class. One track we ran at had long straightaways and tight corners, so high speeds at the end of the straights with a lot of braking. After the feature race one particularly hot raceday everybody had their hoods up letting their engines cool down and we noticed that everyone without exception had a grease line on the hood right above the inside of the left front tire...except us. The only thing we could think of to explain it was that the wheel bearing grease they were using was liquefying and escaping past the seal, ergo their grease was a lower quality grease while our grease was a high quality grease. Nothing loads a right front wheel bearing like short track racing does!

Btw, we won 8 class championships in a row with that car. I built it in my garage one winter.

If it's the right front wheel that's loaded on circle tracks why would the grease lines have been above the inside left?

 

[Mace Canute]

downslope, just a brain fart error. Thanks for catching it. *fixed now*

 

[Diamondpilot]

I use Pennzoil Marine Bearing Grease on all mine. Its rated for disc and drum brakes. Disc brakes make much more heat.

Chris

 

[RobertBrown]

Kendall "super blue"

 

[tulenutn2o]

MIL spec aircraft grease here.

 

[sixdogs]

A question I have is from reading the back of the can and cartridge. Both give the same #2 NLGI grease ratings and both say for "wheel bearings". Some exclude disc brakes, however.
Is there really a wheel bearing grease are both "chassis" and "wheel bearing" the same grease? I have packed bearing for 45 years and am now confused. Well, make that more confused than normal.

 

[Mace Canute]

MIL spec aircraft grease here.

Just because it has a "MIL spec" and is used on aircraft it doesn't follow it is suitable for wheel bearings. MIL(itary) spec only cites the minimum specifications needed to met the requirements for the usage that it is intended for, nothing more. It's like saying something is made from "billet" aluminum. Could be a 1000 series aluminum or a 8000 series or anything in between.

 

[Raspy]

I think you can boil it down to viscosity stability at higher temperatures for the "disc brake" rated greases.

Seems like the high temp stuff is needed for drum brakes too, as the drum and hub are one piece on my trailers, and I get them smoking in the mountains. Seems like all wheel bearings that are on axles with brakes should get high temp grease, not just disc brake axles.

If you are more concerned about water intrusion, get a marine rated wheel bearing grease. I had to switch to marine grease in the front wheels of my Dodge D50 because the standard grease kept getting washed out or defeated by water intrusion. That fixed it.

If you want long term stability, where the machine sits for long periods between use, a synthetic might be a good choice because they seem to separate less.

Seems like any good wheel bearing grease would be fine for chassis use unless you want more moly to help the joint if it doesn't get greased very often. Seems like greasing the chassis often is more important than the type of grease used because dirt and water can so easily get in.

 

[Raspy]

Exactly. Billet is such a buzz word. What they're really saying is "we found a cheaper way to make it, so we'll call it better".

 

[HHR]

Kendall "super blue"

Same here. Love that stuff!

 

[tulenutn2o]

Just because it has a "MIL spec" and is used on aircraft it doesn't follow it is suitable for wheel bearings. MIL(itary) spec only cites the minimum specifications needed to met the requirements for the usage that it is intended for, nothing more. It's like saying something is made from "billet" aluminum. Could be a 1000 series aluminum or a 8000 series or anything in between.

True, maybe I should have mentioned that grease was used for wheel bearings on F-16's- does that pass muster?

 

[sixdogs]

Where do you get Kendall Super Blue wheel bearing grease?
I can't seem to find it.

 

[Kioti Tom]

Aircraft wheel bearing grease is not a good grease for automotive type use.
It is designed for short quick hot landings and takeoffs. It will not hold up to constant road or farm use. Use a grease for automotive / tractor use. It is designed for long distance ground use. The additives are what makes the greases do what they are designed for. Google the 'AeroShell book" it describes the different Aviation greases, oils, hydraulic fluids, etc. Wish they has a similar one for autio type lubes.

Retired Aircraft Mechanic

 

[Mace Canute]

True, maybe I should have mentioned that grease was used for wheel bearings on F-16's- does that pass muster?

It appears that it may not!

(With a tip of the hat to Kioti Tom!)