Top 8 Best Wheel Bearing Greases [2021]

Wheel bearing grease buying guide

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best wheel bearing lubricant, including:

The important thing is that the lubricant you choose must be 100% waterproof. It must form a protective film on the wheel and prevent water from penetrating the surface. This protective film is produced when oil is used to make lubricants. The bearing has a longer service life and prevents corrosion and dust.

There are several forms of ionic grease, including calcium, white lithium-based, and lithium. Calcium-based grease has high water resistance but moderate heat resistance. Lithium-based grease is water-resistant but very resistant to extreme temperatures.

On the other hand, white lithium-based grease is widely used and has water resistance and corrosion resistance. This type of grease is based on molybdenum disulfide. It is a very corrosion-resistant compound with a very high melting point. EP can withstand the extreme pressures implied by its name, making it ideal for objects with a sliding motion, including universal joints and ball joints.

The disc and drum bearing greases are very waterproof and can be used for disc and drum brakes. Has the ability to withstand very high temperatures. This high-pressure material is attributed to the high-speed operation of the brakes and wheels. This type of grease can be used well as the wheel bearing grease for SUVs and trucks. It is also ideal as a lubricant for other household tools.

As the name suggests, marine wheel bearing grease is an ideal choice for marine equipment. The reason is that this type of grease is resistant to salt and water. It is a good lubricant for agricultural equipment and heavy metals, which helps sports. The wheel lubricant can also be used for kingpins, steering cables, winches, motorcycle chains, anchor chains, etc.

This is another important feature to consider. Viscosity is a measure of the internal friction of a fluid that enables it to repel the flow. Different types of greases have different viscosities from 0 to 6.2 which are usually normal in most grease.

7 common questions about bearing lubrication answered

Industrial vehicle bearings are subjected to intensive use. As we already have in this Blog, they can last 1 million kilometers, but for this, it is essential to replace them correctly. One of the most important phases is lubrication or greasing, a step that thanks to FAG SmartSet maintenance solutions is not necessary to carry out. However, there are times when this operation is essential. For those cases, we answer the 7 key questions to lubricate wheel bearings correctly.

Why is a lubricant needed?

The main function of lubricating wheel bearings is to reduce friction and wear to a minimum, preventing or reducing metallic contact between the sliding and rolling surfaces.

Grease is applied as a lubricant to approximately 90% of bearings. Special bearing greases such as Arcanol from FAG offer the best conditions for safe, long-lasting and economical bearings. Today, truck wheel bearings must withstand temperature spikes during braking of 200 ° C or even more. Therefore, using approved lubricants is necessary to deal with these conditions.

Main advantages of applying the right grease to lubricate:

Extends service life without maintenance

Protects dust from entering the bearing

Heat dissipation

Protects the bearing against corrosion

Assembly is simple

What is the composition of grease?

Different types of bearings need different lubricants with different additives. The performance of greases of the same type can vary greatly. Lubricating greases are distinguished mainly by their main components: thickeners and base oil. The most common thickeners are usually normal metal soaps, although complex soaps such as bentonite, polyureas, FEP (fluorinated ethylene-propylene), or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene or ethylene: Teflon or Turcon) are also used. Mineral or synthetic oil is used as base oil.

The viscosity of the base oil together with the proportion of thickener determines the consistency of the lubricating grease and the structure of the lubricating film. In addition, lubricating greases contain additional additives to improve chemical or physical properties, such as corrosion protection and oxidation stability.

What requirements must the grease meet?

In collaboration with the most prestigious lubricant manufacturers, Schaeffler has been developing high-quality lubricants for bearings for years. At first glance, specialty-bearing greases are more expensive. However, it is advisable to use special greases if you want to cope with the high demands of a bearing.

FAG carries out numerous selection tests, carries out quality controls and, finally, produces practical recommendations on the lubricant. These recommendations help prevent early bearing failure due to the wrong grease selection.

FAG’s Arcanol Load 150, Shell Retinax LX II, and Renolit LX-NHU 2 are especially recommended for wheel bearings in high-temperature conditions, such as in modern commercial vehicles. They are lithium complex greases suitable for use within a temperature range of -30 ° C to 160 ° C, with short peaks up to 200 ° C.

By using special additives for high pressures, the requirements for a KP grease are met (KP grease = designation according to DIN 51502). Thanks to its high mechanical stability and low oil-grease separation, it can be used in lubrication points subject to high demands

How is a wheel bearing lubricated?

Before installation, it is necessary to grease the standard tapered roller bearings and Insert Units. For this, it is not only the amount of grease that is applied to the wheel bearing that is important but how it is applied.

The grease is applied on one side of the bearing and pressed until it completely penetrates the other side, taking into account that this occurs throughout its diameter, as indicated in the images to the right. The excess grease is then removed and the outer parts of the bearing are protected with a thin film.

Note: To avoid damage, the specified amount of grease (see manufacturer’s instructions) must be applied after mounting the wheel hub. If less than the recommended amount of grease is used, the wheel bearings may become very hot. If the amount is higher, excess grease can come off the wheel hub and penetrate the brake linings.

What are the effects of pollutants?

Solid contaminants:

The presence of solid impurities in the lubricant causes premature wear and fatigue. The harder the lubricant applied and the smaller the bearing size, the shorter the life of this part.

Especially at points with high sliding, solid impurities cause abrasive wear on the bearings. For example, this happens at the point of contact between the front side of the rollers in tapered roller bearings.

Wear increases proportionally with the hardness of the impurities, their concentration in the lubricant, and the size of the particles.

Early breakdowns can be avoided by taking the following precautions:

A clean lubricant

An effective seal

Thorough cleaning of parts near the bearing

A clean assembly

Liquid contaminants:

The harmful effect of liquid impurities in the lubricant is often largely underestimated. Even pure water without additional aggressive substances has a great risk of deterioration in the bearings.

The risk of impairment is subdivided into the following categories:

Reduction of the fatigue period

Cause of wear

Acceleration of lubricant aging and residue accumulation

Corrosion

The characteristics of the damage can occur individually or in combination and do not depend on the type of lubricant, the bearing material, or the amount of water that is introduced into the lubricant. They can prevent the bearings from fulfilling their function or damage them completely.

Therefore, choosing the right lubricant and applying it correctly is decisive to guarantee the service life of the bearings. The lubricating oil must have the proper viscosity to be able to create the proper lubricating film on the contact surfaces between rolling elements and treads. The viscosity of a lubricating oil decreases as the temperature increases. Therefore, it is important that the viscosity is required for the operating temperature.

How are wheel bearing greases stored?

To store fats, it is essential to have a closed storage space where they are away from the influence of corrosive substances, such as vehicle exhaust gases. Direct sunlight should also be avoided.

The storage temperature should be as stable and the air humidity as low as possible. Temperature fluctuations and increased air humidity cause condensation.

The following conditions must be maintained:

Frost-proof storage, with a minimum temperature of 5 ° C (safe frost prevention, a temperature of up to 2 ° C is allowed for 12 hours a day).

Maximum temperature of 40 ° C.

Relative air humidity less than 65% (with temperature fluctuations it is allowed to maintain it up to 70% for 12 h).

What is faulty lubrication like and what damage can it cause?

More than 50% of bearing damage is caused by faulty lubrication (see diagram). This not only affects the performance of the bearings but also causes damage to other components that, at first glance, does not appear to be caused by a failure with lubrication. Using an unsuitable or dirty lubricant or the wrong amount of grease can lead to early wheel bearing failure. Poor lubrication at the contact points can cause fatigue damage or even the bearing to overheat during operation. As a result, the wheel bearing suffers increased wear and can be damaged prematurely.

Conclusion

Each grease has its advantages and disadvantages, from standard, medium-quality multi-purpose greases to molybdenum drum/disc bearings. Some wheels have fully sealed bearings that require nozzle lubrication tools, while other wheels have certifications and classifications based on the type of lubricant.

Among all the products listed above, our best choice is Lucas Oil10301 (B000IG20RW). It is reasonably priced, cheap, and reliable. This way, the wheels can be lubricated without spending a lot of money. It is also a high-performance grease that can withstand high pressures at maximum speeds and high temperatures. Because of its low price and versatile functions, this is our first choice.