What is the best lubricant for wheel bearings?

Lubricant for hub bearings - which is better? Tips for choosing

February 22, 2017

A car has a huge number of moving parts. Some of them interact with each other. The frictional force that inevitably arises must somehow be compensated. This is especially true for rotating parts. Excessive friction force leads to heating of the part, its thermal expansion and jamming. It is to eliminate this phenomenon that bearings are designed.

Wheel bearings and lubrication

The element is designed to reduce friction, converting it into easier rolling. The bearing is one of the critical components of the chassis. Wheel hubs also cannot do without these devices. Many factors depend on the ease of rotation of an element.

These are vehicle stability, fuel consumption, acceleration and braking times. However, the wheel hub is a very loaded mechanism. To ensure that the bearing rotates easily, it needs lubrication. It further reduces the friction force in this unit.

Application of lubricants

This component reduces friction or, in the absence of moving parts, ensures that parts adhere without being rigidly attached to each other. Lubrication ensures easy sliding of surfaces relative to each other. This significantly extends the life of the part.

What compounds are not recommended for use in hubs?

So, we need a lubricant for the hub bearings - which one is better? Its work is quite specific and is influenced by many factors, internal and external - high rotation speed and temperature changes leave their mark on the operation of this unit.

Such features make it impossible to use lubricants that contain synthetics. These are Vaseline and silicone materials, which are sold in a wide range. Unfortunately, they stop working already at 50 degrees.

The next type of lubricant that is not recommended for use in wheel bearings is sodium and calcium based. Such compositions significantly reduce friction, but do not resist corrosion at all. Rust in a bearing is always bad. Another type of widespread composition is graphite-based.

If we need grease for hub bearings, which one is best? Graphite composition belongs to the high-temperature category. The lubricant contains a large number of abrasive elements that catastrophically reduce the life of the rubbing parts.

Such products are used for low-moving joints (for example, between individual exhaust pipes) or on individual metal parts to protect against rust. On average, when using graphite lubricants, the service life is reduced by three to four times compared to the recommended types of compositions.

It is also not recommended to use products containing zinc and iron. To be more precise, it can be used, but is not necessary - it is well suited for use for industrial purposes (on machines and other equipment).

Recommended Lubricants

Modern developments provide the widest selection of lubricants. The use of various additives and additives significantly improves the initial qualities and physical properties of the compositions. So, if the question concerns the choice of a composition such as grease for hub bearings, which is better?

With molybdenum content

This connection is very effective for working under given conditions. This ensures an optimal balance between the quality of lubricating properties and the fight against corrosion. The resource of this lubricant is equivalent to 100 thousand kilometers. This is comparable to the service life of the wheel bearing itself. However, such lubrication has its drawbacks.

Firstly, it does not interact well with moisture, so bearings with such filling must be closed. The lubricant should not come into contact with air, and in case of depressurization, it must be completely replaced and all rubbing parts checked. The composition is also susceptible to contamination. Abrasive particles accelerate wear of the lubricant itself and the bearing.

The most common brands of domestic products are “FIOL” and “SHRUS-4”.

High temperature grease

It contains nickel and copper additives in powder form. Such lubricants (for example, MC1510) do not lose their stable characteristics at high temperatures, up to 350 degrees. They also have high oxidative stability.

High temperature wheel bearing grease is one of the best. Its operating range is from -40 to +180 degrees. The composition performs well during sudden braking, acceleration and temperature changes.

The addition of special additives provides high resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

Lithium greases

These are materials containing lithium in organic acids. Such lubricants are universal and their scope of application is very wide. Externally, they can be distinguished by their light yellow tint. The service life of bearings with this lubricant is also very long. The service life, subject to operating conditions, approaches the service life of the bearing itself.

Therefore, lithium grease for wheel bearings is a fairly good option. It is also worth noting that the composition returns to its characteristics after overheating. Foreign companies producing lithium grease are BP, Very Lube and Renolit. The domestic manufacturer has established itself with one single product - “Litol-24”.

This product has been known to more than one generation of motorists.

Replacement composition

Changing the grease in wheel bearings is not such a difficult task. The car is reliably braked and after that the hub nut is loosened using a socket head and a long wrench. Next, the wheel is hung up and removed. The brake disc is also dismantled, and the hub is disconnected from the steering knuckle.

After this, the hub fastening nut is finally unscrewed. Using a hammer, the element is knocked off the axle shaft. The bearing is pressed into a cage, which must be removed with a special puller or a strong flat screwdriver around the circumference of the ring. The latter may stick. In this case, WD-40 or kerosene will help.

Old grease is removed with kerosene or gasoline. It washes the entire bearing, race and seat in the hub, and then wipes everything dry. A clean rag should be used. New grease is applied to the cage in an amount of about 30-40 g per bearing.

Using a screwdriver or a wooden stick, apply it evenly to the bearing surface. Next, the element is installed in the hub and centered with a clip. Installation is carried out using a suitable mandrel or a cage from an old bearing. Further assembly is carried out in reverse order.

Lubrication of the rear hub on vehicles with drum brakes is carried out in the same way. Only here the bearing is removed without dismantling the hub from the car. It comes out a little faster in time.

Features of hub lubrication in domestic cars

Lubrication of hub bearings (including Niva) is carried out similarly to the procedure carried out on foreign cars. However, here it is not necessary to remove the hub from the car. Just leave it hanging on the counter. The bearing contains both lithium-containing and high-temperature grease.

As for the UAZ hub, lubricant is also placed in them. But there is a difference between the front and rear axles. At the front, the hubs are pulled off the axle shaft using a puller, and the bearing along with the oil seal can remain on it, which is even simpler. In the rear axle, lubricant for the bearings comes from the rear axle housing.

Nevertheless, even there the bearings can be changed and lubricated. The work doesn't take much time.

Ensuring reliability during operation

So, if you need a wheel bearing lubricant, which one is best? Each car has its own type of lubricant. It is indicated in the operating instructions. Specific brands and grades of lubricants are often specified.

As experience shows, the most universal is lithium-containing. Nevertheless, at certain intervals it is required to carry out a visual inspection, and at intervals between service intervals - replacement of the composition.

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Selecting and replacing grease for hub bearings

Every conscientious driver tries to use only high-quality spare parts for his car, including lubricants. After all, the operation of the elements depends on what lubricants are used, which occurs in constant friction and a rigid connection.

And in order not to make a mistake when choosing oil for hubs, you need to know what criteria and physical abilities a quality product should have. When choosing, you need to pay attention to its indicators.

One of the main requirements that a bearing lubricant must meet is its strength and viscosity.

These qualities (the higher they are, the better the product) ensure the fluidity of this liquid over the surface of the lubricating elements. When applied to a part, the lubricant should not immediately drain from it.

Its task is to be present on its surface for as long as possible, since it serves to soften the friction of parts during operation, and the lubricant is a protective substance that prevents elements from rusting.

In addition, lubrication creates all the conditions so that the lubricated elements do not wear out and damage does not form on their surface (scores, cracks, cavities). Also, its lubricity allows you to minimize the friction force that occurs between parts during their operation. Thus, high toughness and strength increase the service life of bearings and hubs.

Also, the lubricant must have high thermal stability. This quality allows the substance to maintain its condition and composition without including any unnecessary substances. This means that when working at elevated temperatures, the composition of the oil will not change for a long time (its service life is determined by its manufacturer).

This property is somewhat similar to heat resistance (the ability to retain its properties). Only in this case should the liquid retain its qualities under the influence of mechanical stimuli.

Of course, you are unlikely to check all these properties and characteristics in a store. All you need to do is obtain a quality certificate. If such a document is available, then be sure that the material meets all the stated requirements.

Replacement instructions

The choice of bearing protection is not the main thing in this matter, since it also needs to be replaced. You can do like many drivers and use the services of the service.

But, it seems to me that every driver should know how to change the oil in the hubs.

Not only will this save you money, but it will also give you the opportunity to get to know your vehicle better so you can approach it with greater confidence next time.

Before replacement, I recommend carrying out preparatory procedures. To do this you need to have: a set of tools that every driver should always have at hand, a workbench with cleats, a jack. In addition to the tool, you need to prepare materials for work:

Directly, the replacement fluid itself
Flushing fluid (kerosene or gasoline)
New hub seals and nuts for them
Clean rags
A container of clean water (just in case) The hub is removed as follows:

The vehicle is set to the parking brake. This action is performed every time the car is jacked up, it is important to remember.
Now you need to lift the car onto the jack itself. The side on which the replacement will be made will rise.
To get a good view and unobstructed access, it is necessary to dismantle the wheel and also remove the hub cap.
Afterwards you need to unscrew and hang the caliper, which belongs to the brake system.
Once access is gained, you need to work on the hub.
To remove it, you need to unscrew its fastening. To do this, you need to unscrew its nut, then remove the thrust washer and then dismantle the outer bearing cage.
After this, holding the brake disc, you can remove the hub.

So, the hub is removed, we have access to two bearings. Now we move from the car to the workbench. We prepared the oil seals in case they need to be changed.

The fact is that the service life of oil seals is much shorter than that of bearings, so we, as conscientious drivers, will replace them.

In general, according to the rules, they need to be changed at every technical inspection, that is, after every ten thousand kilometers.

After the oil seal is removed, you need to remove the bearing cage. To do this, you need to take a prepared clean rag and moisten it with gasoline or kerosene (depending on what you have prepared) and clean all the parts with it: the outer races, the entire cavity of the hub, adjacent separators of all component bearings. I recommend rinsing their surface thoroughly to remove old grease.

After this, you need to carefully inspect each bearing and other parts. Particular attention should be paid to the working surfaces of existing bearing rollers, as well as races.

They should not have any damage, and their surface should be even, clean and smooth. Otherwise, they must be replaced, since it is not recommended to reinstall damaged elements.

If everything is in order, you can proceed with replacement.

So, the first thing you need to do is lubricate all cleaned parts with new oil. And then install them in their original place. After this, you need to pour oil between the bearings.

To reassemble and reinstall the hub, follow the steps in the opposite order.

When you tighten the nut holding the hub, try to adjust it according to the standards in order to avoid play in operation and excessive tightening. At this stage the work is completed.

Selecting and changing the oil in the hubs, as you have already noticed, is not very difficult. All that is required is the desire to make your car better.

If any breakdowns occur, I advise you to try to deal with them yourself.

Contact a service station only in cases where you are sure that the fault cannot be repaired on your own. Good luck.

Video “Replacing grease for hub bearings”

In the recording, a car enthusiast tells and shows how to replace the support bearing on a car and how to lubricate the bearings.

Source: http://MineAvto.ru/remont/hodovaya/vybor-i-zamena-smazki-dlya-podshipnikov-stupitsy-2346.html

Wheel bearing grease

In order for a car to move, it is necessary that the mechanical energy that is generated by the engine is transmitted through the gearbox, transmission, and shafts in the form of rotational motion to the drive wheels.

Of course, the wheels are not attached to the shafts (trunnions) directly, but through a part called the hub. This unit is one of the most important and responsible in the car and is responsible for the car’s controllability while driving.

In this case, one side of the hub is attached to the shaft, and the other to the wheel rim.

The node experiences constant loads, and irregular loads - braking, acceleration. The temperature experienced by the hub is also not regular. Therefore, the best materials for its manufacture are steel and cast iron. But the hub can still be broken, for example, if you drive at high speed over potholes.

Naturally, the core of the hub is the bearing. The hub bearing bears all responsibility for the operation of the wheels and for their control. When driving, you should always listen to how the bearing behaves, whether there is any excess noise, especially when the car makes a turn.

Front wheel hub Renault Logan

Wheel hub bearings

The design of these bearings is, in principle, similar to standard rolling bearings. Since the load on the bearing is always large due to the action of various forces: both radial and axial, as well as combined, plus an aggressive environment, for example, reagents on the roads in winter, the condition of the bearing must always be under control.

True, there is a difference between the bearings installed on the front hub and on the rear hub.

If the car has rear-wheel drive, a single-row tapered roller bearing is installed on the hub, and they are installed in pairs. When replacing bearings, you need to be careful when setting axial clearances.

Front wheel bearing for Renault car

More popular now are tapered double-row roller bearings or radial thrust ball bearings, closed, which are more complex to manufacture and therefore more expensive.

They are used in cars with both driven front wheels and driven rear wheels. When measured, such bearings can withstand twice the load. In addition, lubricant is added to these bearings during their manufacture at the factory.

And the bearing needs to be changed only when lubricant leaks.

Also nowadays, especially in trucks and SUVs, the wheel hub is produced assembled with a bearing and the service life of the bearing is equal to the service life of the hub. Naturally, such a unit is more expensive than a bearing, but sometimes this is justified.

You need to remember for yourself that wheel bearings are checked every time a car is diagnosed, regardless of whether there is noise in the bearing or not, whether there is lubricant leaking or not.

Moreover, if the bearing is single-row, it must not only be checked, but also periodically cleaned of dirt and lubricated.

Basic lubrication rules for wheel bearings

The most important thing, as mentioned above, is to check them periodically, every 20-30 thousand kilometers. In this case, backlash and extraneous noise are determined. Some bearings, for example diagonal ball bearings, should not have it, but for tapered roller bearings it is required by design.

In closed bearings, you need to check whether the seal is broken and there is no lubricant leakage. If necessary, the bearing can be replaced.

If it is an open bearing, consider lubricating it.

Lubrication of front wheel bearings is difficult because, for example, roller bearings are very demanding on the quality of installation.

With a slight misalignment, the bearing immediately breaks down, therefore, the wheel “wedges” and, it’s also good if the speed is low.

If they are diagonal ball ones, then they are more resistant when axial loads are applied to them, but their service life is much shorter than that of conical ones.

Therefore, these bearings have high lubrication requirements. The bearing itself is assembled with such clearances that lubricant can be introduced into them. Without lubrication, the friction force of the parts inside becomes very hot, deformed and covered with scale, after which they simply jam and collapse. In addition, the lubricant dissipates heat and extends service life.

To lubricate a bearing, you first need to prepare. Before work, you must have: new hub nuts, oil seals, selected lubricant, bearing flushing fluid (gasoline, kerosene, etc.), clean and dry rags.

Using a jack installed on the side of the wheel that we will remove, we lift the car and remove the wheel.
Unscrew and remove the hub cap.
We dismantle the brake assembly, then the lock washer after unscrewing the hub nut.
Remove the bearing cage.
We take out the hub.
We wash the bearing, wipe it, let everything dry and then carefully lubricate it.
Reassemble in reverse order.

At the same time, we change the nut on the hub, since before, it will no longer serve.

Replacing the front wheel bearing

This is what car manufacturers recommend. After assembly, be sure to check the play.

If you need to replace a bearing, you need to press it out of the special cage in which it is located. We carry out this procedure using a power screwdriver or using a puller.

Remove the bearing using a screwdriver

Rear hub and difference in lubrication of front and rear hub bearings

The rear and front hubs have almost the same load and perform essentially the same job, although they are structurally different. This difference lies in the steering knuckle.

If we consider what kind of bearings are used in the rear hub, it can be noted that radial ball or roller bearings are used together with the dependent suspension. If there is an independent suspension, tapered bearings are used.

It is advisable to lubricate the new wheel bearing with a small inspection, in order to be sure. that in the middle of the road the wheel will not cross the path. Types of lubricants are indicated below.

Lubricated wheel bearing

Of course, both types of bearings are subject to wear, and their main enemy is lubricant leakage or contamination. This can be caused by a poor seal, a large gap, or incorrect installation of the bearing.

The fact is that, as a rule, when removing the hub the bearing is usually destroyed. It needs to be changed, and first lubricate it well. You can, if you have the skill, unscrew the hub nut (then you need to change it), pull off the cover by hand, remove the locking ring and everything opens.

After this, rinse, wipe dry and lubricate.

If the hub is made in one-piece form together with the bearing, it does not need to be removed.

Alternatively, you can pump grease into the wheel bearing without removing it with a syringe, after first removing the wheel and brake drum. Insert a needle into the slot and pump up oil. Sometimes you will have to drill a couple of holes in the plate that covers the bearing and again inject grease with a syringe. The drill should be of small diameter.

But if the bearing is noisy, just replace it.

Bearing lubrication and its selection

When asked what kind of lubricant to buy for wheel bearings, the answer cannot be clear.

The main thing is that it meets the tasks that are assigned to it. It must perfectly protect the bearing from exposure to aggressive environments and moisture, not change its properties at elevated temperatures, for example up to 280 degrees, and withstand high rotation speeds.

It should be thick enough to fill all the cracks, and flexible enough. Typically these are three-component lubricants, the basis of which is the lubricant itself, as well as a thickener and additives.

Example of lubricants for wheel bearings

The most familiar to everyone is the lithium grease Liton-24, which is applicable to these components. It is quite cheap, it is not difficult to buy, and its thickness corresponds to its intended purpose. Its disadvantage is that when heated it becomes liquid and flows out. As a result, you will have to lubricate the bearing more often, that is, disassemble the hub more often.

They also speak well of the MC1000; judging by numerous reviews, it makes the ride much softer and does not leak out so quickly.

Universal grease MC 1000

Withstands temperatures from -40 to +150, works well with heavy loads, which are also present in the hub assembly, and most importantly, it forms a good metal protective layer, which reduces wear of parts.

There is Sell Helix grease, which is suitable for lubrication of both tapered wheel bearings and radial ball bearings.

It is resistant to vibration and uneven loads, as well as temperature changes, and does not lose its viscosity. The maximum temperature at which it does not lose its properties is +180 degrees.

There are the most positive reviews about this lubricant; the manufacturer is Belgium.

The blue LIqui Moly lubricant has also proven itself to be excellent.

Lubricant No. 1 for LIqui Moly wheel bearing

If you need lubricant for wheel bearings of trucks, according to reviews, the German BPW lubricant is considered the best; this is a brand of a company that is truly No. 1 in the production of such products. The only thing is that her catalogs do not have a catalog published in Russian.

The same MS 1000, Liqui Moly LM 50, which is based on lithium, the same Litol -24, as well as STEP UP High Temperature Wheel Bearling Lithium Grease, which can withstand temperature changes and significant loads, have also proven themselves to be good for trucks. But Castrol LMX Li-Komplexfett 2 is not bad, but is not waterproof.

The main thing is not to fall for a fake when buying lubricant. Buy in specialized stores, look for descriptions of lubricants on the Internet.

Source: http://themechanic.ru/smazka-dlja-stupichnyh-podshipnikov/

Lubricant for hub bearings - how to choose and lubricate correctly

One of the most important conditions for safe driving is the technical condition of the front wheel hub assembly. Each driver is responsible for ensuring that the grease for the wheel bearings is replaced in a timely manner. Few people know that hubs should be removed and bearing lubricant replaced after every 20-30 thousand km. mileage

The vast majority of car enthusiasts drive from breakdown to breakdown, not realizing that they are often themselves to blame for the need for an unplanned purchase of expensive spare parts. Any of the VAZ cars, distinguished by a simple technical device, allows each driver to independently check the condition of the chassis and change the lubricant.

What should be the hub lubricant?

Wheel bearing lubrication

As you know, all rotating components are equipped with bearings. The front wheel hub of any classic VAZ car has two tapered roller bearings.

The bearing cones are directed in different directions, which allows you to control the degree of tightening using the adjusting nut.

If the bearings are slightly worn and there is excessive play on the wheel, it can be eliminated by tightening the nut.

In the hub, the bearings are located in a kind of cage closed on both sides, which must always be filled with lubricant. To ensure the performance of the bearings, use lubricant such as Litol-24 or its analogues, of which there are many currently on sale. Any of the selected lubricants is suitable for bearings only if it meets certain requirements.

The main lubricant parameters to be assessed are:

strength and viscosity - these parameters characterize the fluidity of the material and the ability to adhere to the surface of the working parts;
lubricity is a necessary quality that ensures maximum reduction of the friction force between parts;
thermal stability - the ability of a lubricant to maintain its qualities under significant temperature changes;
mechanical, physico-chemical stability - a property of a material that allows it to maintain properties, structure and composition under significant mechanical deformation in contact with dissimilar parts;
anti-wear and extreme pressure properties - characterize the ability of a lubricant to reduce wear of parts and resist the appearance of scuffing;
anti-corrosion qualities - any relish should protect parts from corrosion.

How to remove the hub to replace bearing grease

Replacing the grease in the axle bearings

The procedure for disassembling and assembling the hub should be familiar to every car enthusiast. To complete this task, you must have a standard set of automotive tools, a jack, and a workbench with a vice. In case of replacing bearings, it is useful to acquire a set of bearing pullers, but you can also get by with improvised means.

Before starting work, you should purchase consumables:

Litol-24 lubricant;
gasoline or kerosene for washing;
new hub seals and nuts;
rags.

Removing the front hub occurs in the following order:

the car is secured with a parking brake;
the part of the car where the replacement will be made is lifted with a jack;
the wheel and metal hub cap are removed;
the brake caliper is unscrewed and suspended;
unscrew the hub nut, remove the thrust washer, and behind it the outer bearing separator;
holding the brake disc, the hub is removed.

At this stage, the removal of the hub is completed, both bearings become accessible and further work must be carried out on a workbench.

Since the service life of the oil seals installed behind the internal bearings is significantly less than that of the bearings, they should be replaced after each maintenance.

The price of these parts is low, but the quality and availability of lubricant in the hub depends on their condition.

After the old oil seal is removed, you can remove the inner bearing cage.

The hub cavity, outer races and bearing separators are cleared of old grease using a rag, everything is thoroughly washed with gasoline and wiped.
It is necessary to carefully inspect the surface of the working parts of the races and bearing rollers. They should be clean and smooth.
If shells, burrs, or scratches are found, the bearing must be replaced.
If no damage is found, then you can begin to lubricate the bearings.
heavily lubricated separators with rollers are installed in the seat of the pants, the oil seal is pressed in.

About 40 grams should be placed in the cavity between the bearings. lubricants The hub is assembled in the reverse order of disassembly. At this point, it is important to properly adjust the hub nut to avoid over-tightening or excessive play.

How to choose the right lubricant for wheel bearings?

Disputes about which lubricant to use for wheel bearings have become quite frequent among car enthusiasts. In any auto store, on the shelves you can always find up to several dozen types of lubricants from different manufacturers.

The Litol-24 lubricant presented in the article is a basic one, which can guarantee the operation of the chassis at a fairly good level. When buying new lubricant, you need to rely on the recommendations of bearing manufacturers.

You can often find instructions on the packaging about which lubricant to use.

Experiments with lubricants for CV joints or parts operating under increased load should not be carried out. All these lubricants are designed for completely different operating conditions. Once again, when removing the hub, you should pay attention to the quality of the old lubricant. If it rolls up into lumps, is dry and cracked, and the rollers are dry, you need to choose a lubricant from another manufacturer.

Source: http://CarTore.ru/2830-smazka-dlja-stupicy.html

What is the best grease for hub bearings?

Selecting a lubricant for wheel bearings

Invented over a hundred years ago, bearings have become an indispensable component in any rotating mechanism - they can significantly reduce friction compared to their counterparts, and also provide reliable support for individual components.

A car also uses a variety of bearings, including parts in the engine and transmission, as well as in wheel hubs. The latter are usually given the least attention, considering them practically “eternal”. However, it is better to abandon this approach, since a wheel bearing that gets stuck at high speed can cause a serious accident.

To avoid such problems and ensure the reliability of the car's chassis, you should know which lubricant for hub bearings is best.

What lubricants should not be used?

First of all, it must be said that not every lubricant will be a good option for reducing friction in wheel bearings. This is due to the special operating conditions of such a unit - it moves at a very high speed and heats up to a high temperature.

It is the latter circumstance that is the reason for abandoning lubricants based on synthetic hydrocarbons - they begin to break down even when heated to 45–60 degrees. This group includes silicone and petroleum jelly compositions, which are widely represented on the Russian market.

Every motorist should remember that hydrocarbon lubricants are preservative and are not suitable for processing highly loaded parts such as wheel bearings.

It is also better not to purchase graphite-based lubricant, since it contains a fairly large number of abrasive particles that lead to accelerated wear of the bearing housing.

Graphite lubricants are used to treat low-moving joints or to protect spring fastenings from corrosion.

When packing such a product into wheel bearings, repairs to the chassis will have to be done after 25–30 thousand kilometers, although the nominal service life of such parts reaches 100–120 thousand kilometers.

Calcium or sodium based lubricants can also quickly destroy wheel bearings. Such products can effectively combat friction, but they cannot prevent the spread of corrosion.

At the same time, wheel bearings are operated under very difficult conditions, so they can quickly fail without proper protection.

It is also worth refusing to use lubricants with iron and zinc, even if they are intended specifically for bearings - most likely, such products must be used in industrial equipment.

The best means

Based on molybdenum disulfide

One of the best means of protecting wheel bearings from destruction is a lubricant containing a large amount of molybdenum disulfide. This metal salt can significantly reduce the friction force, reducing the wear rate of the entire assembly.

In addition, lubricants made using this technology are able to stop the spread of corrosion due to the formation of a very dense, indestructible film on the surface of the treated part.

The service life of the lubricant is equal to the service life of the wheel bearings themselves - more than 100 thousand kilometers, so if the part is installed correctly, no problems will arise with the vehicle's chassis.

Of course, even such a high-tech lubricant cannot do without certain disadvantages - first of all, they are represented by sensitivity to moisture.

If the hub housing is depressurized, it is better to change the lubricant, while carefully checking the condition of the bearing, which may be subject to irreversible damage.

In addition, lubricants based on molybdenum disulfide become contaminated quite quickly, and when abrasive particles appear in them, the effectiveness of combating friction is significantly reduced.

A lubricant created using molybdenum disulfide is also capable of breaking down at particularly high temperatures, although for it these indicators are much higher than for the previously mentioned hydrocarbon synthetic products.

Therefore, after a long drive at high speed, it is advisable to regularly remove the caps of the bearing housings to check their condition - the first indicator of their excessive wear will be a bluish color, after which the broken part will begin to manifest itself with a strong buzzing sound.

To treat the hub bearings, you can use domestically produced lubricant, for example, Fiol, and if it is not available, you can buy the more expensive CV joint-4 product, although it will slightly reduce the service life of the unit.

If you prefer to use lubricants from foreign manufacturers, pay special attention to the following brands:

Lithium based

A universal grease has been developed quite a long time ago, based on lithium dissolved in organic acids.

When foaming and adding a thickener, a yellowish substance is obtained that is easily scooped up with a finger or a special tool, but does not pour out of the jar on its own.

Lithium greases are considered an ideal option for combating friction - they provide a significant reduction in loads, which leads to a decrease in the wear rate of individual parts.

Thanks to this, the service life of the bearing when treated with this composition increases to the maximum, which allows you to gain confidence in the reliability of the vehicle’s chassis. The strengths of lithium-based products also include durability - the lubricant does not lose its properties even after 100–110 thousand kilometers, although for the sake of safety it is better to replace the part.

Because of this, lithium greases are considered an ideal option for bearing safety, although the results achieved with them are not as good in some other areas.

The disadvantage of these products is considered to be average corrosion resistance in comparison with alternative compositions, therefore, if the seal of the bearing housings is damaged, the lubricant should also be changed. In addition, a disadvantage is the ability of organic acids in the base of lithium greases to dissolve some polymer compounds.

Therefore, before purchasing such products, pay attention to the car’s operating instructions - it is quite possible that you will find instructions in it that their use is inadmissible.

Currently, lithium-based lubricants are produced by only a few foreign companies, including British Petroleum, Very Lube and Renolit. However, you can use a relatively inexpensive domestic analogue, represented by a product called Litol-24, to protect wheel bearings.

Unlike other compounds, Litol copes well with increased loads and high temperatures, ensuring maximum durability of parts. In addition to great durability and low price.

The advantage of domestic lubricant is its widespread use - it can be purchased at any automotive or hardware store.

How to lubricate a wheel bearing?

To apply grease to a wheel bearing, you must first get to it. Before disassembling, you should place the car on a level place and secure it to prevent accidental movement.

Before removing the wheel, do not forget to loosen the hub bolt by turning it counterclockwise - if you forget to do this, you will have to waste a lot of extra time.

When the bolt is loosened, jack up the car and carefully remove the wheel, being careful not to strip the threads of its bolts.

Carefully unscrew the brake caliper mounting bolts and, holding the pads with your hands, remove this part from the wheel hub.

To get to the bearings, you may also need to remove the ball joint and strut - in this case, you need to unscrew the 2-4 bolts that hold such components and carefully move them to the side, avoiding strong impacts and vibrations.

In some cases, you have to knock out the axle shaft - placing a wooden plate or a wide metal frame on it, apply several gentle blows and then pull the edge of the hub with your hands.

You will also have to disassemble the hub itself - this is also done using wide metal mandrels, although here the impacts may be somewhat stronger. Once you reach the bearing, knock it out using a smaller mandrel - be careful not to damage the hub housing.

Please note that the wheel bearing consists of two asymmetrical parts - remember their position in order to later assemble the unit correctly. Having taken out the old bearing parts, check that there are no fallen balls or old grease left in the hub - to do this, you will need to rinse the cavity with gasoline.

and then wipe thoroughly with large paper napkins.

Lubrication of wheel bearings is usually done by hand; special tools are rarely used. In total, you will need to stuff approximately 30–40 grams of thick material into one part, carefully compacting it and ensuring even application.

Install the two parts of the bearing one by one, lubricating them along the way if there is insufficient packing. To significantly speed up the process and avoid damaging the plastic protective casing of the part, use an old bearing instead of a mandrel and hit it with a hammer.

Reassemble the hub in the reverse order.

Maximum chassis reliability

To decide which lubricant will be the best option for protecting wheel bearings, be sure to pay attention to reading the vehicle's operating instructions. As a rule, the manufacturer indicates the type of composition that is approved for use or even the specific name of the product.

If such instructions are not available, lithium grease can be used, which provides excellent protection against accelerated wear and corrosion. The domestic composition Litol-24 and foreign analogues have almost the same effectiveness of use, so you can ignore the brand name when purchasing.

In addition, molybdenum disulfide-based lubricant is an alternative option, although it is not as resistant to moisture and has some other features.