Wheel Bearing Grease?

So I'm going to repack the front wheel bearing on my 57 CJ5. What is a good wheel bearing grease to use? The last time I packed the wheel bearings used GM wheel bearing grease. I went to buy another tub today and they were out. So now I'm trying to figure out what a good alternative to it is. The auto parts store down the road only carries Valvoline synthetic and regular grease. I have a feeling this is a subject that has been beat to death.

 

Not very controversial ... just pick a quality product. Amazon.com: Valvoline VV615 Multi-Purpose Grease (for GM, Chrysler, European and Japanese Vehicles), 14.1 oz.: Automotive

 

I have used many different kinds. There is a warning not to mix different kinds as they may have a bad interaction. I have never seen this bad interaction, but clean out all the old real well to make sure you dont see it either.

 

The only time I worry about cleaning out old grease is when I repack the front wheel bearings. On a Jeep that's new to you, you'll typically find old, hardened grease in the hub. I clean that out, and replace it with new grease of my choice. I always add some loose grease in the hub - a couple of handfuls - not sure that it's needed, but I'd guess the old grease came out of the bearings and was flung there while driving. Putting a bunch of grease in the hub should make it less likely that all the grease will migrate out of the bearings.

 

If the grease is leaving the bearing, you are probably using the wrong grease. Why put grease into a hub that just has to be cleaned out sometime down the road. This is actually one of my long time pet peaves is people filling a hub with grease. What possible purpose can the grease possibly serve in the center of the bearing hub? The grease in the hub can't possibly force grease back into the bearing rollers. If you feel you need to do it that's cool but it really just frustrates the next guy down the road.

 

Wheel bearing grease simply put isn't a liquid that will re-contact the bearing once it is spun away. There is no possible way for the grease to be "picked up" by contact since there is no contact once it has spun. Once the grease is no longer in contact with the rollers it is just along for the ride inside the bearing hub and becomes a mess to later clean up. Just an observation by someone that has worked on hundreds of Jeeps over the years and seen all kinds of different grease used and overused.

 

I feel that Daryl is probably right but I have always done it like Tim said (over 50 years) and it has served me well. Won't change a way that makes me feel comfortable doing so.

 

I would suspect that there was once a time that the consistency of the grease available was much more like a liquid and the "oilbath" method had some merit.

 

I think Daryl uses a concoction similar to "knuckle pudding" I'm sure he can give out the recipe..I'm sorry I couldn't help myself

 

I have always been taught that it is not good to mix lithium based grease with a clay based grease as it will cause the grease to thin out. I know on all our big compressor manuals there is always a big warning about that. But sense I have always gone by that, I have never had a problem so I don't know if it is true or not.

 

Quote from my Master Chief on my submarine, "Where there's grease, there can't be water".
If I could get a grease zert on the hub and still get the wheel on I'd do that. It's why they use bearing buddies on boat trailers.

 

Don't even get me started on bearing buddys. All they do 99 percent of the time is push the seal out of the back of the hub which guarantees water will get to the bearings. If you back a boat trailer into water the bearings should be repacked annually. All a bearing buddy does is give a warm and fuzzy feeling to a boat owner. Wasn't this thread about what grease to use? I have been using the Sta-Lube high temp disc brake grease. It is gooey sticky stuff that seems to stay put. My dad has always used boat trailer grease on all the Jeeps. I guess the bottom line is keep your axles serviced, and well greased whatever way works for you.

 

I use Lubriplate 1200-2 , it is A heavy duty multi purpose lithium grease .

From the label ; A multi purpose , high temperature , extreme pressure ,

water repellent grease ideal for general lubrication of industrial , automotive ,

marine , farm and construction equipment.

I use it on My CJ6 , 258 6 cylinder , T18 / 18 , 30 Front / 44 Rear , Hudson Steering , Koenig winch.

I have used it for 30 Plus Years with no problem .

Mel.

Mel.

I have used this for 30 some years with no problems.

 

Way back when, I was taught how to pack bearing using my palm. I've seen some of these contraptions to are supposed to do it without getting all messy and in a fraction of the time. Anyone use these? Or still the old palm method?