What is the best lubricant for ball joints?

If during movement the ball bearings creak, thenThis is often caused by the lack or lack of lubrication under the boot of this swivel. This is due to rupture of the anther. In rare cases, an insufficient amount of lubricant is applied during production. To ball bearings and steering tips went all their life, they must be serviced. Novice car owners often do not know how to keep track of the chassis, and what kind of lubrication for ball bearings is needed. Today we will try to answer this question.

Do I need to lubricate the ball joints and steering tips?

Бытует мнение, что обрабатывать эти соединения it was necessary earlier in the time of the classical models of VAZ, "Muscovites" and other automotive industries from the USSR, and now it is not necessary to do this. To find out if these parts need maintenance, you need to understand how the ball is arranged.

The device may be different. But in the design there is necessarily a ball joint and a finger. The base is used as a hinge stop. Above the support is covered with a boot.

In the process, the hinge is constantly shifting andis moving. This contributes to accelerated wear. During operation, the lubricant is produced. And if the car is long, then the lubricant may dry. In addition, if there is no lubricant for the ball bearings in the space between the base of the assembly and the dust cap, then dirt forms there. It not only accelerates wear, but also causes poor performance of the hinge. If there are knocks and creaks in the ball, this is a wake-up call.

To not subject to accelerated wear mechanismball, you need to fill in the free space under the anther lubricant. But you also need to know what kind of lubricant to use for ball bearings, so that these nodes work as long as possible.

When do you need to handle ball bearings and steering tips?

The ball bearing is lubricated at the factory, in front ofinstallation on the car. But if we are talking about domestic cars, then this requirement is not always fulfilled. In addition, during operation of the vehicle, the hinge is constantly shifting. Accordingly, the lubricant is constantly consumed. Therefore, it is necessary to process the node constantly, at certain intervals. But how to determine that you need a new lubricant for ball bearings?

All problems associated with ball bearings, evenin the early stages, it is easy to identify "by ear". But with serious problems can help modern diagnostics. The first signal, which says that the lubricant has developed - it is creaks and knocks in the process of driving the car. If these sounds come from those places where the ball bearings are installed, then these nodes are checked first. If there is no serious backlash in the hinge, then regular maintenance of the element will help to extend the service life.

Signs of failure of the ball bearings

The fact that a lubricant has been developed for ball bearings can be recognized by knocking when driving over irregularities. Also, if you need to lubricate the steering tips, you can hear the creaking when you turn the steering wheel.

Он может говорить о необходимости замены смазки в ball. If the car does not keep a straight trajectory and the wheels constantly wag, it also speaks about worn ball. Also about the breakdown or wear rubber reports, which wears unevenly.

What to lubricate?

And here, the novice car owner hears characteristicsqueaks and understands that it is time to service the ball and steering tips. But since beginners have no particular experience, they are concerned about the question of what kind of lubricant is needed for ball bearings and steering tips.

Let's try to answer this question.Often, lithium-based lubricants are used for such joints. These compounds can well withstand the high loads that the hinge is experiencing in the process. You also need to be able to choose the right product.

What is special about lithium greases?

By its composition materials on lithium base -these are substances derived from petroleum oils. In the production process, the oils are thickened by adding lithium soap. This makes it possible to obtain the desired consistency. At the same time, petroleum oils in combination with fatty acids contained in lithium soap also have an additional preservative effect. Car owners in practice apply several types of lubricants on this basis. They differ between a percentage of oil and lithium soap, as well as the content of various additives. Well, consider them in more detail.

"Litol-24"

Это самая распространенная смазка для шаровых supports and steering among car owners. And for this there are several reasons. The first reason is that this lubricant works in a larger temperature range, which makes it possible to use Litol in any climatic zones.

Due to the presence of stabilizing additives, thisLubrication can serve a sufficiently long period of time. The composition reliably protects metal moving parts from negative destructive influences. You also need to cancel that "Litol" is not afraid of temperature changes. Do not worry that when driving through water or snow, the ball lubricated with Litol will lose protection.

"Tsiatim-201"

If "Litol-24" is very popularproduct, the “Ciatim” is used for ball bearings much less frequently. If we compare it with the previous one, here the threshold of working temperatures is significantly lower. This grease will not freeze even at temperatures of -60 degrees. Therefore, this product is widely used in the Far North.

Although this lubricant has lower performance than Litol, its stability at low temperatures is its plus. Also, "Tsiatim-201" has a lower price.

Alternative options

In addition to lithium-based lubricants, which areclassic, use other types of calcium-based. The main disadvantage of these lubricants is that they are afraid of low temperatures. At the same time, their service life is much longer. Experts say that calcium grease has a higher level of protection of metal parts from corrosion. But in practice it is believed that the best lubricant for the ball bearing is definitely a lithium product.

What to choose?

The stores now offer a mass of lubricantsmaterials for lubrication of ball and steering tips, but you should not buy branded expensive products. For technical specifications, they are not much different from the more affordable counterparts. Therefore, you can choose the most common "Litol-24", and it will be the right decision. But you need to look at the composition.

Кальциевые материалы всегда будут дороже.Therefore, if you choose them, you will have to pay a little more. When choosing a lubricant, it is desirable to pay attention to the conditions in which the vehicle is operated. If the car travels in extreme temperatures, it is better to choose a product that can work in such conditions. This will help reduce parts wear during winter use. For the rest, there are no features when choosing. There is not much difference in what lubricant in the ball bearings should be. The main thing that she was there, they say motorists.

Nylon instead of grease

The first ball was a hinge withsemicircular support part. Then they refused from such a construction, and the tip of the finger was made in the form of a ball. This is a completely metal knot. Compaction was carried out using a special spring support. That the detail was mobile, it filled with greasing.

The progress of the equipment allowsbody and finger with high accuracy, and instead of a plastic liner use a special nylon. He allowed the hinge to retain its properties and characteristics without mandatory lubrication.

Смазка, которой опору заправляют на заводе, имеет special composition and different from that sold in stores. Engineers claim that there is no particular benefit from such lubrication, and they tried to say this in Soviet times. But in our country do not trust much plastic. Therefore, novice car owners for a long time will be interested in which lubricant is better for ball bearings.