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

The car has a huge amount of movingdetails. Some of them interact with each other. The inevitably arising friction force must somehow be compensated. This is especially true of rotating parts. Excessive frictional force causes the part to heat up, expand thermally and seize. Bearings are designed to eliminate this phenomenon.

Hub bearings and lubricants

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

Это устойчивость автомобиля, расход топлива, acceleration and deceleration time. However, the wheel hub is a very loaded mechanism. To ensure the ease of rotation of the bearing it needs lubrication. It further reduces the frictional force in this node.

Grease application

This component reduces friction or, atthe absence of moving parts, ensures the fit of parts without their rigid attachment to each other. The lubricant provides easy sliding of the surfaces relative to each other. This greatly extends the life of the part.

What compounds are not recommended for use in the hubs

So, we need a lubricant for the hub bearings -which is better? Her work is quite specific and is influenced by many factors, internal and external - a large rotational speed and temperature drops leave their mark on the work of this site. Such features make it impossible to use lubricants, which are composed of synthetics. These are petrolatum and silicone materials that are on sale in a wide range. Unfortunately, they stop working at 50 degrees.

Следующий тип смазок, который не рекомендуется for use in wheel bearings - based on sodium and calcium. Such compounds significantly reduce friction, but do not resist corrosion. Rust in the bearing is always bad. Another type of common composition is graphite based. If we need a bearing lubricant, which one is better? Graphite composition is classified as high-temperature. The lubricant contains a large number of abrasive elements that drastically reduce the life of the rubbing parts. Such products are used for sedentary joints (for example, between individual pipes of the exhaust system) or on separate metal parts to protect against rust. On average, when using graphite lubricants, the resource is reduced by three to four times compared with the recommended types of compositions. It is also not recommended to use products withzinc and iron content. To be more precise, it is possible to apply, but not necessary - it is well suited for use for industrial purposes (on machine tools and other equipment).

Recommended lubricants

Modern developments provide the widestselection of lubricants. The use of various additives and additives significantly improves the initial quality and physical properties of the compositions. So, if the question is about choosing a composition like a hub bearing grease, which one is better?

Molybdenum content

Such a connection is very effective for working ingiven 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 life of the wheel bearing itself.

However, this lubricant has its drawbacks.First, it badly interacts with moisture, therefore, bearings with such filling must be closed. The lubricant should not come into contact with air, and in the event of depressurization, all moving parts should be replaced and inspected. Also the composition is subject to pollution. Abrasive particles accelerate the wear of the grease and bearing itself. The most common brand of domestic products - "FIOL" and "SHRUS-4".

High temperature grease

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

High temperature grease for hubBearing is one of the best. Its working range is from -40 to +180 degrees. The composition shows itself well with sudden braking, acceleration and temperature drops. The addition of special additives provides high resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

Lithium Containing Grease

Это материалы с содержанием лития в органических acids. Such lubricants are universal and their area of ​​application is very wide. Externally, they can be distinguished by a light yellow shade. Bearing life with such lubrication is also very high. The resource at observance of conditions of operation comes nearer to service life of the bearing. Therefore, lithium grease for wheel bearings is a good enough option. Another worth noting is the return of the composition to its characteristics after overheating. Foreign firms producing lithium grease are BP, Very Lube and Renolit. The domestic manufacturer has established itself as one and only product - Litol-24. This product is known for more than one generation of motorists.

Substitution

Replacing grease in hub bearings - not soand difficult task. The car is braked reliably and after that the nut of the hub is loosened with the help of an end head and a long wheel. Further the wheel is hung out and removed. Also removed the brake disc and the hub is disconnected from the steering knuckle. After that the nut of fastening of a nave finally turns away. With the help of a hammer, the element is knocked off the axis.

The bearing is pressed into the holder, whichmust be removed with a special puller or a durable flat screwdriver around the circumference of the ring. The latter may stick to it. In this case, WD-40 or kerosene will help. Old grease is removed with kerosene or gasoline. They washed the entire bearing, the holder and the seat in the hub, and then everything is wiped dry. Use clean rags. New lubricant applied to the separator in the amount ofabout 30-40 g per bearing. Using a screwdriver or a wooden stick, it is evenly applied to the surface of the bearing. Next, the element is installed in the hub and centered clip. Installation is carried out using a suitable mandrel or holder from the old bearing. Further assembly is carried out in reverse order. Lubrication of the rear hub on cars with drum brakes is similar. Only here the removal of the bearing is carried out without dismounting the hub from the car. By the time it comes out a little faster.

Features grease hubs in domestic cars

Lubrication of wheel bearings ("Niva" including)carried out similarly to the procedure carried out on foreign cars. However, it is not necessary to remove the hub from the car. It is enough to leave it hanging on the rack. The bearing contains both lithium-containing and high-temperature grease. As for the hub of the UAZ, lubrication in them is also laid. But there is a difference between the front and rear axle. Front hubs are pulled from the half-axis with a puller, and the bearing, along with the gland, can remain on it, which is even simpler. In the rear axle bearing lubricant comes from the rear axle housing. Nevertheless, there the bearings can be changed and lubricated. Work does not take much time.

Ensuring reliability during operation

So, if you need a lubricant for the hub bearings,which is better? Each car shows its own type of lubricant. It is listed in the instruction manual. Often, specific brands and brands of lubricants are indicated. As experience shows, the most universal is lithium-containing. However, at certain intervals it is required to conduct a visual inspection, and at service intervals - to replace the composition.