Grease for Wheel Bearings

[brentjsimm]

I'm about to attempt to re-grease my bearings. My question is whether or not the grease I have will be ok to use on my trailer.

Rig: 15' fiberglass bass boat, 70hp motor, single axle trailer, no brakes....overall, pretty light

Grease: Coastal multi-purpose, Recommended for many automotive and agricultural applications such as chassis, water pumps and wheel bearings (except high-temperature applications)
Possesses outstanding resistance to water washing
Excellent performance under mechanical shearing
Provides superior lubrication at temperatures from 0 to 265 degrees F
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Coastal-1-lb-453-592-g-multipurpose-grease/_/N-25ap?counter=7&filterByKeyWord=coastal&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=561696_0_0_

It says it's ok for wheel bearings, but I have no idea how high the temp gets on the hubs when I'm driving. I never go over 55 when pulling it, and the rig is fairly light.

Would this grease be ok to use, or should I just spend 5 bucks and get something better? If something else, what specifications should I look for? They mostly read the same, except for the temperature range.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Are you boating in fresh or salt water?

If I were you, I'd probably not use the grease you've mentioned above as it appears to be more of a machinery type grease rather than a wheel bearing grease.

Since I do about 98% of my boating in fresh water, in the past I've only used regular wheel bearing grease. Since I started dropping the boat in salt water occasionally, I started using the marine wheel bearing grease because it supposively has corrosion inhibitors in it.

By it's nature, grease and water do not mix. I'm sure you'll be fine either way you choose to go. By the way, I purchased my marine wheel bearing grease at Wal mart.

 

[brentjsimm]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Thanks for the reply. It's solely for fresh-water use. It's just a little confusing. Valv has 3 different types that I saw yesterday. There's not much of a price difference, all stated for wheel bearing use, even with brakes. I guess I couldn't really go wrong with any of the three, since they're all "high-temp". I just don't want to botch anything up.

What brand grease is it you use from Walmart, 78 Crusader?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

That grease will work fine. I use the Walmart brand called Marine Grease, sorta green color, stays soft, works great in trailer bearings. Your bearings should never get warmer than just "warm to the touch", even at interstate speeds. When ever you stop for gas, touch each hub with your fingertips to feel for any heat. If your hubs or spindles have zerk grease fittings on them, then maybe hit each one with the grease gun after launch and retrieval to force out any water that could have got in. Good Luck!

 

[brentjsimm]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Thanks guys for the help. It's much appreciated

 

[brentjsimm]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Mr Graham, Let me ask you something about the zerk fitted covers. If I get some of those, and clean the bearings, should I just use the fitting to "top off", or can I use them for the initial fill?

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

It's just called "Super tech Marine wheel bearing grease". I believe I got it over in the automotive section. I buy the large tube of it as I use it in my grease gun.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Mr Graham, Let me ask you something about the zerk fitted covers. If I get some of those, and clean the bearings, should I just use the fitting to "top off", or can I use them for the initial fill?

The Zerk fitted covers are called "Bearing Buddies" and those too (or a close knock off brand) can be purchased at wal mart. To answer your question, yes, all you need to do it "Top off" your bearing buddies before going on a long trip and also every few months as the season progress's.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Mr Graham, Let me ask you something about the zerk fitted covers. If I get some of those, and clean the bearings, should I just use the fitting to "top off", or can I use them for the initial fill?

You need to pack your bearings by hand or with a tool. You know what that means? You actually force grease into the bearing cage and rollers.

http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#packhubs

Also, if you are changing from one type of grease to another and the type of "base" is different from the two, you need to get every bit of the old grease out of the hubs before putting new grease in there.

Be careful about "topping off". You typically don't need to if you filled properly the first time. Topping off leads to blown inner seals.

 

[scoutboater]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

I would definately use a high-temp wheel bearing grease, just incase a hub ever does get hot. And beig a boat trailer, something that is marine rated wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Another way to look at it: you can spend a few extra dollars on really good grease now, or you can spend a lot of extra dollars on new wheel bearing and (depending on your luck) new axle hubs if the cheap grease doesn't hold up. I know, its a big if, but I always like to know instead of hoping.

 

[riverkeg]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

The high temp wheel bearing grease is for disc brake applications so unless you have them on your trailer, the first grease you mentioned should be fine. All the other stuff about packing your bearings and not overfilling is all correct advice. To clean out the old grease from your bearings and hub, you can soak them in solvent or kerosene but let them dry thoroughly before packing and do not use compressed air on the bearings to dry them. It's okay to towel them dry if you don't leave lint behind.

 

[R_Woj]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Hey Gents,

I've got a similar question. Just picked up a boat and trailer from a guy who had "bearing buddies" on the boat. Under the 'buddy' caps it looks like there's lots of grease (mix of white and red coloring?). I've towed about 70miles at 60mph and the rims were only warm to touch.... I just called the guy and he said he hadn't greased in the last 2 years. I want to take the boat on a trip (leaving this Friday morning). I'm looking at 300 miles of freeway (60-70mph). Should I add some more grease? If I do, I'm not sure what kind to add.. I've read I could run into a problem mixing. Unfortunately, the last owner only had the boat for 2 years and never greased it... so he doesn't know what's in there. Is there any way I can tell what kind it is by color or texture?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[dingbat]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Hey Gents,

I want to take the boat on a trip (leaving this Friday morning). I'm looking at 300 miles of freeway (60-70mph). Should I add some more grease? Rob

Wheel bearing grease is not a consumable. Where did the grease go that was in there before?

 

[R_Woj]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

It's all in there still... but will it not potentially break-down at higher temperature or oxidize and loose its lubricating properties?

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

When using "Bearing Buddies" it is very easy to over fill, or over-pressurize, the hub which can lead to blowing out the rear seal.

What I think may be leading some owners to "top off" their hubs is the appearance of grease on the wheel that appears to be coming from the buddies, in the front of the rim. In fact this grease is being ejected from the overfill vent on the side of the buddy, that is a small hole for the grease to escape. If there is grease on the back of the rim, the seal is blown!

In fact, if done correctly, you do not need to add any grease during normal operation. The buddy has a spring controlled inner disc that has the zerk filling in it. This is intended to maintain pressure on the grease that is filling the hub's voids.

When doing the packing of the bearings the center void of the hub should be filled with grease as well. This will deny water from having a place to migrate to when hot hubs are dunked into cold water.

If I was planning a long trip, specially on a trailer I only just purchased, I would do a re-packing and use a marine grade grease, designed for boat trailers.

 

[R_Woj]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Thanks to all for the advice.

I hear you Bob... would love to get those repacked before I go... it's a double edged sword... Could delay departure by a few hours and that would make wife unhappy...

I'll prob leave the grease "as-is" and will have a look at that rear seal. I'll take frequent stops to check the temp... will be holding my breath!

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Get yourself an infrared thermometer and use it to measure the temperature of the hubs whenever you stop.

Make the 1st stop within 5 miles of starting out and running at speed. By doing this you can get an average operating temperature range for the bearings and will be able to notice an accurate change in their temperatures, hopefully before they burn up.

And you wont run the risk of burning your hand, which you don't want to do more than once.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Grease for Wheel Bearings

Maybe just pop the caps off the ends of hubs and give the grease/bearing a visual inspection? It'll give you a general idea about the condition of your grease. You could also jack up each wheel and spin it with your hand and listen for any sounds from wheel/bearing. A healthy, well-lubricated hub/bearing really shouldn't generate any heat at all. I know mine run about ambient temperature on the interstate highway. I doubt you've got a problem, no need to make more out of this than it is. Good Luck!