Grease for bearings of a nave - what is better? Tips for choosing

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

Hub and Lubricant Bearings

The element is designed to reduce the frictional force, converting it into an easier rolling. The bearing is one of the critical parts of the running gear. Wheel hubs also can not do without these devices. The ease of rotation of the element depends on many factors. This is the stability of the car, fuel consumption, acceleration and deceleration time. However, the wheel hub is a very loaded mechanism. To ensure ease of rotation of the bearing, it needs lubrication. It additionally reduces the frictional force at this site.

Application of lubricants

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

What formulations are not recommended for use in hubs?

So, we need a lubricant for the hub bearings - which is better? Its work is quite specific and is influenced by many factors, internal and external - a high frequency of rotation and temperature differences leave their imprint on the operation of this node. Such features make it impossible to use lubricants that have synthetics in their composition. These are vaseline and silicone materials, which are available for sale in a wide range. Unfortunately, they stop working already at 50 degrees. The next type of grease, which is not recommended for use in hub bearings - based on sodium and calcium. Such formulations significantly reduce friction, but do not withstand corrosion at all. Rust in the bearing is always bad. Another type of widely used formulations is graphite-based. If we need a lubricant for the hub bearings, which one is best for you? Graphite composition belongs to the category of high-temperature. Lubricant contains a large number of abrasive elements, which dramatically reduce the life of rubbing parts. Such products are used for low-mobility joints (for example, between individual exhaust pipes) or on individual metal parts for rust protection. On average, when using graphite lubricants, the resource is reduced by three to four times compared with the recommended types of formulations. It is also not recommended to use products containing zinc and iron. To be more precise, it can be used, but it is not necessary - it is well suited for industrial use (on machines and other equipment).

Recommended lubricants

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

With the content of molybdenum

Such a connection is very effective for operation 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 of run. This is comparable to the resource of the hub bearing itself. However, such a lubricant has its drawbacks. Firstly, it interacts poorly with moisture, so bearings with such filling should be closed. Lubrication must not be in contact with air, and in case of depressurization, all rubbing parts must be completely replaced and checked. Also, the composition is prone to contamination. Abrasive particles accelerate the wear of the lubricant and bearing itself. The most common brand of domestic products is "Fiol" and "SHRUS-4".

High temperature grease

It has in its composition additives of nickel and copper in the form of powder. 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 grease for wheel bearings is one of the best. Its operating 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.

Lubricants with lithium content

These are materials with lithium content in organic acids. Such lubricants are universal and their application is very wide. Outwardly, they can be distinguished by a light yellow shade. The service life of bearings with such lubrication is also very high. The life of the resource is close to the service life of the bearing itself, provided that the operating conditions are met. Therefore, lithium grease for wheel bearings is a good option. Another worth noting is the return of the composition to its characteristics after overheating. Foreign firms that produce lithium grease are BP, Very Lube and Renolit. Domestic manufacturer has established itself as one and only product - "Litol-24". This product is known to more than one generation of motorists.

Change of composition

Replacing the lubricant in the bearings of the hubs is not such a difficult task. The car is reliably braked and after that the nut of the hub is loosened with the help of the end head and long collar. Then the wheel is hung and removed. The brake disc is also dismantled, and the hub is detached from the pivot. After this, the hub fastening nut is completely turned away. With the help of a hammer, the element is knocked off the semi-axle. The bearing is pressed into the holder, which must be removed with a special puller or a solid flat screwdriver along the circumference of the ring. The latter can become impassive. In this case, WD-40 or kerosene will help. The old grease is removed by kerosene or gasoline. They rinse the entire bearing, cage and seat in the hub, and then everything is wiped dry. Use a clean rag. A new lubricant is applied to the separator in an amount of about 30-40 g per bearing. With a screwdriver or wooden stick it is evenly applied to the bearing surface. Then the element is installed in the hub and centered by the cage. The installation is performed using a suitable mandrel or cage from the old bearing. Further assembly is carried out in the reverse order. Lubrication of the rear hub on vehicles with drum brakes is similar. Only here the bearing is removed without removing the hub from the vehicle. The time goes a little faster.

Features of lubrication of hubs in domestic cars

Lubrication of the bearing of the hub ("Niva" including) is carried out in the same way as the procedure carried out on foreign cars. However, there is no need to remove the hub from the car. It's enough to leave it hanging on the counter. In the bearing, a lithium-containing and high-temperature lubricant is laid. As for the hub of UAZ, lubrication is also laid in them. But there is a difference between the front and rear axle. From the front, the hubs are pulled together from the semi-axle with a puller, and the bearing together with the stuffing box can remain on it, which is even easier. In the rear axle, the bearing grease comes from the rear axle housing. Nevertheless, bearings can also be changed and lubricated there. The work does not take much time.

Ensuring operational reliability

So if you need a lubricant for the hub bearings, which one is better? Each car has its own type of lubricant. It is specified in the instruction manual. Often specified brands and brands of lubricants. Experience shows that the most universal is lithium-containing. Nevertheless, at certain intervals, a visual inspection is required, and at interservice intervals, the composition should be replaced.