Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Wheel Bearing Grease

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Wheel Bearing Grease

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15951
Printed Date: 23 May 2024 at 3:28am
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Topic: Wheel Bearing Grease

Posted By: IdahoBoy
Subject: Wheel Bearing Grease
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2024 at 12:00pm

I need to grease my wheel bearings and in the past have used a Kendall blue grease which is no longer available. How important is it that I use the same or similar grease? Any recommendations for the best grease to use and do I need to pump out all the formerly used grease?

As you can tell I'm operating from a place of total ignorance on the subject so thanks in advance for the good advice I know I will get here.

Replies:

Posted By: seafans
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2024 at 11:38pm

The Valvoline synthetic grease is rated about the best. Use good grease seals or the grease will leak out and contaminate the brakes. Pack the bearings by hand. Both my 180 and 192 when purchased new the brake shoes and brake magnets were contaminated with grease.

Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2024 at 7:23am

I use the zerk fittings since day one; works great, no leakage. Just go slow and spin the wheel as you fill. pump until you see all new grease; the old will come out Hope that makes sense.

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Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2024 at 10:44am

I don't know if I'd mix greases. They will certainly have slightly different viscosity and/or heat profiles. If you hand-pack, you will remove that uncertainty.

That said, we have used Lucas Red N Tacky from the get-go. We also just use the zerk fittings and avoid over-filling.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2024 at 4:43pm

According to grease people, one should avoid mixing different types of grease or it can do bad things in the bearings and seals. Here's a handy chart of compatibility prefaced by a caution to avoid mixing different types. http://www.lelubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/120-Grease-Compatibility.pdf - https://www.lelubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/120-Grease-Compatibility.pdf We use the same Red N Tacky grease as Glue Guy and it has worked well We follow the instructions of Lippert using the zerk fittings and spinning the wheels while applying the grease.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2024 at 7:42pm

Old School here, I like to visually inspect and hand pack. 50 years in the golf industry and have seen a lot of bad bearings due to a lot of bad maintenance practices; mixing grease is a big one to avoid. I like to hand pack every other year, clean bearings and races first, visually inspect and then hand pack. The Red N Tacky is an excellent grease. Personally I use Schaeffer's 219 SynForce Green, waterproof and a high pressure grease as well. On the years that aren't hand packed, I will do the same as lostagain and Glue Guy, about 3-4 pumps in the zerk while spinning the wheel.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2024 at 11:22pm

Originally posted by lostagain

According to grease people, one should avoid mixing different types of grease or it can do bad things in the bearings and seals. Here's a handy chart of compatibility prefaced by a caution to avoid mixing different types. http://www.lelubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/120-Grease-Compatibility.pdf - https://www.lelubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/120-Grease-Compatibility.pdf We use the same Red N Tacky grease as Glue Guy and it has worked well We follow the instructions of Lippert using the zerk fittings and spinning the wheels while applying the grease.

Thank you. This chart is quite helpful. I did not know there were so many different types of grease.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: James07
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2024 at 2:05pm

If you are able to manually repack the bearings, that is preferred so that you can exam the bearings. Only my first repack, one bearing had flat spots and had to be replaced.