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Sep 04, 2023

Best Wheel Bearing Greases (Review) in 2023

Lubricate your wheel bearings and have your wheels rotate more quickly and

Lubricate your wheel bearings and have your wheels rotate more quickly and evenly.

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You may not always have your wheel bearings in mind when you’re driving, but they sure make their presence known if they aren't properly greased, with a loud humming or growling noise whenever you accelerate or make a turn. To avoid this, you should pack your wheel bearings with heavy grease every 10,000 miles so they can stay in good condition. Picking the best grease can be a bit challenging, especially if you don't know what exactly you should be looking for. That's where we come in.

Royal Purple Ultra-Performance Grease

A synthetic grease that prolongs the life of your equipment and has excellent water resistance capabilities.

Super Tech Multi-Duty Complex Grease

This is an automotive wheel bearing and chassis lubricant featuring a complex lithium soap base.

Mag 1 High-Temp Disc Brake Wheel Bearing Grease

A lithium complex grease that works well in high-temperature conditions such as in a wheel bearing or a disc brake.

Ion-based grease may come in the form of lithium, white lithium, and calcium. Calcium-based grease has high water resistance but only moderate heat resistance. Lithium-based greases are typically water-resistant and have a high tolerance for extreme temperatures. Lastly, white lithium grease is a multipurpose grease that resists corrosion and repels water.

Moly EP grease is formulated using a molybdenum disulfide, which is a compound that's highly resistant to corrosion and has a high melting point. Moly EP grease can withstand extreme pressure, as the EP on the name suggests. It's suitable for any object with a gliding motion, including ball joints and U-joints.

Disc and drum grease is water-resistant and can be used on disk and drum brakes. It can withstand extremely high temperatures generated from the high speeds of the wheel and the pressure from the brakes. It's a recommended wheel bearing lubricant for RVs. It also works great as a lubricant for general purpose equipment.

Marine wheel grease is ideal for marine equipment due to its water and salt resistance. It's recommended for metals with heavy loads or farm equipment to facilitate sliding movements. It can also be used on boat and PWC trailers, motorcycle chains, swivel hinges, steering cables, anchor chains, and winches.

Royal Purple is a North American motor oil company that manufactures high-end products that meet most of the needs of the automotive industry. Its superb performance makes Royal Purple greases, lubricants, and oils the go-to products for many automakers and car owners. Royal Purple's best grease for ball bearings is the Royal Purple Ultra-Performance Grease.

From its inception in 1866, Valvoline has gained a solid reputation in the DIY market for making some of the best car care products for passenger vehicles. It specializes in manufacturing motor oils, transmission fluids, anti-freeze, greases, and lubricants.

Sta-Lube traces its roots back to 1933 with the production of additives and lubricants for vehicles. Its products are tailored to meet consumer demands and are designed for both the DIY user and professional technicians. In addition, the prices of its products are budget-friendly. One of its high-quality disk-brake-bearing greases is the Sta-Lube Heavy-Duty Bearing Grease.

Lucas Oil is a manufacturer and distributor of lubricants, oils, and automotive additives. The company is headquartered in Corona, Calif. Lucas has a large fanbase due to the longevity and high performance of its car care products. One of its best high-temperature greases is the Lucas X-Tra Heavy-Duty Grease.

The best greases can form a protective shield against water and moisture. This helps to protect the metal from rust and corrosion so it can last longer. You must have water-resistant grease if your vehicle is frequently exposed to saltwater.

Viscosity is the rate of internal friction within a fluid that enables it to resist flow. Different types of grease are rated at a viscosity ranging from zero to 6. The ideal rate for a wheel bearing grease is two, which feels a lot like soft peanut butter.

Best Overall

Instead of buying a variety of greases to use on different equipment, stick to this Royal Purple multipurpose grease for almost all your lubricating needs. You can use it to lubricate the wheel bearings on your vehicle, U-joints on your equipment, and even some household appliances. With a synthetic base coupled with an aluminum thickener, this grease boasts superb anti-corrosion and anti-oxidation properties, which makes your equipment run smoothly and last longer.

Also, this grease is water-resistant and resists emulsion or washout. On top of that, it can withstand extreme pressure conditions of up to 6,000 psi, while cooling the moving parts even as temperature increases.

Best Value

With its affordable price tag and properties that rival some of the premium greases, Super Tech Multi-Duty Complex Grease easily scoops our best value award. Available in a 14-ounce tube, this grease is formulated with a complex lithium soap base so it can remain stable even when exposed to a wide range of temperatures. It also possesses advanced rust and corrosion inhibitors so it will protect your bearings from premature wear. It includes multiple polymers and chemical additives that provide anti-oxidation properties and allow the grease to remain stable even in extreme pressure conditions.

However, it has been noted that this grease has a strong smell. Consider working in a well-ventilated area when applying.

Best for Older Vehicles

This grease provides lubrication in both cold and hot temperature ranges. It contains anti-wear, extreme pressure, and lubricity additives that help protect your bearings in any environment. This grease also has corrosion and rust inhibitors that slow down deterioration and provides excellent protection from water and moisture. It's easy to use, and you can use it in a wide variety of situations, including automotive brake work, farm applications, on motorcycles, guns, and bicycles. Plus, you don't need much of this high-quality grease to do the job—a little goes a long way.

However, because of its tacky nature, the grease is quite difficult to remove if you get it on clothing.

Honorable Mention

This grease is specifically recommended for Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles—"where M1C75B NLGI GC-LB grease is recommended" as stated. It has properties that lubricate from temperatures of 0 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. The formula includes "moly" (a type of mineral in lubricants) that enhances lubrication ability.

It is also a general purpose grease, so in addition to wheel bearings, you can use it on suspensions, chassis, ball joints, tie rods, steering linkages, and universal joints. It is easy to install in a grease gun.

On the downside, due to moly in the formula, the grease may more easily stain clothes, driveways, workbenches, and other areas. Also, the package may arrive damaged.

Honorable Mention

Lucas Oil X-Tra is a 14-ounce, heavy-duty wheel bearing grease that comes with an affordable price tag. It's a synthetic grease that's intended for use on trucks and heavy equipment. The polyurea base makes it last four times longer than regular grease. It's also plastic-safe, and packed in a user-friendly grease gun cartridge. Able to withstand high pressures and temperatures of up to 560-degrees Fahrenheit, the product has an NLGI-grade 2 rating. It can be used on farming and construction equipment and heavy-duty trucks.

One downside is the polyurea base isn't compatible with lithium-based greases, which are often compatible with almost all grease types.

Honorable Mention

If you are looking to spend the least time possible greasing your wheel bearings and lubricating hard-to-reach areas, consider CRC White Lithium Grease. It comes in an aerosol container and sprays like oil, but it adheres to the surface like grease. Formulated with advanced additives that provide enhanced film strength, corrosion protection, and heat resistance, it's great for providing long-lasting lubrication to heavy-duty metal applications such as wheel bearings, even under stressful conditions. Aside from that, this grease is water-resistant and works effectively up to a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

The main complaint we noted lies with the design of the spray system. It doesn't provide an even spray so the application can be quite messy. Also, it can stain non-metal components.

Honorable Mention

This is great wheel bearing grease for high-temperature situations. It is manufactured specifically for both drum and disc wheel bearings. The formula contains anti-wear additives, corrosion inhibitors, and water-resistant components for excellent protection in demanding environments. It helps prolong wheel bearing life and provides a smooth ride. It's also heavy-duty and tacky (in a good way) compared to other brands.

However, you may want a thicker grease to pack tapered roller bearings that have the inner race pre-installed. Also note that there are no specifications on the can, such as standards ratings or a melting point.

Honorable Mention

Sta-Lube is a sodium-based bearing grease designed for drum and disk brake wheel bearings and other slow-speed bearings. It's also a short-fiber grease with some of the best adhesive and water washout resistance capabilities. The product can withstand severe pressure conditions and has a temperature tolerance ranging from zero to 325-degrees Fahrenheit. Sta-Lube's formulation includes a highly refined base oil and an added polymer to increase its lubricity and cling properties. The product is packaged in a 14-ounce can and has an NLGI grade rating of 2. It's recommended for autos and trucks with a drum brake system and for janitorial and cleaning supplies.

The downside of the product is that it has a lower temperature tolerance in comparison to standard greases.

It depends on the make of your car. If it has a sealed pre-assembled hub unit, then you don't have to grease them since the new bearings come pre-greased. Sealed bearings are never greased but replaced when they start to wear out. Only grease bearings for vehicles with unsealed locks or hub units.

Just like any other metal component of your vehicle, the bearings will give some telltale signs that they need to be replaced. You may start to hear a rhythmic thumping noise that sounds like a card that's stuck on the spokes of a rotating wheel. The noise gets louder the more the bearings wear out.

Dropping point refers to the temperature at which the grease changes from its semi-solid state to a liquid state. Most greases have the recommended dropping point of 500-degrees Fahrenheit. Grease with a low dropping point won't serve its purpose as a lubricant.

Depending on the quality of the bearing, they normally last between 85,000 and 100,000 miles. Some premium bearings can be pushed to 150,000 miles. However, you shouldn't rely on the manufacturer's advertised lifespan to determine when you should replace your bearings. To be on the safe side, check the condition of the bearings every 30,000 miles.

Royal Purple Multi-Purpose Synthetic Grease stands at the top of our review because it is a reliable synthetic grease formula that will save both your automotive and marine bearings from rust, corrosion, and water washout. It can also endure high temperature and extreme pressure conditions. The Super Tech Multi-Duty Complex Grease comes close in performance and is a more affordable solution for lubricating your wheel bearings.

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, "wisdom of the crowd" assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.