What kind of grease should I use when I repack the wheel/hub bearings?

Question

my lbs told me to use TRI flow synthetic so I repacked with that and the griding noise increased. bearings themselves are in great shape -- only 2 weeks old.

Answer 1

I've never used Tri Flow grease, but I've never like their spray lube, which I call dirt magnet.

Phil Wood grease is the very best.  I've also had good luck with Park Tool Polylube 1000.

And for years I just used generic white lithium grease with success, and still have a tube in my bicycle tool box.

Links below for Phil and Park.

Answer 2

Bicycle applications are not exactly hard on grease, so just about any grease will work. I used some automotive stuff for years; it was inexpensive and it worked as well as the more expensive Phil Wood stuff I used when I ran out of the automotive grease. If your gears are grinding, you've either got dirt in the bearings or the bearings are too tight.

Answer 3

Almost all bearing grease formulas are good.

If you have a grinding noise then it was done wrong by your hands or dirt is still in it..

Completly remove all grease,then clean your bearings.Then repack all until the grease actual seeps out as you fit it in tight.Then ride the bike a few miles.Then take it apart and add more grease.

After you set your cones tight and they seem smooth ride the bike hard and then reset your cones and cone nuts.

I clean all bearings with diesel fuel or varsol,then use compressed air to eliminate all dirt and solvents.

I then rub them down with a good old worn cotton shirt/cloth.

I then rub them with bearing grease before inserting them.

Trust your hands to works the grease into your bearings.

Wear surgical gloves if you have to but use your hands.

The best repack is a clean repack done twice.

Check and tighten after every few rides.

One persons opinion only.

I hope my sharing can be of some assistance to you.

Answer 4

thick grease

Answer 5

There's nothing wrong with the TriFlow grease.....I've been using Superlube synthetic grease for several years now and it does great.  The TriFlow grease is pretty much the same product.  Maybe your grinding noise is coming from overtightening the cones?  Or it could be that you have pitting in the races or cone surfaces....or a bent axle, which can cause your adjustment to shift either tight or loose when you remount the wheel and ride.

As for other greases, as others said, pretty much anything will work well.  Phil Wood, Park, Pedro's are all good.  I grew up with the white lithium grease and the only disadvantage it has is that it dries up a little sooner.  I've even used Mystic auto disc brake grease and plain old brown lithium grease.   No problems with any of them.   Check out all of your hub components carefully....something's not right.

Answer 6

If you can find Moly grease that would be best. Steel has an attraction for Moly and it's amazing how well it works.