Moly Grease for Dana/Spicer U Joints?

[Sam_Julier]

Adding to a useful but older thread.

I had the u-joints replaced and the driveshaft balanced on the 91 240 sedan. Mitchell Differential in Shrewsbury MA did the work.

Unlike the OE u-joint, which lasted 222,000 miles, the new Spicer U-joint has a grease zerk. Mitchell recommends greasing every oil change. About 5k for me.

I plan to use Mobil 1 Synthetic. It meets the Dana Spicer specs and is readily available.

I‘m open to suggestions if there’s a better grease. Thanks.

 

[Chris142]

Adding to a useful but older thread.

I had the u-joints replaced and the driveshaft balanced on the 91 240 sedan. Mitchell Differential in Shrewsbury MA did the work.

Unlike the OE u-joint, which lasted 222,000 miles, the new Spicer U-joint has a grease zerk. Mitchell recommends greasing every oil change. About 5k for me.

I plan to use Mobil 1 Synthetic. It meets the Dana Spicer specs and is readily available.

I‘m open to suggestions if there’s a better grease. Thanks.

Everyone has their favorite. I used Valvoline in u joints for many years with no problem. Lately I have been using Lucas red and tacky mainly because it's available everywhere.

 

[cb_13]

I’ve used Motorcraft XG1 for everything that needed chassis or wheel bearing grease since 2002. I’d never say I knew for sure it was the absolute best product for every application but Ford says it’s approved for wheel bearings, steering, chassis, ball joints and u joints. Also parts dept kept it in stock at all times so that’s what I kept in my grease gun. Never had an issue with it.

 

[TheLawnRanger]

I use MasterPro High Temperature Disc Brake and Wheel Bearing Grease for my Spicer u-joints. It's a red lithium complex grease similar to Mystik in post #6.

 

[nthach]

If I need to lube a U-joint, I use WD-40 Specialist OBCS grease that’s currently loaded in my grease gun. I keep a smaller one with a “moly” grease for sliding or chassis lubrication, currently Red Line CV-2. Red Line also uses “synthetic” moly like Schaeffer’s does.

 

[Kestas]

Some in this thread mention the lubrication of high speed needle roller bearings. U-joints are quite the opposite. They are considered a vibration application. A dynamic film is never developed. The low movement of the needles push the grease aside. A grease is needed that can easily reflow under the rollers and provide lubrication.

I personally use a Grade 1.5 grease specially made for this application. It's an expensive Kluber grease and not commonly available.

 

[Sam_Julier]

Some in this thread mention the lubrication of high speed needle roller bearings. U-joints are quite the opposite. They are considered a vibration application. A dynamic film is never developed. The low movement of the needles push the grease aside. A grease is needed that can easily reflow under the rollers and provide lubrication.

I personally use a Grade 1.5 grease specially made for this application. It's an expensive Kluber grease and not commonly available.

Could you post the part number or link to the product please?

A google search indicates that Mobillith SHC and Shell Gaddis S2 V220AC and Rotella ET greases are Grade 1.5.

Sam

 

[Kestas]

It is Kluberplex BEM 34-132. It's expensive. I was able to get some because manufacturers were always sending us free samples for evaluation.

Product data indicates it is used in micromotion applications, good for 2000 hours at elevated temperatures, which equates to 100K in automotive application. It is calcium complex based, making it water resistant.

 

[Sam_Julier]

It is Kluberplex BEM 34-132. It's expensive. I was able to get some because manufacturers were always sending us free samples for evaluation.

Product data indicates it is used in micromotion applications, good for 2000 hours at elevated temperatures, which equates to 100K in automotive application. It is calcium complex based, making it water resistant.

$138 a tube. Holy mackerel.

Your guidence for a Grade 1.5 is well supported. The Spicer branded synthetic grease is Grade 2.

I’m not sure what to do.

 

[Creekside]

For the record, most OTR trucks had greaseable U-joints until recently. Many fleets have the drivers run through a quick lube whenever a PM is due and they'll get shot with whatever bulk grease the particular shop uses. Most of these last hundreds of thousands of miles and it's common to see a truck with 1 million + on the original joints. I say shoot it with whatever grease you use and call it good. No need to use a special grease unless you just want to.

 

[jonlandrum]

For the record, most OTR trucks had greaseable U-joints until recently. Many fleets have the drivers run through a quick lube whenever a PM is due and they'll get shot with whatever bulk grease the particular shop uses. Most of these last hundreds of thousands of miles and it's common to see a truck with 1 million + on the original joints. I say shoot it with whatever grease you use and call it good. No need to use a special grease unless you just want to.

Can confirm, this is exactly what we did when I was a driver, haha.

 

[Bullet]

Around 2016 I replaced the three ujoints on my Tacoma I read just about everything I could find about the "best" grease. I ended up using Redline CV-2 grease with moly. Redline states it can be used. After about two years in 2019 the rear joint failed. I'm not sure why it failed, but appears to be due to the seal. Maybe it was damaged during the install, maybe the needles wore out, who knows. I replace that one and so far so good. The other two appear to be fine. The joint above is obvious the one that failed. Below is the front with a leaking seal just to show what i looked like when the rear joint in 2019.

 

[MaxPF]

I recently bought a couple tubes of the Spicer Ultra Premium grease. It's calcium sulfonate based, giving it somewhat better water resistance vs the more common lithium complex based greases.

Every Spicer Life sealed u-joint that I've pulled the caps off of has had a red-colored grease in it. Imagine my surprise when I popped the cap on one of the tubes of the Spicer grease and found it was a blueish-green color.