Need Grease suggestion for 2015 FORD Manual Telescoping Tow Mirror Tracks

[97K15004WD]

2015 FORD Manual Telescoping Tow Mirror Tracks are sticking and I need to grease them so the mirror slides in and out easier. I tried white lithium grease but it is not working well at all. The telescopic mechanism is binding when I pull it out.

I did clean the tracks thoroughly and removed all the old grease. It almost looked like a wax, but the mirrors are 9 years old so I figured they were just "gummy" lithium grease.

Suggestions please, thanks.

 

[wings&wheels]

My go to light grease when I can't find any official guidance; Wurth HHS-K

Sprays as a light liquid that flows and penetrates then sets to a tacky and durable grease. Pricey, but exponentially better than white lithium or similar.

 

[ripcord]

I'd try a waterproof silicone grease like used for brake caliper slide pins.

 

[JHZR2]

Is this plastic on plastic, or plastic on metal?

I’d definitely try a non petroleum grease. Super lube silicone woukd be a good one to get into there. The deeper and further from the elements the better…

 

[facility1]

Tri-flow in the black can may work

 

[ctechbob]

I use this with my ClearView towing mirrors.

Only issue with it is you either have to be super careful spraying it, or spray it on a cloth and wipe it on, it will splash everywhere and those splashes are stark white.

 

[97K15004WD]

Is this plastic on plastic, or plastic on metal?

I’d definitely try a non petroleum grease. Super lube silicone woukd be a good one to get into there. The deeper and further from the elements the better…

It's plastic on plastic inside a metal track. The clearances are kinda tight, and these things are famous for rust jacking shut. The metal track corrodes and seizes the plastic track and the assembly quits working.

I'll post up some pictures shortly

 

[97K15004WD]

I use this with my ClearView towing mirrors.

Only issue with it is you either have to be super careful spraying it, or spray it on a cloth and wipe it on, it will splash everywhere and those splashes are stark white.

View attachment 246860

I have some of that in a different brand (dry Teflon spray).

I thought about using it, but for the reason you stated I did not. The parts are black plastic and containing the overspray would be difficult.

On a side note, I got of that spray on my windows, and I thought it would "wear" off after a few days. It's been a couple of months, and that stuff is still on the window!

 

[97K15004WD]

This is the manual telescoping tow mirror. To extend it for towing, you yank on the outer assembly and it pulls out to a stop. For non-towing, the mirror is pushed back in. The enclosed tracks are in the two "arms" that hold the actual mirror itself.

This picture has the plastic guide rail (the part in the picture above with the holes in it - it sits inside the shown metal track) and the plastic main frame - that has the roller that rides on the opposite side of the metal track (creates the tension to prevent the mirror from moving or vibrating while moving).

And here's a link to a video of what I'm working on that needs the grease:

 

[97K15004WD]

My go to light grease when I can't find any official guidance; Wurth HHS-K

Sprays as a light liquid that flows and penetrates then sets to a tacky and durable grease. Pricey, but exponentially better than white lithium or similar.

That's cool. I've never seen something like this before. They don't show what it contains though. Can you read the contents on the can or is it "proprietary".

Also, unfortunately, I have to get this done today so I won't have time to order and wait. I will order some later though. Seems like a niche product, but seems like it would be good in my application for sure.

 

[97K15004WD]

I wonder if "Never-Seize" would work, compared to "Mission Paste"?

These are two that I have on-hand that I have had great success with in the past on various projects.

I don't want to screw up the mechanism as these mirrors are expensive new.

 

[JHZR2]

I wonder if "Never-Seize" would work, compared to "Mission Paste"?

These are two that I have on-hand that I have had great success with in the past on various projects.

I don't want to screw up the mechanism as these mirrors are expensive new.

Antiseize will ultimately dry up the lube and leave solids. If the internal metal is going to rust and swell, the solids left behind could just make it worse.

Maybe if it just was some moly, ok. Something like molykote m-77? I believe it’s silicone with moly. But generally id avoid much solids…

 

[97K15004WD]

Okay, I went with the "Mission Paste". It seems to be working a whole lot better.

Thanks!

 

[lbhsbz]

It's plastic on plastic inside a metal track. The clearances are kinda tight, and these things are famous for rust jacking shut. The metal track corrodes and seizes the plastic track and the assembly quits working.

I'll post up some pictures shortly

For plastics, My favorite is Superlube w/ teflon. Avoid anything with moly.

 

[ripcord]

Okay, I went with the "Mission Paste". It seems to be working a whole lot better.

Thanks!

That looks perfect based on it's description.

 

[nthach]

I’d use Dow 33. It’s a Li-thickened silicone grease. Stuff like Tribolube or SuperLube may have better staying power.