Vintage '50"s front wheel bearings

[pogobill]

I have been looking high and low for a "Heavy Duty Drum Brake Bearing Grease" Sta-lub has a product # Sl-3131 sold through NAPA, but I can't seem to find it in Canada! Is there another manufacturer that still makes a short fiber grease for these old front wheel bearings?

 

[UNC017]

Here's a sodium soap (aka 'short fiber') grease available on Amazon and possibly elsewhere.

http://www.amazon.com/CRC-SL3131-Heavy-Bearing-Grease/dp/B000CPJMYI



It is my understanding that if you COMPLETELY clean out all the residue of the sodium-based grease, there's no fundamental problem with switching to a more modern lithium soap grease in most cases (there's that disclaimer...) like Pennzoil 707L or similar. An exception might be something like ball bearings instead of tapered-roller, or for seal compatibility. Maybe some of the more knowledgeable grease experts can chime in.

 

[Lyman]

West Marine carries a marine wheel bearing grease. Not sure if you have those up there. My old 57 Chevy PU had the old type bearings in it and I always used trailer bearing grease on them.
You can always order the Sta-lub through a website.

 

[Olas]

For a wheel bearing any nlgi#2 will be fine

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: Olas
For a wheel bearing any nlgi#2 will be fine


Incorrect. You don't know nearly enough to make that general recommendation.

For example incompatibility with current grease.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Clean out the old grease and apply a NLGI #2 lithium soap base grease. It's the oil in the soap that does the lubricating, not the soap carrier.

 

[pogobill]

I've seen the grease on Amazon and that sure is a possibility. My understanding about the short fiber grease, was that the fibers helped pull the grease into the bearings and helped keep it there. I'll have a good look at the bearings when I get to repacking them. I have to clean and inspect anyways, and then see about the NLGI #2 type grease.