Grease for Rear Axle Bearings: Best Choice

Hello,

I need to replace the rear axle bearings on my car and I'm currently in the process of ordering the parts. I have a question about this:

VW recommends using the lithium grease - G 052 150 A2 - for installation. However, this is only available in a 180g tube for a hefty price of €24 (which is more than the bearing itself!). Has anyone had experience using a different lubricant (e.g., copper paste) instead? Or would that cause problems/noise?

Best regards,
Stefan

Hello,

Just get a good quality lithium grease from a specialized retailer. You should be able to buy a whole cartridge that will last for years.

Best regards, Rainer.

"Or ask a local workshop if they can give you some of it in small containers for a small fee."

Thank you all for your answers.

So, if there are no specific requirements for this grease, I'll probably go with a cheaper option from the accessories section!

Best regards,
Stefan

It should be a lithium soap grease, which is more resistant to water. The "02" refers to the consistency, meaning it's "wobbly" and soft.

Did I do something wrong with the graphite grease before?

Hutfahrer wrote:

Did I do something wrong with the graphite grease earlier?

No, there is also some in the constant velocity joint, and the running characteristics are better.
Is the water resistance equally good? The type of cartridge is indicated on the packaging.
Potassium-lithium grease, or sometimes just bearing grease.
The initial preload of the bearing is crucial for its lifespan.
"Better a little loose than too tight! But nowadays, almost nothing is being adjusted anymore."

The cartridge costs a maximum of €5, if it's not a Teflon grease.

Well, at least! On my container of fat, it says "waterproof"!

"Water resistant" would certainly be more optimal in this case... but I also don't think you did anything drastically wrong. We will now conduct a long-term test about which you will have to report .

This concerns my girlfriend's Suzuki Ignis 1.3 16V. A dust cap on a wheel bearing came off unnoticed, and this went undetected for some time. Since the bearing still sounded healthy and didn't exhibit any noticeable play, I cleaned it, re-greased it, and installed a new dust cap. This happened at approximately 45,000 km; now the odometer reads 112,000 km. A technical inspection also did not reveal any defects with this bearing. Therefore, I assume that the incident had largely no consequences.

I used "Waterproof Graphite Bearing Grease" from Q8. I still have a large can of it.

What do your inspectors actually check during the vehicle inspection (TÜV)? Here in the countryside, one inspector just roughly looks under the car. He would never notice a defective wheel bearing unless it was literally glowing red.

Well, I think your fat has proven itself to be worthy.

"Anyone who drives into the 'Lion's Den' (referring to a car testing facility) will find that their axles are bent on the axle bending machine. However, upon closer inspection, some new cars already exhibit failures in these areas. These can include play in rubber-to-metal bearings or wheel bearings, torn rubber blocks in engine or suspension mounts, excessive clearance in strut mounts, steering gearboxes, or other steering components."

A well-known inspector from an organization with five letters put a nearly brand new Citroen C3 through its annual technical inspection (TÜV). It failed spectacularly, despite only having 1900 kilometers on the odometer! The braking values were extremely uneven, there was play in the steering linkage and tie rods, and the engine mounts were already cracked from the factory. The rubber bushings were rock hard, causing the rubber to tear away from the metal housing. With that much play in the steering linkage, it wouldn't pass the TÜV after just 3 years. However, the tie rod ends had certainly been replaced before. Incidentally, the C3 drove normally; there was no clunking or rattling audible. The high and soft sidewalls of the standard tires perfectly masked the deficiencies in the steering.

A colleague inspected the C3, and he had the vehicle delivered to the dealership's yard. The subsequent repairs, including a loaner car, were easily arranged, and everything was fixed. Recently, the C3 underwent its first official technical inspection (TÜV), and it passed: "Your vehicle is free from any noticeable defects." Furthermore, this C3 has been unconditionally reliable throughout its first three years of life. Despite belonging to the group of Citroen models that sometimes had issues, this particular C3 never experienced any major problems.

Graphite really has no place in a rolling bearing.
"Water resistance is good, but more importantly, temperature resistance is crucial because the bearing will likely operate significantly above room temperature due to its proximity to the brake drum."

Heat-resistant up to 140°C is not bad.