Chewbacca's Birfield Grease Guide

[mct75]

It is debated. Consensus seems to be that "liquid" moly greases are fine for wheel bearings, but the higher concentration "pastes" are not.

I used Lucas Red n Tacky for the bearings and Valvoline Ford/Lincoln/Mercury moly grease for the birfields.

 

[Rube]

So what MP grease is everyone using for the bearings? I saw someone mention that they use one type of grease for both birfs and bearing, but Isn't Moly grease a big no-no for bearings?

Lucas red and tacky.

 

[JLH911]

Liquid Moly?

It is debated. Consensus seems to be that "liquid" moly greases are fine for wheel bearings, but the higher concentration "pastes" are not.

I used Lucas Red n Tacky for the bearings and Valvoline Ford/Lincoln/Mercury moly grease for the birfields.

 

[mct75]

Lithium soap based grease (Palladium etc.) compared to a more solid graphite paste grease.

 

[JLH911]

Do you know what percentage of Moly the Valvoine F/L/M has in it? I read that 5% is preferred if one can source it.

It is debated. Consensus seems to be that "liquid" moly greases are fine for wheel bearings, but the higher concentration "pastes" are not.

I used Lucas Red n Tacky for the bearings and Valvoline Ford/Lincoln/Mercury moly grease for the birfields.

 

[JLH911]

Lithium soap based grease (Palladium etc.) compared to a more solid graphite paste grease.

I thought the Palladium type from Valvoline contains the higher 5% Moly in it. Maybe they changed the formulation.?

 

[mct75]

I believe FLM is 3% moly based on what someone found in the MSDS. Palladium is 5%.

However, fresh clean grease that is kept at the correct level is more important than anything. Stressing about percentages of molybdenum puts more wear on the driver than it will ever put on the birfs.

 

[operatorTRP]

About to buy 40 tubes of Lubriplate SYN-3002 for my new RCV axles.. its the only ammount I can seem to find in a syn moly as recommended by RCV, and not buying their $40/tube super stuff.

Anyone source SYN-3002 in singles?

 

[Rifleman]

I came across another Moly grease that you might want to add to this list, It's made by Shell for use on aircraft, it's called AeroShell grease 64. AeroShell Grease 64 is an EP airframe grease based on the proven lithium thickener technology of AeroShell Grease 33. It can help to extend component life through its exceptional load-carrying and EP properties from fortification using 5% molybdenum disulphide and its excellent wear and corrosion protection.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Birfield Grease installer coming soon,the clean and easy way

 

[Dubbinchris]

Birfield Grease installer coming soon,the clean and easy way

View attachment 1729584

Looks simple and effective.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Looks simple and effective.

The USA need for this product was recently recommended to me during an expedition I did for MALTEC Trucks from Germany. Most of their knuckle equipped truck are equipped with them but are not sold.

 

[93Chewbacca]

Just checking back in here to see how things have been going. Looks like 69000 views on the thread! I have updated the list with some current choices. Glad to see the LC allegiance is as strong as ever!

I came across another Moly grease that you might want to add to this list, It's made by Shell for use on aircraft, it's called AeroShell grease 64. AeroShell Grease 64 is an EP airframe grease based on the proven lithium thickener technology of AeroShell Grease 33. It can help to extend component life through its exceptional load-carrying and EP properties from fortification using 5% molybdenum disulphide and its excellent wear and corrosion protection.

Great product, and it has been added to the list!

 

[Rifleman]

Birfield Grease installer coming soon,the clean and easy way

View attachment 1729584

Phil, just in case you didn't know this already, the factory 3/8 plug uses a BSPT Whitworth thread, they are NOT a NTP pipe thread, those two types of threads are not interchangeable. Whitworth uses a 55 degree thread shape with a different thread count per inch (19 threads per inch) than the 3/8 inch NTP pipe does (18 threads per inch), NTP pipe also uses a 60 degree thread shape.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Than

Phil, just in case you didn't know this already, the factory 3/8 plug uses a BSPT Whitworth thread, they are NOT a NTP pipe thread, those two types of threads are not interchangeable. Whitworth uses a 55 degree thread shape with a different thread count per inch (19 threads per inch) then the 3/8 inch NTP pipe does (18 threads per inch), NTP pipe also uses a 60 degree thread shape.

Thanks We are using factory Toyota plugs and drilling and tapping

 

[ZackR]

Quick question, going to tackle the front steering knuckle rebuild this weekend and planned to use Timken red wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings. FSM specifies moly grease for these as well but I'm leaning toward wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings.

Thoughts?

 

[Rifleman]

Quick question, going to tackle the front steering knuckle rebuild this weekend and planned to use Timken red wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings. FSM specifies moly grease for these as well but I'm leaning toward wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings.

Thoughts?

View attachment 1753776

For what it's worth, when i did mine i used Moly for the CV, and wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings.

 

[ppc]

Quick question, going to tackle the front steering knuckle rebuild this weekend and planned to use Timken red wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings. FSM specifies moly grease for these as well but I'm leaning toward wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings.

Thoughts?

View attachment 1753776

Page SA-22 of the FSM is related to the knuckle bearings not the wheel bearings. The knuckle bearings use moly type grease. On page SA-13 the wheel bearings are spec'ed to get MP (multi purpose) grease which would be what you referenced as wheel bearing grease.

edited for correct FSM page number for wheel bearings.

 

[mdawg]

Quick question, going to tackle the front steering knuckle rebuild this weekend and planned to use Timken red wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings. FSM specifies moly grease for these as well but I'm leaning toward wheel bearing grease for the wheel bearings.

Thoughts?

View attachment 1753776

I've used the timken red grease on both front and rear wheel bearings and it seems to be doing the trick just fine.

 

[ZackR]

Page SA-22 of the FSM is related to the knuckle bearings not the wheel bearings. The knuckle bearings use moly type grease. On page SA-9 the wheel bearings are spec'ed to get MP (multi purpose) grease which would be what you referenced as wheel bearing grease.

Thanks for the clarification, moly in the trunion bearings and multipurpose in the wheel bearings.