Molly grease

[Kevin LeClaire]

I rebuilt the birfs on my 97 80series over 10 years ago, and I was underneath there the other day and they looked kind of dry. Should I squeeze a tube of molly grease into each one every so many years, would that be ok? Thanks guys this forum is the best.

 

[mjosoba]

Oh dang, yeah they need to be topped up every now and then. I usually do about half a tube each knuckle every other (edit: oil) change. But my seals are starting to leak so it’s rebuild time soon.

 

[Kevin LeClaire]

Oh dang, yeah they need to be topped up every now and then. I usually do about half a tube each knuckle every other change. But my seals are starting to leak so it’s rebuild time soon.

Thank you.

 

[Irish Reiver]

Oh dang, yeah they need to be topped up every now and then. I usually do about half a tube each knuckle every other (edit: oil) change. But my seals are starting to leak so it’s rebuild time soon.

If you are pumping that much grease every other oil change you might be over filling the hubs and causing the grease to press through the seal to the diff. It's better to use the zip tie dipstick method to guage how much grease is needed.

 

[Kevin LeClaire]

If you are pumping that much grease every other oil change you might be over filling the hubs and causing the grease to press through the seal to the diff. It's better to use the zip tie dipstick method to guage how much grease is needed.

If you are pumping that much grease every other oil change you might be over filling the hubs and causing the grease to press through the seal to the diff. It's better to use the zip tie dipstick method to guage how much grease is needed.

Would a third of the way full be sufficient with the zip tie method?

 

[Irish Reiver]

I usually aim for 2/3 full.

 

[BTLSHP]

FWIW, that was deemed to be about half a small tube shy a bit ago. I added some and need to re-check. Thumb is at the top of the fill hole.

 

[greentruck]

If it's been 10 years, I'd recommend going for at least the end of axle repack if not a full front axle service.

If the addition of moly leads to the ball getting an even coasting of grease on the ball, then not so urgent. You should be able to take out the square fill plug and shine a light in to see that the moly grease at least partially covers the birf inside. Another thing is to ensure the seal between the moly in the trunnion box and the gear oil in the inner axle hasn't failed. If you haven't looked underneath in 10 yars, it's possible that the inner axle seal failed it flung much of the gear oil. Which would have flung gear oil all over the inside sidewall of the front tire. It could've done that and then had it washyed off in th coiurse of 10 years of driving.

Pull the fill plug on the front diff. Check the level of the gear oil, which should be full up to where it comes up to just where it starts to dripout with the plug removed. If it's still full up, you're probably OK. If low, then you should consider the full axle service.

 

[mjosoba]

If you are pumping that much grease every other oil change you might be over filling the hubs and causing the grease to press through the seal to the diff. It's better to use the zip tie dipstick method to guage how much grease is needed.

Yeah, in my over 20 years of driving 80’s I used to do that religiously and if I dipped it every time its was usually about a 1/8 to a 1/4 tube a side. Now I just do every other change and split a tube between them. I might note, my seals are leaky so it probably washes a bit more than normal out, but even when they’re solid, it still seemed to average out to that. After I do my reseal, I’ll get back to the dip to see how it is with fresh seals.

 

[Kevin LeClaire]

If it's been 10 years, I'd recommend going for at least the end of axle repack if not a full front axle service.

If the addition of moly leads to the ball getting an even coasting of grease on the ball, then not so urgent. You should be able to take out the square fill plug and shine a light in to see that the moly grease at least partially covers the birf inside. Another thing is to ensure the seal between the moly in the trunnion box and the gear oil in the inner axle hasn't failed. If you haven't looked underneath in 10 yars, it's possible that the inner axle seal failed it flung much of the gear oil. Which would have flung gear oil all over the inside sidewall of the front tire. It could've done that and then had it washyed off in th coiurse of 10 years of driving.

Pull the fill plug on the front diff. Check the level of the gear oil, which should be full up to where it comes up to just where it starts to dripout with the plug removed. If it's still full up, you're probably OK. If low, then you should consider the full axle service.

Yea I’m under there two times a year to grease what needs to be greased and change the oil. I have not seen any of the visible symptoms you describe. I will bring it into the garage and take care of this. I use the cruiser in the winter and the truck in the summer, so the cruiser will sit more in the “what little summer I have “ . Thanks

 

[Kevin LeClaire]

It was about an inch on the zip-tie. I squeezed in 2 tubes of molly grease into each one. That should be good, I’ll check it when I get back from a ride. This is something I will check at every oil change.

 

[Kernal]

"I squeezed in 2 tubes of molly (molybdenum) grease"

What size tubes, brand/name of grease?

 

[Kevin LeClaire]

"I squeezed in 2 tubes of molly (molybdenum) grease"

What size tubes, brand/name of grease?

Sta lube, crc cv joint grease, 4 oz with moly disulfide