What is the best lubricant for ball joints?

If ball bearings creak when driving, this is often caused by the lack or lack of grease under the anther of this swivel joint. This is due to the rupture of the anther. In rare cases, an insufficient amount of lubricant is placed in the production. In order for the ball bearings and steering tips to go all their life, they must be serviced. Beginning car owners often do not know how to monitor the running gear, and what kind of lubricant for ball bearings is needed. Today we will try to answer this question.

Do you need to lubricate ball bearings and steering tips?

There is an opinion that it was necessary to handle these connections earlier in the days of classic models of VAZs, "Muscovites" and other automotive industry from the USSR, and now it is not necessary to do it. To find out if these parts need maintenance, you need to understand how the ball valves are arranged.

The device may be different. But in the design there must be a ball joint and a finger. As the stop of the hinge, the base is used. Above the support is covered with anther.

During operation, the hinge constantly moves and moves. This contributes to its accelerated wear. During operation, the lubricant is produced. And if the car is long, the lubricating product can dry up. In addition, if there is no lubricant for the ball joints in the space between the base of the assembly and the anther, mud is formed there. It not only accelerates wear, but also causes unsatisfactory work of the hinge. If there are knocks and creaks in the ball, it's an alarm bell.

In order not to subject the accelerated wear mechanism to the ball bearing, it is necessary to drive a lubricant into the free space under the dust cover. But you also need to know what kind of lubricant to use for ball bearings, so that these nodes work as long as possible.

When do I need to handle ball bearings and steering tips?

The ball joint is lubricated at the factory, before being installed on the car. But if we are talking about domestic cars, this requirement is not always fulfilled. In addition, during the operation of the car the hinge is constantly shifted. Accordingly, the lubricant is constantly consumed. Therefore, it is necessary to process the node constantly, at certain intervals. But how do you know if you need a new lubricant for ball bearings? All problems associated with ball bearings, even in the early stages can easily be determined "by ear". But with serious problems, modern diagnostics can help. The first signal, which says that the lubricant has developed - it's squeaks and knocking while the car is moving. If these sounds originate from the places where the ball supports are installed, then these nodes are checked first. If there are no serious backlashes in the hinge, then regular maintenance of the element will help prolong the service life.

Symptoms of exit of the ball bearing

The fact that the lubricant for ball joints has been developed can be recognized by knocking when driving along irregularities. Also, if you need to lubricate the steering tips, you can hear a creak when turning the steering wheel. He can talk about the need to replace the lubricant in the ball. If the machine does not keep a straight trajectory and the wheels are constantly wagging, it also speaks of worn ball. Also, rubber breaks or wears out, which wears out unevenly.

Than to grease?

And so, the novice car owner hears characteristic squeaks and realizes that it's time to serve the ball and steering tips. But since beginners have no special experience, they are concerned with the question of what kind of lubricant is needed for ball joints and steering tips. Let's try to answer this question. Often, for such joints, lithium-based lubricants are used. These compounds can withstand the high loads that the hinge experiences during operation. You also need to be able to choose the right product.

What is the special feature of lithium greases?

In its composition, lithium-based materials are substances derived from petroleum oils. During the production of oil thicken, adding lithium soap. This makes it possible to obtain the desired consistency. In this oil oils in combination with fatty acids contained in lithium soap, too, have an additional preservative effect. Car owners in practice use several types of lubricants on this basis. They differ among themselves the percentage of oil and lithium soap, as well as the content of various additives. Well, consider them in more detail.

"Litol-24"

This is the most common lubricant for ball bearings and steering wheels among car owners. And for this there are several reasons. The first reason is that this lubricant works in a larger temperature range, which makes it possible to use "Litol" in any climatic zones. Due to the presence of stabilizing additives, this lubricant can serve a sufficiently long period of time. The composition reliably protects the metallic rubbing parts against negative destructive effects. Also it is necessary to cancel, that "Litol" is not afraid of temperature differences. Do not worry that when moving on water or snow ball, lubricated "Litol", will lose protection.

"Tsiatim-201"

If "Litol-24" is a very popular product, then "Tsiatim" is used for ball joints much less often. If we compare it with the previous one, then the operating temperature threshold is much lower. This lubricant will not freeze even at temperatures of -60 degrees. Therefore, this product is widely used in the Far North. Although this lubricant also has lower characteristics in comparison with "Litol", but its stability at low temperatures is its plus. Also "Tsiatim-201" is distinguished by a lower price.

Alternative options

In addition to lithium-based greases, which are classical, other types of calcium-based ones are used. The main drawback of these lubricants is that they are afraid of low temperatures. At the same time, their service life is much longer. Experts say that calcium lubricants have a higher level of protection of metal parts from corrosion. But in practice it is believed that the best lubricant for ball bearings is a clearly lithium product.

What to choose?

The stores now offer a lot of lubricants for lubrication of ball and steering tips, but do not buy branded expensive products. By technical characteristics, they are not much different from the more affordable analogs. Therefore, you can choose the most ordinary "Litol-24", and this will be the right decision. But you need to look at the composition. Calcium materials will always be more expensive. Therefore, if you choose them, you will have to pay a little more. When choosing a lubricant, it is desirable to pay attention to the conditions in which the car is operated. If the car goes under extreme temperatures, it is better to choose a product that can work in such conditions. This will help reduce the wear of parts during winter operation. In the rest, there are no special features when choosing. There is no particular difference in what kind of lubrication in the ball joints should be. The main thing that it was there, say the motorists.

Nylon instead of grease

The first ball was a hinge with a semicircular bearing. Then they abandoned such a design, and the tip of the finger was made in the form of a ball. This is a completely metal knot. Sealing was carried out using a special spring support. That the part was mobile, it was refueled. The progress of the equipment makes it possible to produce a body and finger with high accuracy, and instead of a plastic liner a special nylon is used. It allowed the hinge to retain its properties and characteristics without necessarily lubricating.

Grease, which supports the factory support, has a special composition and is different from the one that is sold in stores. Engineers argue that there is no particular benefit from such lubrication, and they tried to say this in Soviet times. But in our country not too trust plastic. Therefore, novice car owners will long wonder what lubrication is better for ball bearings.