Chassis Lube Question...

[leedowney]

Hey guys. At the suggestion of another user, I went to Lowes this weekend and bought the Kobalt grease gun that connects to my air compressor. It was only $30. No more killing myself holding the zerk on while trying to pump with the other.

Anyway, my question is what is the best grease to use on the chassis? Lowes was sold out so I'm still in the market for a few tubes. Someone told me maybe M1 or M2 grease. Can you guys offer suggestions on what you regularly use and where you can purchase it?

Thanks.

[LVJ58]

For whatever it's worth I've been using JAX Magna-Plate 800-2 lubricant for king pins & steering linkage tie rod ends. I use Mobil synthetic lubricant on the U-Joints. We have a gas powered coach.

[Hooligan]

The Manual calls for Lithium complex EP Grease NLGI Grade 2 GC-LB or Starplex 2, for most of the chassis and the driveshaft. Some greases are not compatible because they are made with different base products.. (Lithium, Calcium, Aluminum, Bentone (Clay) etc.
I use Valvoline SynPower synthetic grease. Meets Lithium EP #2 GC-LB etc and is moly fortified. It's also very black and easy to see on your clothes or carpet......

Freightliner has a pub called "Knowing Your Chassis" discusses systems, lubrication and maintenance. Let me know if you need a link to download.

[leedowney]

Thanks guys for the tips. Could you please let me know where you are able to purchase these lubricants? Walmart, Lowes or specific RV dealerships?

And is it possible to use the same lubricant (Mobile Synthetic or Valvoline Synthetic) on all the points of lubrication?

Thanks Hooligan but I have the "Knowing your Chassis" pdf already printed out. It was very helpful. Thank you.

[Elkhartjim]

FYI...I don;t remember how many but it sure takes more than a couple tubes to grease one of these beast. Closer to six I think.

[Mike Canter]

According to my talks with Mobil, the Mobil 1 synthetic grease is a soap based lithium complex NLGI Grade 2 grease and it can be used on all the chassis grease points including the front king pins and the U-joints. If you don't want sysnthetic then the Mobilgrease XHP 222 also meets all the requirements. If you are using an air pressure greaser then you need to be real careful in greasing the tie rods or any grease joint with a rubber boot because you can split the rubber boot real easily.

[Chuck 1935]

Take a look at the attached web site. It has lots of great information about heavy duty chassis lube.
Grease Is The Word

[powerboatr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooligan The Manual calls for Lithium complex EP Grease NLGI Grade 2 GC-LB or Starplex 2, for most of the chassis and the driveshaft. Some greases are not compatible because they are made with different base products.. (Lithium, Calcium, Aluminum, Bentone (Clay) etc. I use Valvoline SynPower synthetic grease. Meets Lithium EP #2 GC-LB etc and is moly fortified. It's also very black and easy to see on your clothes or carpet...... Freightliner has a pub called "Knowing Your Chassis" discusses systems, lubrication and maintenance. Let me know if you need a link to download.

o'riellies has it, look for the ford chassis spec listed in the freightliner booklet.
it was 3.99 a tube and i used 1.5 tubes on the last greasing.
the spec is important to follow, its a sticky nasty grease, that doesn't wash off or out, DO NOT use marine wheel bearing grease, its is a different composition.
the general stuff at wally world etc is NOT the right stuff. read the specification, in fact wally world doesn't even carry a grease that meets the specification, nor does lowes. you need to go to a real parts store. i included a link to where i purchased it

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/VLV0/633.oap

• NLGI #2 Grade LB Lithium 12-Hydroxysterate EP Grease
• Ford M1C75B; NLGI LB

[leedowney]

Thanks Powerboatr. I have printed the O'Reilly page out showing the tube. Do you use this specific grease on all points?

Also, thanks Chuck for the info on grease. I learned a lot.

[powerboatr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leedowney Thanks Powerboatr. I have printed the O'Reilly page out showing the tube. Do you use this specific grease on all points? Also, thanks Chuck for the info on grease. I learned a lot.

yes sir, the maintenance booklet lists it as the grease for all the points.

[Triker56]

Freightliner recommends against using a high pressure gun on the U Joints.

[J Walker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triker56 Freightliner recommends against using a high pressure gun on the U Joints.

I have been using a grease gun operated by 90 psi air for years. I have found that 90 psi is what moves the grease adequately. Stating "high pressure gun" needs to be narrowed down better the advice to be meaningful. A manual gun can produce high pressures also.

[Mike Canter]

It is not the air pressure into the gun that is the problem it is 4000 to 5000 psi output that is considered "high pressure". Most air grease guns work around a 65:1 pressure ratio. If not real careful that grease going into the tie rods at 4000 to 5000 psi can split the boots before you know it. With a hand held grease gun you can feel the back pressure so you know something is full plus the hand held gun is pumped slowly so you can watch the boot expand slowly and stop. You can still split a boot with a hand held gun if not careful.

[Triker56]

The below is from Freightliner Maintenance Manual that can be gotten on line. So you should call Freightliner to narrow down what they mean.

As I posted before this is for drive line greasing. I have always greased mine with a hand gun. Your choice may be different. And there may be nothing wrong with that. Or you may have been lucky so far.

U-Joint Lubricating

1. Wipe all old grease and dirt from each U-joint
grease fitting.

2. Use a hand-type grease gun, or a high-pressure
gun with a low-pressure adaptor, to lubricate the
U-joints.

NOTE: If a low-pressure adaptor is not used
with the high-pressure gun, the U-joints may not
receive enough lubricant.

Slip-Joint Spline Lubricating
1. Wipe all old grease and dirt from the slip-joint splined shaft.
2. Use a hand-type grease gun or a high-pressure gun with a low-pressure adaptor.