Research Report on Performance of Automotive Wheel Bearing Greases.

The objective of this program is to establish the relative performance characteristics of six greases in a simulated automotive front wheel tapered roller bearing environment under highly accelerated laboratory type test conditions. Part I deals with the evaluation of the test greases in a test machine designed to simulate the general configuration of an automotive front wheel bearing hub. Part II included a more detailed study of representative bearings to define the degree of deterioration experienced on the rolling contact surfaces of the bearings lubricated with each grease. Photomicrographs made with a Scanning Electron Microscope show the changes to the surface morphology of the cone rolling contact surfaces. Part III presents information on the changes occurring to the grease chemistry and structure from use in an elevated temperature bearing environment.