A quality grease with a high drop point and NLGI rating.
A low-priced wheel bearing grease with the top NLGI rating possible.
If your car’s wheels are producing a lot of noise, it could be time to apply the best wheel bearing grease you can find. While not as prominent a maintenance item as an oil change or tire rotation, refreshing your wheel bearing grease can help improve brake performance and longevity.
Wheel bearing grease reduces the friction between the wheel and the axle, and it is important that a good grease maintain its semi-solid form under high-friction, high-heat environments. Typically, wheel bearing grease is refreshed more frequently for travel trailers and boats compared to sedans, trucks, vans, or SUVs. However, any vehicle may need more grease if the old grease has rubbed, melted, or dripped away with time.
5 Best Wheel Bearing Greases
Wheel Bearing Grease Buyers Guide
Grease is useful for reducing friction between moving parts, and so finds a wide variety of uses. But you can’t use just any grease for your wheel bearings. At the very least, you’ll need a heat-resistant grease for any automotive applications. While many multi-purpose greases will do, it’s worth arming yourself with some grease knowledge before selecting a product.
What Is Wheel Bearing Grease?
Wheel bearings are a critical part of your brake and wheel system. They are small cylinders placed between the drive axle and brake discs or drum brakes (depending on which type of braking system you have).
Wheel bearing grease is any grease used to fill the wheel bearing so that the bearing and axle won’t wear prematurely from the constant friction generated between these components.
Types Of Grease
Generally speaking, there are three different types of grease: all-purpose (AP), multi-purpose (MP), and extreme pressure (EP).
- AP grease is for everyday use on bearings that need regular grease but don’t undergo extremes in heat or friction. You might use AP grease to lubricate certain ball joints or a squeaky door hinge.
- MP greases are more durable, but also more expensive than GP grease. These greases can be used for high-pressure automotive applications, including wheel bearings.
- EP grease is the most durable type of grease. This grease is especially tacky and may contain anti-wear additives such as molybdenum (this type of grease is sometimes called moly-grease). Most wheel bearing grease is of this variety.
You might also run across something called marine grease. Marine wheel bearing grease is a multi-purpose grease that includes additives that make it more water-resistant. It is specifically engineered for boats but this type of grease is also good for autos and bikes. Some people prefer it because of its enhanced water-resistant properties.
Wheel Bearing Grease Rating System
Many automotive greases are certified and rated by the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI), an international non-profit dedicated to the technical advancement of grease lubrication. NLGI-certified greases contain a letter designation(s). The highest rating for automotive grease is GC-LB.
- G means that a grease is suitable for wheel bearings. The letter that follows can be A, B, or C. C is the best designation, followed by B, then A.
- L means that a grease is suitable for a chassis (typically any grease that is suitable for wheel bearings will also be suitable for a chassis, but not vice-versa). The letter that follows L can be A or B. B is the better designation.
If you’re looking for wheel bearing grease, Most car user manuals suggest grease with a GC-LB rating.
Our Review Standards
To select the greases featured in this buyers guide, our team first combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer websites, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the efficacy of the grease and durability over time.
We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon and Advance Auto Parts.
Why You Can Trust Us
Since 2020, we have published over 200 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.
When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
#1 Lucas Red “N” Tacky
Lucas Red “N” Tacky is a well-known, high-performance grease suitable for a range of automotive applications, including use as wheel bearing grease. Its long shelf life, high tackiness, and extreme pressure resistance make it a favorite among enthusiasts. If you need to purchase in bulk, you can buy Red “N” Tacky by the bucket.
Key Features
- Cost: About $1.50/ounce
- NLGI rating: GC-LB
- Contains rust and oxidation inhibitors
- 540.0°F drop point
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 1,600 ratings
Most say this is the best grease they’ve used. It is extremely tacky and long-lasting. This grease is suitable for a range of applications, from your boat trailer to your personal auto. Though Lucas can be a little more expensive than other greases, many claim it lasts twice as long so is cheaper in the long run.
The only complaints about Red “N” Tacky are that the container comes half-filled. This seems like a strange complaint as the container does have 16.0 ounces of grease – it is just a large container with empty space (not densely packed).
#2 Triax Spheron HT-2 Grease
Triax Spheron HT-2 grease is rated for exceptionally high temperatures, with a drop point of 550.0 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also highly water-resistant, and a good choice for farm equipment that may see muddy conditions and heavy loads. Of course, this makes it a grease that will hold up when used on automotive wheel bearings.
Key Features
- Cost: About $0.79/ounce
- NLGI rating: GC-LB
- Available in 14.0 ounces tubes, in packs of 1, 2, or 10
- Rated for operations up to 302.0°F
- Fortified with anti-wear polymers
- Extremely water-resistant
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 300 ratings
Customers use this grease for a variety of applications, including travel trailers, boats, and wheel bearings. Virtually all reviewers post positive comments about its versatility, heat resistance, and tackiness.
There aren’t any negative comments about this grease on Amazon.
#3 Sta-Lube New Generation Wheel Bearing Grease
Sta-LubeⓇ has been manufacturing greases and oils since 1933 and has remained a popular brand among auto professionals and enthusiasts alike. Its New Generation wheel bearing grease is a reliable product that maintains the highest NLGI rating of GC-LB, making it an excellent choice as a wheel bearing grease.
Key Features
- Cost: About $1.27/ounce
- NLGI rating: GC-LB
- Temperature range of -40.0°F to 325.0°F
- Drop point of 500.0°F
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 180 ratings
As with most wheel bearing greases, you won’t find many reviews that wax poetic about Sta-Lube. This highly-rated grease is so reviewed because it works, and users don’t have much else to say than that. It has excellent properties for a wheel bearing grease, such as a broad temperature operation range and high drop point (drop point is the temperature where the grease turns to a liquid). A lot of people use this grease for their trailer wheel bearings.
There are no negative reviews for this grease on Amazon. The lowest ratings give this grease 3 stars and leave no comment.
#4 Valvoline High Temperature Red Grease
Another tacky red grease designed for automotive applications, ValvolineTM Red Grease is suitable for wheel bearings and able to withstand high pressures and temperatures. According to the Valvoline website, this grease is not rated for lubrication at sub-zero temperatures, so it may not be the best choice if you live in a freezing climate.
Key Features
- Cost: About $1.13/ounce
- NLGI rating: GC-LB
- Available in 14.0 ounces, 1.0 pound, 4.0 pounds sizes
- Rated for temperatures from 0.0°F to 375.0°F
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 6,600 ratings
Users like this grease because it works and it’s cheap. Many reviewers have used this grease for years and found it to be reliable and effective.
A few claim that the dye separates from the grease if it is left in the grease gun. For one user, it oozed out of their grease gun while left in storage. At least one other reviewer left this grease in their gun with no issues, so the aforementioned case could be a hardware issue.
#5 Mobil Delvac Xtreme Grease
Mobil Delvac Xtreme grease is a heavy-duty grease appropriate for use with heavy trucks and equipment that see frequent outdoor use. Though designed more for industrial applications, it will work well for your wheel bearings, particularly if you prefer an especially tacky grease.
Key Features
- Cost: About $0.67/ounce
- NLGI rating: GC-LB
- Contains lithium complex thickener
- Available in single or in 10-count packs
What Customers Are Saying
Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 230 ratings
Many reviewers are happy with Mobil Delvac grease, claiming it is exceptionally sticky and waterproof. This grease also receives praise for its value, considering its relatively low cost.
There aren’t many complaints about this grease other than a few who compare it unfavorably to Lucas Red ‘N’ Tacky.
Bottom Line: Best Wheel Bearing Grease
Any wheel-bearing grease with a GC-LB rating from the NLGI is likely to be of a high quality and work well for the majority of automotive applications. Based on our research, we think that Lucas, Mobil, Triax, Sta-Lube, and Valvoline all offer excellent options. The best choice for you may depend on which you can get for the lowest cost.
Wheel Bearing Grease: FAQ
*Data accurate at time of publication.