Castrol LM or CL grease?

[paul wilks]

Originally Jowett specified CL grease for chassis etc and Heavy grease for hubs. Later lubrication charts showed LM as the preferred grease. Searching the Castrol website I see that both LM and CL are still available, although LM seems more readily available from say Halfords.
Given the choice, which do other Javelin/Jupiter owners use?
Does it matter if you do not rally/race your car?

Thanks for the advice (as ever).

Paul

[Forumadmin]

I would recommend a non melting grease in the hubs , such as Castrol HTB. This prevents grease getting onto brake shoes if your seals are knackered and prevents it dripping out of the bleed hole. Ideal for Alpine mountain passes. You need to wash out all old grease.
I found that before switching I was changing front wheel bearings regularly, not changed the Jup ones for 15 years now and also do not need to grease every 500 miles.

On the chassis/king pins a salt and water resisting grease (Castrol CL) based on Calcium is better than LM which is based on hygroscopic lithium. A moybdenum disulphide additive is also useful in grease and oils.

[jowettgeoff]

Another way to avoid grease issues with front wheel bearings is to use either 'sealed' or 'shielded' self-lubricating types. Both are pre-greased. The former have rubberised covers to keep the grease in, and the latter have more durable metal covers. I've used both types successfully (also on Alpine passes!). Late suspension shielded inner bearings are (depending on manufacturer) part-number RLS8ZZ or LJ1ZZ. Outer shielded bearings are RMS6ZZ or MJ34ZZ. Other manufacturers use different codes. Because the bearings are sealed, there's no need to use an axle oil seal. I always reckoned this was worth 1/10th of a second round Silverstone! They can be obtained from simplybearings.co.uk for about £7 each + vat. The usual disclaimer applies to this tip. All I can say is that they've worked for me over many years!

[paul wilks]

Thanks for this both of you. How do I wash out all old grease? Wouldn't this entail dismantling the hubs?

[paul wilks]

That reminds me! I did fit one 'sealed for life' set of bearings on nearside front hub. Supplied by Bill Lock. Hope 'sealed for life' means what it says on the tin. I won't be doing any Alpine drives, though!

Paul

[Forumadmin]

Take off the hub; but probably no need to extract the bearings. Just take out carefully as much grease as you can with brush or knife, then wash out with a degreaser or petrol. Blow out with air till dry. Check bearings run freely and are not worn. Then pack with new grease. You need to only fill half full. Rotate bearings to coat them. Refit.