Black or dark green grease can have moly or graphite in it and used to be
petroleum based.  Usually the red grease is synthetic based.  Not always,
there are some exceptions out there.  :-)

GregM

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Smith (Smirby)
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2020 1:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Wheel bearings

Thanks, ORR!

I found this video, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6FROo1ko58
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6FROo1ko58>

His technique and commentary is quite informative.

Lots of good tips there, and interestingly his new grease is quite black,
leading me to hope that my black grease is just the choice of the previous
installer.

> On May 6, 2020, at 7:18 AM, OlRivrRat <olrivrrat@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>               Richard
>
>       It may only mean that someone has greased 1 more recently than the
other
>
> & used a different & better grease ~ They are Very Easy to Remove, Clean &
Grease
>
> so that is what I would choose to do But also do a Thorough Inspect of the
Spindles
>
> & Bearings durring that process ~
>
>                                                       ORR ~ DeanB
>
>
> On 5 May , 2020, at 7:29 PM, Richard Smith (Smirby) wrote:
>
>> I have been messing around with the wheels, changing the stock 14" steel
wheels to larger alloy wheels.
>>
>> One of my attempts involved putting spacers on the front and I had to
take the dust caps off the hubs (very snug fit on those spacers).
>>
>> In doing that I noticed that while the drivers side had nice red grease
oozing out, the passenger side was black and more runny looking.
>>
>> Am I correct to assume that this is a bad sign and front wheel bearings
are in my future?
>>
>> I did spin that wheel and it was more or less exactly like the other
front  wheel, and did not rumble or grind.
>>
>> Advice most appreciated.
>>
>> Richard Smith
>> smith@sfu.ca
>