I'm not sure if Carlsberg did axle overhaul write-ups they'd be the best in the world ? Great write up Heineken.. Good work on your car..
I'm not sure if Carlsberg did axle overhaul write-ups they'd be the best in the world ? Great write up Heineken.. Good work on your car..
It was just like reading Kaz's stuff!
well done taking it on ... thnakfully Kaz done the needful on mine during his refresh on mine
"The value of life can be measured by how many times you soul has been deeply stirred" - Soichiro Honda
My experience is 1-2 out of 6 bearings have wear. When I overhaul axles, I always disamble the bearings like I saw on KAZ posts a few years back. The surface area is rough on some spots, like 80 degrees from 360 degrees. The oem grease is known not to be the best, so I use a better brand.
Largest stocking of used NSX parts in Europe & many service parts in stock. parts inquiry: office@atr-racing.com / phone +43 676 5458032
The OEM grease lasted for >20 years which is more than fine for me.
Regarding replacement grease there a different types of grease for inner and outer joints, according to GKN
From: https://www.saabcentral.com/forums/a.../t-222379.htmlI can only add that another engineer from GKN responded by saying that, "...molybdenum disulphide can clog the spaces between needle bearings and the spaces between the needle bearings and the inner surface of the outer races."
GKN are very clear in their literature to state that cv joint grease - molybdenum type - is not to be used in tripod/plunge bearings, and, that tripod/plunge bearing grease not be used in cv joints.
MD may be fine for a while lubricating the tripod bearing...it may work for a long time under certain conditions, as a few have pointed out. I have no experience here and only bring information from a respected company who developed their own lubricants to work with their own products, new and aftermarket.
Just as a background why it seems to be reasonable going with the Honda recommended grease.
1997 JDM Custom Order AT VIN 1400005 - Stock
Heineken's Garage
How can you tell it lasted well for 20 years? I dont feel it lasted that long, thats maybe the reason inside the bearing are spots of wear as well as on the tripod. It has been discussed many times that the oem grease is not lasting 20 years and its a good idea to use a better one or you change it more often. But I guess its an endless discussion like with engine oil. KAZ Quote: As seen on many UK based NSX, the drive shaft grease was already broken down and turned into ‘melted coffee ice cream’ resulting in lack of lubrication under heavy load.
I dismanteld for sure 20 drive shafts and all had a coffee brown cream.
BTW: The same yellow grease is used on Honda ITR and many other Hondas too. So the NSX grease is not something special. There is only one part number for all 4 boot kits. So there is the same oem grease on all 4 CV joints. Just the amount is different to put in. Look the service manual. BTW: Newest part number for all 4 boots: 42017-SL0-020 and this includes the same grease bottle with yellow grease inside. IT replaced the older numbers 42017-SL0-000 and 42017-SL0-010. I dont know whats the difference is, maybe a change in the metall band, other material of the boots, etc?
Every car manufacturer recommends their own oil, grease things. This must not mean its the best. .
Last edited by austrian type-r; 15-08-2019 at 11:12 AM.
Largest stocking of used NSX parts in Europe & many service parts in stock. parts inquiry: office@atr-racing.com / phone +43 676 5458032
My NSX was built in 1997 and the greases started to brake down recently (no melted coffee ice cream yet), so in my case it lasted for 20 years. Grease is oil trapped in metal soap (in our case, Lithium soap) who's property is breaking down over time, temperature as well as load so everybody's mileage (no pun intended) will vary, of course.
The Honda grease is nothing NSX specific, and that's beyond my point. It's probably regular EP2 Lithium grease but the important thing is that it's without MOSē (molybdenum disulphide) mixed in. MOSē is a solid, dark grey substance (a powder) with a typical particle size of 6 um which (not necessarily) cancause problems in tripod needle bearings. That's why GKN is not recommending it and here is some more information to back that up:
From: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...Number=1833288Technical papers exist which say it is a fact, not fallacy that MoS2 is not recommended for needle bearings.
And I believe the evidence of my own eyes in that years ago I saw many more needle bearing failures which involved the use of MoS2, and that now that I do not use it in needle bearings, I haven't had a single failure. MoS2 will never see any of my u-joint spiders.
My trucks require MoS2 in the propeller shaft splines, but specifically warn against it in the u-joint spiders, and I adhere to this.
When looking at regular Honda FWD drive shafts these use (yellow) grease without MOSē at the tripod and (black) MOSē grease at the CV joints. This matches the technical advice from GKN as well as other sources and sounds sensible to me. Therefore I'll keep it that way. Everybody is free to use whatever they want, of course. It's their car after all
PS: Regarding the part numbers, the metal bands surely changed, other items I don't know.
1997 JDM Custom Order AT VIN 1400005 - Stock
Heineken's Garage