Originally Posted by Pete Hamer
Between Calcium, lithium, amd polyurea thickened grease, the calcium is the worst for bicycles. Marine bearing grease is thickened with calcium. Lithium is used in roller bearing applications. This is because roller bearings aren't as hard on the grease so it is not necessary to pay the extra price for polyurea. Polyurea is more durable and is the best grease for ball bearings.
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Pete, this is very interesting stuff, though seems to contradict a lot of folks' experience. My "West Marine Wheel Bearing Grease" does not have a complete ingredient list but does say "lithium complex". There is no mention of any calcium in it.
If calcium is bad for ball bearings, I am not sure why marine grease would contain it, since marine grease is meant for use on ball bearings... ball bearings that get immersed in water, to be exact
