Shimano premium grease variants

[marciero]

While I am pretty sure my wheels wont explode if I use Phils, or blue marine, or whatever on the bearings on my new GRX wheels I am still in the precious phase and I am trying to adhere to the specs. Shimano seems to have several types of "Premium Grease", or at least part numbers. The manual lists Premium Grease (Y04110000) for the hub bearings. I am seeing also Y04110010 and Y04110200 on Universal Cycles. The 200 is the familiar green grease. Maybe the others too but cant tell.

What are the differences between these greases? Especially with these newer wheels Shimano seems to be very finicky about which grease goes where, with warnings not to grease certain parts, use different types on different parts, etc.

I know grease is an oft discussed and there are some threads but I didnt see this.

[Black Dog]

Just get a tube of park synthetic grease or honestly any synthetic grease. There is no advantage to using Shimano grease and no disadvantage to using any other brand.

[.RJ]

I have heard that the shimano grease is the same as Motororex Bike Grease 2000

[Mikej]

This shimano numbers are most likely the same product but different quantities. Tub, tube, small jar.

[marciero]

Originally Posted by Mikej

This shimano numbers are most likely the same product but different quantities. Tub, tube, small jar.

Ahh. hadnt thought of that.

[herb5998]

Shimano Premium is the same as the Motorex grease (Shimano NA distributes Motorex bike prodcuts). The really specific Shimano greases/oils are related to the Nexus/Alfine type hub systems, that vary from specific gear oils to specific weight greases.

[catchourbreath]

Also the white cable grease!

[batman1425]

I'm still using the same tub of waterproof bearing grease I got at Menards in the early 2010's. Its indistinguishable from any other "bike" product I've used. Pretty sure I paid less than $10 for it. Still have about half the container.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by catchourbreath

Also the white cable grease!

The shimano cable grease is a little bit of magic sometimes

[catchourbreath]

Originally Posted by batman1425

I'm still using the same tub of waterproof bearing grease I got at Menards in the early 2010's. Its indistinguishable from any other "bike" product I've used. Pretty sure I paid less than $10 for it. Still have about half the container.

Something special about smell of slightly rancid grease.

[catchourbreath]

Originally Posted by .RJ

The shimano cable grease is a little bit of magic sometimes

TCS taught me to dab the guide under bb and the ramp of shifters where the cable pops out. Viola magical

[false_Aest]

Motorex is the way to go if you can't find the Shimano stuff.

Consider buying one of these too: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CWDQNRL
They make life easier.

[Erikg]

When Shimano came out with the micro-spline hubs (the newer ones with the direct engagement) there were lot's of issues, failures and creaking. Soon after, Shimano came out with a revised service bulletin that added a new grease (Special Seal Grease for Free Hub) just for the hub seals and mating surfaces. This was not to be confused with bearing grease which is used for the freewheel body teeth that are internal to the hub. They also revised the plastic spacer material for all hubs to the one used on xtr (apparently a better performing plastic).

I suspect if regular grease is used at the seal surfaces it can migrate into the areas where the coil spring and engagement ratchets are and gum up the system.

I'm not sure if the new GRX wheels that you have are direct engagement hubs. If so, I'd get the special seal grease and the Premium Grease (Y04110000) per the tech docs. These new direct engagement hubs are apparently very finicky with grease type. Search YouTube on all the issues the first gen xtr hubs had.

FWIW I have the xtr m9100 direct engagement hubs and re-built them last year per the Shimano tech docs and have had no issues. I didn't want to chance it by using a regular anybrand bearing grease on the re-build.