The main thing is that the bike is well lubricated, no matter with what? No, unfortunately it doesn't work that way, with the wrong grease on the bike you're really in a pickle. What can bike grease do, what lubricants are there and when do you need them? You'll find out here in the Bike Blog!
What is bike grease?
Bike grease, assembly paste, lubricants, grease... there are very different pastes, mixtures, and concoctions for bicycles. Generally, the grease forms a film that facilitates the installation of new bike parts , reduces friction, or simply protects and maintains bike parts. There are different greases for different purposes around the bike, and here we take a closer look at them one by one. This article is about all possible bike greases, but NOT about drivetrain lubrication (so not “chain grease" or chain wax!), because that is a topic in itself. We will not go into exact details about manufacturing and composition here, as each manufacturer has its trade secrets, you only need to know the following:
- Bike grease is viscous to solid, which is the obvious difference from oily bike lubrication.
- It is delivered in a tube or a small pot.
- You can brush it on, use a grease gun, or apply it with your fingertip.
- Due to its viscous consistency, it stays in place longer and is not washed away during bike washing or tours in the rain.
- It prevents water from entering screw connections and causing rust.
- Depending on the type, bike grease can make it easier to loosen screw connections or “stick” the screw, form a sliding film, or prevent noise.
- There are some manufacturers, Peaty’s and Muc-Off for example, who pay special attention to environmentally friendly ingredients . Their products are harmless to groundwater and biodegradable.
- High-quality greases for bicycles also withstand high and very low temperatures, are pressure-resistant, and not water-soluble.
- Before applying grease to the bike, you should clean and dry the area in question well.
- If you want to get rid of the grease, you need degreaser.
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Warning, pitfall 1: Bike grease for assembly must not be used on connections for which the manufacturer recommends or has already applied threadlocker during assembly. Warning, pitfall 2: Some manufacturers strongly recommend the use of assembly grease for certain screw connections, while others explicitly do not. You should always adhere to this, otherwise the warranty may be void. |
Assembly paste or assembly grease
General bike grease can do a little bit of everything, it lubricates, helps with assembly, and prevents seized screw connections. Assembly grease is often also a good protection against rust and moisture. Therefore, it is recommended to coat screws that are exposed on the bicycle and can come into contact with water (so basically: all of them) with assembly grease before they are screwed in. You often find such grease under the English term "Grease".
Assembly bicycle grease from Peaty's
How to use bicycle assembly grease:
- Apply the assembly grease to the cleaned surfaces.
- Now you can connect the bicycle parts.
- Excess can be wiped off with a soft cloth.
Where do you need this bicycle grease?
Assembly grease can be applied to all screw connections (please follow the manufacturer's recommendation!). It works on axles, when installing new pedals, the parts of the gear group, the bottom bracket, and also on cleats. It is not intended for chain/drivetrain lubrication!
Why do you need this bicycle grease?It prevents the reaction of different metals and thus the formation of rust. It protects surfaces, screws do not rust tight, do not seize, and at the same time, it can reduce squeaking noises. |
Copper Paste or Anti-Seize
If you leave a screw in place long enough, it can happen that you can no longer unscrew it. Then it has "seized." Even worse is "contact corrosion," where sensitive metals react, rust forms, and the parts literally stick together. In such a case, you often only get the bicycle parts apart with brute force (although many bicycle mechanics swear by a bath in cola...). To prevent this from happening, you can apply a special bicycle assembly grease to the screw during installation. Here, copper particles form a barrier between the metals and thus prevent stuck screws. In Germany, this grease is called copper paste; "against seizing" is called "anti-seize" in English, which is why this designation is often found alongside "Copper-Paste". This assembly grease also brings a bit of bling-bling to the bicycle workshop, as you can see in our cover image!
Copper paste from Muc-off
How to use anti-seize grease:
- Apply the grease to the cleaned surface or screw
- Attach the bicycle parts
- Excess grease can be wiped off with a cloth
Where do you need this bicycle grease?
At all connections that you want to loosen again. This bicycle grease also works if you want to install a metal seat post into a metal frame.
Why do you need this bicycle grease?It prevents screws from seizing or sticking and becoming impossible to loosen. At the same time, it minimizes squeaking noises. |
Bicycle grease that sticks: Threadlocker
If you are bouncing over rough terrain with your MTB , the bicycle is subjected to enormous vibrations. Other bicycles also get shaken up well. No problem – as long as the screw connections hold. However, vibrations can cause screws to loosen, and then you have a problem! There are bicycle greases (in this case more like “glue”) from different manufacturers that ensure that the screw connections do not loosen unintentionally. You can also find this type of assembly grease under the English term “Threadlocker.” There are different strength levels – the stronger the formula, the better the connection holds. However, the screws are also harder to loosen again, especially if a “high-strength mixture” has been applied.
Threadlocker from Liqui-Moly
How to use threadlocker:
- The product is applied to the thread of the screw.
- You can apply the grease simply with your fingertip.
- The screw can be screwed in as usual.
- Residues can be wiped off with a soft cloth.
- It then hardens over the next few hours and secures the screw connection.
Where do you need this bicycle grease?
With threadlocker, you can secure all screws you find on your bike, from the seat clamp to the luggage rack strut, also suitable for cleat screws.
Why do you need this bicycle grease?Threadlocker prevents screw connections from loosening due to vibration while on the go. It also seals the screw connection. It is recommended to secure only screws that really need it. Where it is not really needed, this sticky bicycle grease will only make your life unnecessarily difficult. |
Bearing grease and ball bearing grease
Various bicycle components function with the help of bearings – ball bearings or cone bearings. Like all moving parts on the bicycle, these bearings are subject to wear. This means, conversely, that they last significantly longer with cleaning and maintenance. The maintenance of industrial bearings and ball bearings is, however, more of a task for advanced bicycle mechanics. We mention the associated grease here only briefly and for the sake of completeness. Attention, some bicycle bearings are explicitly intended to be serviced by the manufacturers themselves; if you disassemble them, the warranty will be void!
Bearing grease for bicycles from Peaty's
How to use this bicycle grease:
To grease a bearing, you usually have to remove and disassemble it first. This is advanced mechanic work and therefore not to be discussed in a short guide!
Where do you need this bicycle grease?
Ball bearing grease is used wherever bearings need to be lubricated. Bearings are found in the headset (steering), bottom bracket, pedals, or wheel hubs.
Why do you need this bicycle grease?In principle, ball bearing grease on a bicycle ensures that the bearings function smoothly, remain clean and dry, and at the same time keeps wear under control. |
Carbon Assembly Paste
Bicycle parts made of carbon should only be clamped with very limited torque, as too much pressure would cause them to break. Carbon paste contains particles that increase friction and thus improve grip with little force applied.
There is a detailed post about carbon paste in the bike blog, if you want to know more, you should definitely check it out!
Carbon Gripper from Muc-off
How to use carbon assembly grease:
- Apply the grease to the surfaces to be screwed
- Screw the clamps while observing the specified Nm (use a torque wrench!)
- You can then wipe off any residue with a soft cloth
Where do you need this bicycle grease?
Wherever carbon parts are to be installed, this grease is mandatory. It is used on carbon to carbon, but can also be used on carbon/aluminum or carbon/other materials combinations.
Why do you need this bicycle grease?It improves the grip between bicycle parts made of carbon, so they can be screwed with less force. |
Assembly Paste Against Creaking Noises
Cracking, creaking, or squeaking – no matter what you call it... it's annoying! A bicycle should not make noises, because if it does, there is always the uneasy feeling that something is wrong.
If your bike makes noises, you should always first check if there are any reasons that need to be fixed! Only then can you try to eliminate the noises by greasing.
Image © Creak Freak Bicycle Assembly Grease by RSP
How to use bicycle grease to prevent noise:
- First, let's check if the noise is due to a repairable damage!
- If not, apply the anti-squeak grease to the affected components.
- Reassemble the affected parts.
Where do you need this bicycle grease?
This assembly lubricant is applied between squeaking or creaking bicycle parts.
Why do you need this bicycle grease?It can work when connections on your bicycle make noises that do not require repair. |
Bicycle greases – read more…
As you can see, there are plenty of different bicycle lubrications for various purposes. Gradually, we will take a closer look at them in the Bike Blog and highlight their uses, you can already read these posts:
Title image: Muc-off
