ASTM D4290-02

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An American National Standard
Designation:D4290–02
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Leakage Tendencies ofAutomotive Wheel
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Bearing Grease UnderAccelerated Conditions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4290; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope uniformlydispersed,andcapableofformingarelativelystable,
gel-like structure with the liquid lubricant.
1.1 This test method covers a laboratory procedure for
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
evaluating leakage tendencies of wheel bearing greases when
3.2.1 automotive wheel bearing grease, n— a lubricating
tested under prescribed conditions.
grease specifically formulated to lubricate automotive wheel
1.2 The values stated in SI units, except apparatus dimen-
bearings at relatively high grease temperatures and bearing
sions,aretoberegardedasthestandard.Apparatusdimensions
speeds.
in inches are to be regarded as the standard.
3.2.2 leakage, n—of wheel bearing grease, separation and
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
overflow of grease or oil from the bulk grease charge, induced
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
by high temperatures and bearing rotation.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4. Summary of Test Method
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
4.1 The test grease is distributed in a modified, automobile
statements, see 8.1-8.4.
front wheel hub-spindle-bearings assembly.While the bearings
2. Referenced Documents are thrust-loaded to 111 N, the hub is rotated at 1000 rpm and
the spindle temperature maintained at 160°C for 20 h. Leakage
2.1 AFBMA Standard:
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of grease or oil, or both, is measured, and the condition of the
AFBMA Standard 19 1974 (ANSI B.3.19-1975)
bearing surface is noted at the end of the test.
3. Terminology
5. Significance and Use
3.1 Definitions:
5.1 This test method differentiates among wheel bearing
3.1.1 lubricant, n—any material interposed between two
greases having distinctly different high-temperature leakage
surfaces that reduces the friction or wear between them.
characteristics.Itisnottheequivalentoflongtimeservicetests.
3.1.2 lubricating grease, n—a semifluid to solid product of
5.2 This test method has proven to be helpful in screening
a dispersion of a thickener in a liquid lubricant.
greases with respect to leakage tendencies for automotive
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Thedispersionofthethickenerformsa
wheel bearing applications.
two-phase system and immobilizes the liquid lubricant by
surface tension and other physical forces. Other ingredients are
NOTE 1—It is possible for skilled operators to observe changes in
commonly included to impart special properties. grease characteristics that can occur during the test, such as grease
condition. Leakage is reported as a quantitative value, whereas the
3.1.3 thickener, n—in lubricating grease, a substance com-
evaluation of grease condition is subject to differences in personal
posed of finely-divided particles dispersed in a liquid lubricant
judgment among operators and cannot be used effectively for quantitative
to form the product’s structure.
measurements.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The solid thickener can be fibers (such
as various metallic soaps) or plates or spheres (such as certain
6. Apparatus
non-soap thickeners) which are insoluble or, at the most, only
6.1 Test Assembly (Figs. 1 and 2).
very slightly soluble in the liquid lubricant. The general
6.1.1 Custom-made Wheel Hub-Spindle-Bearing Assembly
requirements are that the solid particles be extremely small,
(Fig. 3).
6.1.2 Oven, electrically heated by 1800 watt heater, thermo-
1 statically controlled to maintain spindle temperature at 160 6
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 1.5°C.
D02.G0 on Lubricating Grease. 1
6.1.3 Spindle Drive Motor, ⁄4 hp, 120 volts dc with 1725
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 2002. Published February 2003. Originally
rpm speed control for the hub; motor torque is indicated by a
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D 4290–94 (1999).
2
meter equipped with an adjustable, automatic cutoff.
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
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