I love the wheel bearing grease that actually has a bit of fiber in it. Sort of looks like duraglass before it's mixed up. BUT while this stays on a wheel bearing very very well, it won't migrate, so no cigar for this operation. If you are taking the bearings out to repack, it's the hot ticket.
But for migrating, you need a smooth grease. Pay close attention to the drop point. The drop point is the temperature where the grease will thin out and start to flow, and drop off of device. A really good grease has a drop point of 500 deg F. IF the drop point is too thin (low deg F.) the grease will run out of the bearings, and perhaps through seals and leave what ever it is you are trying to lube lacking grease. Too low of a drop point will allow disc brakes to heat the hub and empty it. Drum brakes could use a lower drop point than disc.
So you don't really want it to migrate due to a low drop point. It defeats the purpose. You want it to migrate from flow caused by volume, rotation, and centrifical (sp?) force. Most quality wheel bearing grease will do this. Do not use conventional chassie grease. It's water resistance may be excellent, but the drop point is too low for bearings. It is possible to get a grease to do both jobs, but be carefull selecting them if this is what you want to do. I prefer to use two different greases.
Most synthetic greases work quite well, but still pay attention to the specs. Some are specfic purpose, and are not sutable for bearing use. Let me clarify, high speed, high pressure bearing use. Some bearing grease works very well at low rpm even under severe load, but won't do for a wheel bearing. Perhaps a truck 5th wheel. Read the labels.
kstyer2010-01-03 20:24:31