K75 Steering Dampener Grease Substitute

I just learned that the specialized silicone grease that is used in the Steering Damper unit (Fluidbloc) has discontinued by BMW.

Is there a workable substitute for the OEM grease?

If not, any suggestions to an alternative?

Thanks, Noble

Don't know Paul G. or mr.D. may know what to use,any takers?

mrich12000 said:

Don't know Paul G. or mr.D. may know what to use,any takers?

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No facts - but I'd be looking for a thick silicone grease.. some of the Dow Corning vacuum greases are quite thick. It it's too thick the effect will be like too tight steering head bearings (tend to wander and take a "set"..)

Is there a dampner that can be attached to the steering head?

mrich12000 said:

Is there a dampaner that can be attached to the steering head?

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The fluidblock system is the steering dampener. Why not just use the OEM grease - it's still available

Greg:


After checking the fische, it shows NA, as Noble suggested.

I know it was available last year, when I redid my wife"s bike. I need to get a supply now before all the back shelf supplies are gone!

98lee said:

Greg:


After checking the fische, it shows NA, as Noble suggested.

I know it was available last year, when I redid my wife"s bike. I need to get a supply now before all the back shelf supplies are gone!

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Really!!?? Thanks for the tip - I'll see if I can scarf some of the last remaining supplies.

Ted Porter uses Redline synthetic grease.

I called BMW Motorad Customer Service. 1 800 831-1117

They said that that grease is the ONLY approved and recommended grease for that application. They also confirmed that it was no longer available. They had no suggestion. Thanks BMW!


I called four of the local dealers and also Chicago BMW and was able to locate two tubes.

I also spoke with all of their service departments. I got varying answers from "any medium weight silicone grease will work" to "they will work just as well dry" to "what's a fluidblock".

San Jose BMW is in the process of trying to find a replacement source (possibly the OEM) from europe.

Obviously, the thinner the viscosity or the greater the lubricity, the less the dampening.

For very heavy dampening try peanut butter (chunky style)?

98lee said:

I called BMW Motorad Customer Service. 1 800 831-1117

They said that that grease is the ONLY approved and recommended grease for that application. They also confirmed that it was no longer available. They had no suggestion. Thanks BMW!

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Well, for liability reasons, what else are they going to say? But, you're right . . . Thanks BMW.

BMW doesn't make grease, they buy it from some manufacturer. IMHO, any grease of similar spec should work just fine.

breyfogle said:

BMW doesn't make grease, they buy it from some manufacturer. IMHO, any grease of similar spec should work just fine.

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Absolutely true.


Now, if you could please give us those specs, we could all be happy campers.


Mil Spec.?, ASTM Spec.?, Viscosity?, Specific Gravity?, Temp Range?, Evaporation?, Penetration Range?,
Drop Point?, NLGI Grade?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?.

I'm not one to rely on the touch, smell, and taste method if I don't have to.


Trial and error could be a very labor intensive way of doing this:

Disassemble, lube with grease A, Assemble, Test Ride, Not enough/too much dampening
Disassemble, lube with grease B, Assemble, Test Ride, Not enough/too much dampening
Repeat
Repeat


Like I said, San Jose BMW is trying to research the original source.

If someone works for Dow Corning and has a tube of the BMW stuff, they could come up with a similar spec. after they checked it out in their lab.

Otherwise you could follow the recommendations of the service departments that I spoke to: "any medium weight silicone grease", "they work just fine dry", "maybe Vasalene", "what's a Fluidblock?".