TRE Tripod Grease - 100g Tube - 0200072

Purpose-built for tripod CV joints in high-performance applications, this is not a generic CV or chassis grease.  It is specifically formulated to support the unique rolling + sliding contact conditions found in tripod joints—where efficiency, plunge smoothness, and durability all matter.  One tube should grease ~4 tripods.

Why Tripod-Specific Grease Matters

Tripod joints operate very differently than ball-style CV (Rzeppa) joints or traditional bearings:

• Mixed Rolling + Sliding Contact
  Tripod rollers both roll and slide within the housing grooves, especially as angle increases. This creates a unique lubrication regime that requires both low friction and strong film integrity.
• Low Friction = Higher Efficiency
  Proper grease selection helps maintain the ~99%+ efficiency these joints are capable of at low angles, minimizing parasitic drivetrain losses and heat generation.
• Controlled Plunge Behavior
  Grease directly influences plunge force and NVH. Incorrect grease can cause stick-slip behavior, harshness, or resistance to suspension movement.
• High Localized Contact Loads
  Tripod rollers impart significant line contact loads into the housing. The grease must maintain film strength without excessive shear or breakdown.

Why Standard CV Grease Is Not Ideal

Most “CV grease” is designed for Rzeppa (ball-type) joints, not tripods.

These greases typically include:

• Solid lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) or graphite
• Higher levels of extreme pressure (EP) additives
• Higher base oil viscosity and tackifiers

These are beneficial for:

• Ball/race point contact under very high load
• High articulation angles
• Protection during boundary lubrication conditions

However, in tripod joints they introduce downsides:

• Needle Roller Compromise
  Tripod rollers rely on needle bearings for low-friction rolling. Solid lubricants like moly can plate onto surfaces and disrupt proper rolling behavior, effectively increasing drag or promoting micro-skidding.
• Increased Internal Friction
  Heavier base oils and solid additives can increase viscous drag and shear losses, reducing efficiency and generating unnecessary heat.
• Degraded Plunge Performance
  High-tack, moly-rich greases can create resistance to axial movement, leading to poor plunge response and undesirable NVH characteristics.
• Contamination Sensitivity
  In small needle rollers solid particles can behave more like fine abrasives or flow disruptors than beneficial boundary lubricants.

Why TRE Tripod Grease Is Different

This grease is formulated specifically for tripod joint behavior:

• Optimized additive package without heavy solid lubricants
• Designed to preserve true rolling behavior in needle bearings
• Balanced viscosity for low drag and stable film strength
• Tuned for smooth, consistent plunge motion
• Ideal for FSAE and motorsport drivetrain systems