Why does every shop use that Park Tool grease for headsets?

Was down at Bicycle Habitat on 77th yesterday helping a buddy with a used bike he bought. Saw the mechanic slathering Park Tool Polylube 1000 on a headset install like it was going out of style. Doesn't that stuff break down over time with water? I've been using Phil Wood waterproof grease for 8 years and never had a creak. What am I missing here?

3 comments

3 Comments

michael80316d ago

Didnt some YouTuber test that Park stuff and find out it actually sheds water after like 500 miles of spray? I remember reading on a forum that Phil Wood is basically the gold standard for stuff that sits near water, so youre probably right to stick with it. Mechanics use Park cause its cheap and comes in big tubs for the shop, not cause its the best.

abbyhall16d ago

I'll be honest, I've definitely been that person who bought Park Tool grease just because it was sitting right there on the shelf and I didn't want to think too hard about my life choices. But then my buddy's headset started making this weird grinding noise after a rainy century and I had to take the whole thing apart to clean it out. Now I'm the guy with a tub of Phil Wood that's probably going to outlive me and my bike and maybe my grandkids too. It's like the difference between buying a cheap rain jacket that leaks after one wash versus shelling out for something that actually keeps you dry. Yeah mechanics use Park because it's cheap in bulk and works fine for most things, but for headsets that see real water? I learned my lesson the hard way.

samreed16d ago

The real issue nobody mentions is how the headset bearings are sealed in the first place.