Originally Posted by
FBinNY
...The grinding you hear might be grit in the gaps between the moving parts. Even if some grit does penetrate deeper the rolling action will move it of the track where it remains trapped by the grease. (Think of the dirt lines at the ends of windshield wiper strokes). So I add the OP's concerns to my very long list of things to not obsess over.
Yep... I was pretty surprised when I re-greased a UO-8 that I had been ridding in Galveston. I had occasionally ridden through deep clear water when it rained. After a year I pulled everything apart as I saw sand collections around the rim of the hubs. It looked very much like salt granules and may have been. After taking the hubs apart I was totally surprised at the amount of sand and grit just outside of the bearings. Yet I did not experience any change in sound or friction....
By the way, I use Marine Grease on everything, not that I really need it...