Rear hub "leaking oil"

[fenderbender]

Just noticed I am getting a thin lubricant weeping down the inside frame of the offside rear hub carrier. It is spraying the inside of the road wheel with crud.

There is no sign of damage to the CV joint boots or the circlips which hold them in place.

I assume the nearest sources of fluid are the braking system and the diff. I discount both as the (1) brake pipes & calipers 100% leak free, and the mystery leak is definitely not brake fluid, (2) the diff is leak free.

I therefore conclude my problem must be hub or CV joint grease which is overheating - probably because either the driveshaft CV joint or hub bearing could be on its way out.

Anybody out there had a similar problem... or have I overlooked something simple? Useful to know before I get the socket set out and start spending time and money!!

[GreenV8S]

I can't fault your reasoning.

[Rum Runner]

What colour is the lube , if its graphite grey then prob C.V grease.

[fenderbender]

Rum Runner said:

What colour is the lube , if its graphite grey then prob C.V grease.

Brilliant! I had forgotten the greases were different colours. Trouble is there is not very much of it and it's all contaminated with brake dust so is black anyway. Smell and taste have not helped either

I propose to clean the thing up and keep an eye on it as I just might (a big might) have not helped matters by driving a brisk mile or two the other week ... with the handbrake on (Is there a smilie yet for dumbass moron?)

If all else fails I'll take the lot to bits and see what's what.

[GreenV8S]

fenderbender said:

I just might (a big might) have not helped matters by driving a brisk mile or two the other week ... with the handbrake on

That's a classic way to melt the grease out of a wheel bearing.

[scoule]

My Grif has this too, I was told it was the inner wheel bearing seal failing.

[fenderbender]

As this was my original post I can now report that the cause was seepage of lubricant between the hub end CV joint gaiter and the half shaft.

Took me a while to get round to doing it (!!) but I have now replaced these gaiters with a neat one piece design from Cl*v*r Tr*v*r and the problem has gone away.

The worst bit was cleaning the accumulation of grease and filth from the inside surfaces of the road wheel!