The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop oil from my hub??? ALL FIxed

I have a stream of oil leaking out of my hub,its a slow leak,I wiped it down last night and went back to look this morning and the stream was back. It got all over My break pad..you know made a mess.It is a 55 3/4...I am not sure if it is Brak fluid? i am not sure what the hell it is thats leaking, i am not a Mech...but learning as i go. i just dont want to start busting nuts off for no reason..Any Ideas? MIke G

Mike G.

Whatever it is you're going to have to 'bust nuts', and after the drum is off, all will be revealed!

Stuart

Time to turn on the compressor....I knew it..

Hy Mike G., Are your axle bolts tight? The leak may just be loose axle retaining bolts, try tightening them up first and see how loose they are. Hope that helps.

I will try that..By Hand> Or air tools..

You are going to have to replace those brake shoes either way.

Thats what I thought,,(Replace Pads)..they were ready for replace all around. so now is a good time. Time get out my truck Manual..ha ha ha

Boy...I wish I had some of the 1955 tools they used back then.I guess i will wing it..It does not look to complicated,the manual has a nice exploded view of the wheel hub.

Mike you said a ¾ ton right, are you talking about a front hub or rear??
I have seen the fronts packed with chassis grease and this will turn to liquid and run back into the inside of the drum when it gets hot. The back could be the seal or gasket leaking allowing hypoid grease into the drum. And you seem to stress “pads”, is this not a stock brake system on your truck, it should have “shoes”.
Denny G

I meant shoes...sorry, its the Back passanger side, I took off the axle shaft,and there was a metal gasket between the axle shaft and hub,it seemed to have that rubber instant gasket seal on it...there was oil running out at this time. I jacked it up a bit more so the oil would stop running out.I tightend the adjusting nut lock,and I am going to put some gasket seal on the metal gasket before I put the shaft back in. I have a grease gun..should I load it with universal grease at this time? M/G

If it's only leaking at the axle flange, not out of the brake drum, you've found the problem. Clean everything up with a solvent like spray brake cleaner or carb cleaner, reapply some silicone gasket sealer (just a small bead) and reassemble it. Those axle bolts need about 65 ft./lb. of torque or so, so don't be timid. You don't need to pack the hub with grease; it's lubed by the rear end oil. Just keep the oil level in the center housing level with the fill hole, so a little can flow down the axle tubes and lube the hubs.

If it's leaking out of the bottom of the inside of the brake drum, ignore all of the above and tear down and replace the brakes, and change the inner grease seal on the hub while you're in there.
Jerry

Awsome...thanks,,1 more Question, all I have is air tools and manual ratchets, i do not have a tourq wrench..What should i use

Hy Mike G. A torque wrench is a very basic tool if you're going to work on your truck, so buy one, or rent one for this job and buy one when you can. As Hotrod Lincoln said the studs must be tight, they transmit all the power from the axle to the hub, hope that helps.

I agree...I knew i would need one sooner or later..this is probably a good enough reason to buy 1..sure would like to wait til I got down to the Colorado flee market though

I just noticed something, In my shop Manual it shows them leaving in 2 bolts when the shaft was taken out...Was that important..and will I be able to put the shaft back in and lined up corectly as i didnt leave 2 bolts in the holes like The Illistration.

Thanks Hotrod...all fixed..I did what you said and no more problem...Awsome...M/G

Some local parts stores rent Tools.