The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Axle Leaking into brake drum.

I had my rear wheels off (57 chevy 4400), took off the drum and was "cleaning house". The day after I reassembled I notice fluid leaking out some holes on the drum. At first I thought it was brake fluid, but after looking saw it was coming out an area right behind the lugs...

Thought it was maybe a self lubricating thing for the brake? but there's a freakin puddle of it at the bottom of my rim.

This can't be normal? Did I break something while I was in there?

Is it brake fluid or rear gear lube? If it's brake fluid you have a safety issue. If it's gear lube it will ruin your shoes if they get soaked...

Sound like you need to open her up again, you won't sleep good until you know it's safe to drive...

Let us know what you find,

Mike B

not brake fluid, but it's definitely not lube. I'm honestly shocked so much has come out.

I've been scanning the shop manual I have all night, and I think it might be the axle shaft bearing.

I did nothing but wash and air dry everything in the "area".

*sigh* with my luck this is gonna be a hard part to find ;-P

Did you install a new seal?

nope. but I'm thinking that's what the problem is... do you think using compressed air for dry off would have wrecked the seal?

The only thing that is there to leak would be brake fluid(clear) or gear oil(black/oil colored). If it's not either then it is probably water from when you were cleaning it....you didn't get any water in the axle did you, because that would be really bad.

Tad

Not sure where the water would have gotten in if it did... I did a pretty light wash (or so it seemed). I didn't go any deeper than the brake drum being off.

It's thicker than brake fluid, and a lot darker. & it's pretty "clean", like it's coming from somewhere thats sealed off. you know what I mean?
(I wish it wash just water draining out ;-P)

What does it smell like?

Jeff

what does it taste like? regardless if it's brake fluid or gear oil the parts that failed to produce such a situation can be found and fairly cheap. i had an axle seal fail once, the seal was cheap but the relinging of the shoes werent but i had a new set of linings and seals by the time i was done.

Jerk.

It matters if you don't intend on fixing both.

i know from working around these things for some time i have ended up with a number fluids that have made it to my taste buds. in some cases i use the "taste it" method to identify a fluid as a last resort. even though you can identify gas with your nose still cant get used to the taste of gas.

WOW!

I was just looking at a picture I posted online of the progress I made today on the truck. And in the picture I saw the other side of my axle is doing the same thing!!!

AND I was able to get a good look because I had the flash light out... this mystery fluid is a blueish green!

What the heck is goin on guys? :-P there's no way I broke BOTH seals, right?

Sounds like gear lube to me...open it up and have a look!

Mike B

Its got to be either gear lube or brake fluid and you need to identify what it is. Buy a can of brake fluid and see what it smells like. If your leak smells like brake fluid, then thats what it is. If it smells like a skunk, its gear lube. If it has no smell, its not a leak. Its just water left over from washing. Where did you squirt the water? In order to get the drums off a 1 1/2 ton, you had to pull the axle shafts out which exposes the banjo housing. If you got water in the housing, you need to drain the rear end. Water settles to the bottom after a while. I would crack the drain on the 3rd member. If there is water it will come out. If its lube, you will learn how gear lube stinks.

I'm not as familiar with 57's, but I worked on one once and its drums came off without the hubs, like a lot of the earlier models.

I've always enjoyed the smell of used gear oil. I don' know why. Probably the same reason cutting metal with fire is enjoyable.

Who knows?

Jeff

Not sure if I mentioned it or not, but it's on my rear end (duallys).. The hubs are actually IN the brake drums.

HUB > DRUM > RIM > RIM

After seeing the fluids color, I'm positive that it's not brake fluid.

I sprayed the water everywhere. No pressure fitting on the hose or anything just my thumb loosely on the end.

Also, definitely not left over water.

While I was getting rid of rust off of the drums, I noticed that there are four holes that seem as if they are meant for draining this exact thing.

Before I cleaned the rims, the areas where the fluid is collecting now were CAKED with nasty crap built up for years(maybe this fluid?) I find it odd that that fluid would come out... How full of fluid are differentials?

I'd think halfway up that axle (vertically) would be too high for this to be coming out as much as it is?

I'm sorry if it seems that I can't get into this area to give you gents more intel. But I've only got 2 jack stands (borrowed) and I am very much working on the front end (for the next week atleast).

The Truck

^^^ This is the photo I was talking about. You can see on the rear far tire the fluid leaking. (both sides are like this)

that looks to me to be brake fluid me with its signature run down the tire look. what is the level in your master cylinder? if both sides are leaking your M/C should soon be empty.

The axle lube is thick and sitting on a surface it will loose a lot of the smell. As they said, it will ruin your linings if it gets on them.

Either way you'll still eed to pull the wheels and drums to see what going on, if nothing else just piece of mind.

I changed my grease seals on the rear hubs my 46 , put it all together and had a leak on one side. Took it apart and found a small burr on the seal diameter. Buffed it smooth with a flapper wheel,replaced the seal (AGAIN) and it's been fine for 2 years.

Alright, so I finally was able to get the rear tires off again (had to borrow another set of jack stands from a neighbor)

I circled and traced the areas in orange where the fluid seems to be coming from. The friend that lent me the stands was over this morning and smelled the fluid and said it was definitely axle fluid (he's a rock crawlin guy)

Pic 1

Pic 2

I may be wrong but the axle grease is likely coming from t he seal where the hub slides over the axle tube. It then spreads and finds the seams such as where the brake drum slides over the hub. It appears the whole outside of the inner hub that would normally be covered by the the brake drum is wet. If that is the case you should remove hub assembly and replace inner seal.

It has to be gear lube because brake fluid gets no where near the circle on pic 2. In fact the whole inside of the hub looks oily. If the seal were not leaking, it should be rusty.

after seeing your new pics, i agree with john and ken.

You need to replace the axle seal.

Can Car Qwest, Napa, or "the like" order them up for me?

Yes, but they might not have it listed in their books. You should pull one and see if it has an ID number on it, but in worst case, they can measure and get you a seal.

Jeff

Well... I started reading through my shop manual and it looks like there's quite a bit of replacement I need to do while getting to the seal on the axle (bearings, gaskets etc)..

A load of axle fluid got onto both bottom brake linings... How can I tell if they need to be replaced?

I don't want to spend all the money replacing seals and etc now. If I just have to do it again when I replace the brake linings later down the road.

Hopefully that makes sense? (It's been one of those days *zoned out*)

defineitly hub sael gone i,ve replaced hudereds of that type on trucks and buses over the years..
youre brake linings look to be in pretty good order ,,and hardly worn
so if it was mine ide clean the oil of the linings either with brake cleaning solvent or by carefully burning off with a blow torch ,,allthough alot of people wouldnt recomend it its ok on rivited linings if youre carefull then scuff the linings with emery cloth(sandpaper)
be shure to handle the hub assembly gentlely and securely when replacing and dont ,,knock,, the seal on the stub ,,,,,otherwise,, youlle just have to do it all again before you know it

Check the axle for perfect smoothness too, where the seal's rubber inner part rubs... I have a 1 1/2 ton that leaks like mad in the same place as yours because there's a gash that looks like some yay-hoo took a cold chisel to it! I have a lot of trouble with that nick, 90-weight pours through there. Even brand-new seals don't quite do it.

the bearings you will be able to reuse if they have not been damaged. you should inspect them while you have it apart. If you replace seal properly you will likely not have to replace it if you decide to replace shoes at later time. That is the benefit of the outboard drums you can replace shoes without removing hub assembly, the downside of outboard drums is sometimes bearings are ignored and not checked periodically. Oil soaked shoes can cause grabbing.

If your shoes got hit with gear oil, replace them, no 'ifs' or 'buts' on that one.

Jeff

I bet they make a speedi-sleeve that would fix that.

Jeff

what i would do is like jeff says, repace the linings because you will not get the oil out of them. i would also do this. inspect bearings, replace if needed. replace seals, replace wheels cylinders or have them lined and add new kits. new linings. since id be working on the rear i would also replace the brake hose and all brake lines. it will cost you money but when your done everything associated with the rear wheels has been addressed once and done. no sense in chasing one componet at a time when it fails and having to keep going back to replace or repair. the latter will cost more in money, frustration and time.