Mystery Oil

[mrshannon]

Earlier today I removed the passenger side front wheel and revealed a rather alarming oil leak coming from somewhere in the front hub when I popped off the hub cap! If it's not clear from the photo it seems to be escaping from the hole in the middle and is also the same on the inside of the hub .

Has anyone seen this before?

[frame][/frame]

[mrshannon]

FYI - the image uploader seems to have inverted the photograph if it looks a bit strange...

[polo2k]

Probably wheel bearing grease, it might have god liquid with the recent heat, probably worth wipping the drum off and centre nut, then repack the bearings with some high temp grease and reset them. nothing too severe

[bmcecosse]

But check for roughness when spinning the wheel - and does it spin freely? And of course - any sign of play in the bearings.

[mrshannon]

Thanks fellas. Seems to spin fine so I'll give the repacking a go - I've not done my homework on that yet but does it involve removing the drums or is it pretty straight forward?

[bmcecosse]

It involves removing the hub.......

[ian.mcdougall]

do you have a cap on the hub as it looks like there may not be one or it could be the weird effect of turning the wheel inside out

[chickenjohn]

yes, I agree- melted bearing grease- either the wrong grease was used or you have another problem- such as binding brakes causing the hub to heat up.

Take the drum off and check for stuck wheel cylinders etc. The drum should rotate easily by hand with the wheel off.

[mrshannon]

Thanks. Yes, there is a cap on the hub but I'll have a nose inside and see how it looks before getting carried away and removing the hub.

p.s. Is it much of a risk driving the odd short journey if I'm losing hub grease?

[bmcecosse]

Should be fine - IF the wheels spins freely.