Morris Minor Owners Club

Took Tim for his first drive yesterday parked back up outside the house went back out to the car 10 minutes later and there was a patch of oil (definitely oil) under the nearside wheel. It was dripping off the bottom of the sping .

Just wondered if there were any common problems to look for before I start looking.

He looked so nice just parked up. Now I'm driving him the problems start to rear their ugly heads. All part of the fun I'm told

Rear wheel I would imagine? If so leaking damper would be the likely cause. Just make sure it's not brake fluid.

Could also be oil from the rear axle getting into the rear brake drum and finding it's way down onto the deck. Just look for the highest point where the fluid is appearing and you will have the source of the leak.

My axle pinion seal leaked after a long layup. I changed all seals pinion and rear wheel seals and I couldn't believe how worn they were, all oiltight now!

most likely is that axle oil seal has been leaking - it fills up the brake drum and finds its way to the floor when you stop.
most of the time it is not a bad job to do - however if the hub is worn you can get problems to get the new seal to work.

If it's dropping oil off the spRing - it's more likely to be a brake fluid leak - possibly from the bundy pipe connection into the banjo - so check fluid level urgently and inspect the pipe connection before driving it again.

Clean the axle off today and took a really good look at it.

Turns out there's a crack in the axle

I need to source myself a new one

Why not "weld" up the crack ?

as well as being along the axle it's right the way around too at the 'wheel end'.

Not sure if it's possible and I certainly don't have the skills to do it

Oh. OK, that sounds nasty! If it was just a crack along the length then any of the epoxy chemical kits you can buy would have done the job. As its a radial crack too then I would source a replacement axle. At least you can fit new spring and mount bushes at the same time as these are sure to be shot too

Wow - that's a new one ! I've heard of them rusting through under the spring platform - but never heard of cracking.

Yep it's a deffinate crack

Tried Chemical metal. Fine while the car was stood overnight didn't drip a bit of oil. Took it for a drive pulled back up outside the house 10 minutes later there was a patch of oil on the ground

It will have to be welding!

bmcecosse wrote:It will have to be welding!

Yep. My guy knows a guy who's gonna take a look at it for me sometime this week I hope. Fingers crossed it can be welded and wont have to be swapped

I would get the axle off meantime - he won't be able to weld it properly on the car.