Morris Minor Owners Club

After replacing all the break system & dong a full service (incl replacing oil in the diff) about 1k miles ago we now have a drip!

Diff Oil is running down from the bottom of the hub down the tyre & pooling..

It's the pffside hub & has contaminated the brake shoes too

2 questions - is it likely to be the hub oil seal (I take it that's a yes!!) & 2nd question is how do I go about replacing it (or can I just tighten up a hub nut or something??)! Car is a 67 F reg 1098 with the newer diff with filler hole on the back.

On checking the oil level in the diff it had lost about 10mm in 2-3 weeks so not too bad yet but will only get worse obviously!

Cleaned all the oil out tonight & had a brief inspection couldn't find an obvious way to check the hub nut was tight (in fact I couldn't find a hub nut as the bit I thought was a cover didn't seem to be...). One thing I did notice was that if I turned the hub backwards & forwards there seemed to be some backlash there, does this suggest anything or is it normal??

Cheers!

It's probably just the paper oil seal that's perished. It's easy enough to replace, just pull out the halfshaft (held in place with one screw I think) and scrape off the old gasket. The fiddly bit is getting the halfshaft to slide back in (marking the position before pulling it out helps).

A certain amount of backlash is normal. As for the leak renew the hub seal, but first you have to remove the half shaft. Then you will see the nut that you couldn't find. There is a paper gasket between the shaft and hub, and also a rubber 'O' ring on some hubs, you can tell if yours should have one, as there is a recess machined in the hub. Renew all these seals. Depending on which side hub you are removing, one is a left hand thread. Make sure you put the hub seal in the right way round.

Hello SM,
also check that the breather on the axle is clear, it is on top adjacent to the differential, an inverted closed cylinder sort of shape.

Alec

Can I use any sort of paper to make up a new seal or do I need to buy one?
My manual only says that it is paper & that it should be about 0.10" thick otherwise it will leak...

Does anyone know whether we should have the O ring on ours? It's a 67 F reg. Were they ever fitted as standard or is it purely an aftermarket add-on??

SALTY...yes, you should have the rubber half shaft flange sealing
ring together with the paper gasket. If you remove the brake drum
you will see the half shaft flange has only one screw securing it,
and you will be able to see where the leak is. If from the rear of
the hub assembly then it is a 'new oil seal job', if from the half
shaft flange then just new gasket and rubber ring. You WILL
have oil leak out when you pull the half shaft so protect your linings.
The NEAR-side hub nut (which you will see when you remove the
half shaft) is a LEFT hand thread. The rubber ring was a factory
fitted upgrade

You WILL
have oil leak out when you pull the half shaft so protect your linings

Thanks Willie, linings are already shot as it's leaking into the brake drum.. Opened it up for a look yesterday but didn't notice whether it was from the flange or the hub itself so I guess I'll have another look today before I take it to bits proper as I want to find out which bits to order...

Also try knocking in the oil seal less far so that it runs on an unworn part.

All sorted now thanks to Willie's generosity! Thanks once again!

For info - it was the new style of hub, a bargain bin socket from halfords (They have a few big-uns they are getting rid of in there for about £1.50 if anyones passing, it's the one on the roundabout on Blendon, I bought all the sizes - for that price they make a cheap drift even if you don't have a nut that fit!!) & a Universal hub puller from the same (about 10 quid) with a socket & plate lined up with the hollow shaft made the job much simpler.. If I'd have had more time & the inclination I would have made the puller, it's not beyond anyones reach....

Amazing how many digs & marks were on the hub etc from careless previous replacement, ran some fine wet & dry over it to smooth any rough edges... Breather was a bit gunky but not blocked so I guess it must have just been age or because I disturbed it all when i did the brakes that caused the leak... (seemed to be leaking from the oil seal primarily not the seal on the end of the half shaft.

There is an oil trap built into the back plate that should take the oildown the outside of the back plate away from the linings. There is a small hole to achieve this it does somtimes get blocked. The lip seal gets hard with age due to the heat generated by the braking. check that the hand brake releases properly and does not drag generating unnessery heat. Keep the brake cables lubed up and make sure the slave cylinder is free in the back plate. All the best Paul

Ahhh - after a couple of oil free weeks it's now started up again as bad as before!
Guess I will try fitting another new kit & really leaving the seal forward this time (it was forward when I pulled it out, I seated the new one right back..).

One more thing, the hub does look pretty battered, is it a good idea to put the seal in with something such as Universal blue or copper grease or something to make sure the oil's not getting down behind it?? I don't think it is but you never know!

Paul - Had brake is well lubed & free, I replaced whole break system about 4 months ago.... Will look for small hole - guess I probably blocked it last winter when I had the Hammerite brush out in the garage!!

Hi Dan,
I was kind of expecting your last post. As there are scratches and dings, and there had been a previous rebuild where they have put the seal slightly offset to run on a different part of the surface and it STILL leaked I wondered if it would leak again in the near future.
Personally I would have a good look as to which parts are an influence and replace as much as possible (or just replace the axle..)
If you're happy to disturb the brake hydraulics and rebleed then a second hand axle may be the best bet

What about the hub assembly? I guess I could replace that.... Will call Bull Motif & see what's available & what they recommend...

Salty...the usual repeat leakage is because the surface of the
AXLE CASING against which the oil seal runs is damaged or simply
worn, not the hub assembly. If you cannot position the new oil seal
so that it runs on an undamaged/unworn section of the casing then,
as RAY says you may have to fit another axle. ( the last one I fitted
cost £25 complete with diff and brakes)!!

Ok, will investigate asap & see what I can do with the position - damn cars!!

Well it keeps you out of mischief!.....Don't forget to wipe a
smear of oil on the new oil seal lip because the oil will take
some time to refill the bearing housing after a strip down.