Black fluid on wheels

[errolflyn]

I recently took off all my wheels on my 54 series 2 to repaint and painted them cream from black . I took it out on Sunday for the first time and noticed black oil or fluid dripping from the outside of the two back wheels , could it be break fluid

[minijojo]

...... i would think it is. Brake fluid normally resolves the paint, that´s another point you can look for. For safety reason, take off the drums and inspect the brake cylinders.

[BAS587]

Could possibly be hub seals leaking a bit & the rotation of the wheels spinning outwards.

[busguy]

A black 1954 car would have had black wheels originally. Don't spoil it with cream! The leak was probably the car protesting about the colour change!

[bmcecosse]

Most likely oil from the axle - remove wheels and brake drums and check urgently! You may be able to catch it before it spreads over the brake shoes.......

[errolflyn]

I would t know what to do I'm new to this it's going in for a service in two weeks before I start to use it . I found a garage near me that specialises in minors and not to expensive I'll get them to look at it , I don't mind doing easy stuff but the breaks IDE rather get a professional to look

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

If it still has the 803 axle the oil seal gasket has probably failed, theres no O ring in them like the later cars to help compress and keep the oil in. Probably needs a need gasket and a smear of instant gasket to help.

[bmcecosse]

As above -probably leaked out when you took the wheels off. Should be checked urgently before it ruins the brake shoes.

[Trickydicky]

Is the cross head screw in place on both sides? If not it could explain if the fluid leaked out after removing the wheels.

[kennatt]

Assuming that it is oil from the axle and not brake fluid. The early ser 11 only had a paper gasket between the half shaft and the hub. This joint depends on the wheel nuts to hold it tight as well as a small countersunk screw,Its common for this joint to leak if a wheel is taken off.Mine always leaks unless I only jack up one side so that the oil runs down the axle to the other side.Its possible,, that it has contaminated the brake shoes but unlikely, BMC knew about the problem and kindly made a drain slot on the back plate so that the oil just ran out onto the wheel. Needs checking out, If your garage is as you say they should know about this.
later models had a rubber ring seal to cure this,but you need to replace the half shafts to do this mod.
Just make sure that when you need to take a rear wheel off ,jack that side up not the whole rear.

Good luck

[errolflyn]

Ok thanks for your help