Morris Minor Owners Club

Just seen this leak from the back axle after going for a short drive. It smells like gear oil, any ideas on where this would leak from. It’s dripped down the tyre when left standing in the garage in a short time. Is there something I could try tightening as a quick fix or is this a big job. I’ve only just fixed the rear knocking sound that turned out to be the exhaust hitting the damper. Quite a quick learning curve in a very short time of Morris ownership!

Could be an axle seal needs replacing.

Could also be an over-filled differential casing, the axle breather blocked or a bearing going out. Can’t think of any other possible/likely causes atm.

Looks like it coming from the tell tale drain hole, so it doesnt go on brake shoes. Plenty of posts if you use the search.
EG. viewtopic.php?p=717136&hilit=Rear+axle+seal#p717136

The rear hub is leaking and exiting through the tell tale hole which is what the hole is for.
You will need to replace the hub seal.
If your hubs do not have the 'O' ring rubber seal it is worth obtaining the later hubs with the 'O' ring seal and fitting them as they are much better in keeping the oil in the axle.

As Phi says. Bearing lip oil seal but to do it you will also need to replace the half shaft gasket and o-ring oil seal. I think yours is a later car so it will have the o-ring seal; earlier cars did not have that o-ring. The only issue with this job is that sometimes it is not successful and the leak continues. This happened to me because the axle casing was worn where the lip seal runs. The solution was a Speedisleeve. No leak since.

If in doubt ask Richard Plant to do it for you at Minor Parts of Oxford. Very routine job for him.

Stephen

Thank you all for replies, I will take the brake drum off and see where it’s coming from. I have checked the breather is clear. There are videos of the Speedisleeve being installed on YouTube as mentioned by Stephen, it’s not a job I can tackle in my small garage so will take it to a specialist.