Hub seal leak on the inside?

IMABUSBOY · August 15, 2015, 08:52:07 AM

I had a hub seal leak on the front drivers side of my 87 mc9. I replaced the gasket and stopped the leak. I put about 800 miles sense then and the replaced seal is not leaking. However, now I noticed what appears to be a mixture of brake dust and hub oil coming out around 3 or four wheel lug bolts and leaving a 'sling' pattern on the outside of the rim. The hub oil is a little low but not much. Is there an inside seal that may be leaking that could cause this? Thanks,Danny

lvmci · August 16, 2015, 07:31:39 AM

Hi Danny, off subject just a little, when hub oil gets onto brakes and they heated up then dry up a d lock the wheels, can be cleaned to free up, lvmci...

Boomer · August 16, 2015, 07:59:33 AM

Have you crawled under the bus to see if the wheel seal is leaking? If it is, oil can weep out the brake drum vent holes, wheel hand holes and around the wheel studs. Needless to say, it can and will contaminate your brake lining.

luvrbus · August 16, 2015, 08:10:55 AM

Don't all hub oil filled caps have a vent,I had that problem with the Stemco caps

Jon · August 17, 2015, 02:33:59 AM

Usually the vent is a pin hole in the center of the rubber plug. If that is not kept open it could cause a leak at the hub seal.

luvrbus · August 17, 2015, 06:17:13 AM

Don't overfill or they leak also

IMABUSBOY · August 17, 2015, 06:13:12 PM

lvmci thanks, I'll remember that.
Boomer, there is a little of oil underneath but not much. The hub still had a little oil in it but I added about a 1/2 oz. Wife and I put 325 miles on the bus today and again a little bit of dust/oil around two lug bolts that wiped away with a swipe of my thumb.

luvrbus, I have new Stemco caps and don't see an air hole. The oil just comes above the visible bottom rim. I can see a small pool of oil.
jon would you drill a very small hole?

Great advice! Thanks fellows. Danny

eagle19952 · August 17, 2015, 07:29:52 PM

Where there is a little there will eventually be more...keep an eye on it

Jon · August 18, 2015, 03:24:05 AM

Donald speaks truth. If you see any oil leakage at the hub seal it has to be fixed because the leak will get worse and eventually it has the potential to ruin your brake's friction material.

The hole in the rubber caps on my coaches have been the size of a sewing needle. I think drilling a hole is overkill.

luvrbus · August 18, 2015, 06:25:03 AM

Stemco uses a .030 or .040 vent plug according to the Stemco catalog

IMABUSBOY · August 18, 2015, 06:20:33 PM

I will order the inner seal, bearing, washer, nut and hub seal. Am I missing anything? Thanks again, Danny