greasy hubs???

[Bird]

I think I found the truck I want and want to make an offer but after looking under the rig I found that the front hubs were caked with grease. there are some other minor leeks but nothing out of the ordinary for a 94, no lockers with102k. talked to the previose owner(friend of a friend) said it was well maintained and no major problems. never been off road. It drives very well and is clean inside and out. he is asking $8400 for the rig.
what could be the issue and price range with the hubs? I am no mechanic so any advise would be much apreciated. also what do yall think the rig is worth if the hubs just need to be resealed.
Thanks

 

[alkaline747trio]

Was it the hub caked in grease, or the knuckle (birfield)?

 

[Rookie2]

A picture of said condition would be helpful. I don't recall ever seeing the outside of the hub caked with grease, and find that hard to fathom because of the way it is assembled. It may just be that you're not using terminology consistant with what we typically refer to as the hub (hence the request of a picture). The axle ball at the end of the axle will cake with "some" grease under normal operation of passing back and forth across the felt wiper seal. Large amounts of runny grease on this ball area is usually an indication of a failed axle seal, where the differential oil is mixing with the grease inside the knuckle housing and thinning the grease to the point where it passes by the felt in significant amounts. If this is the case, an axle overhaul can run you anywhere from $600 to $1000, if you have a mechanic do it. Most of us have done our own as PM for about $200 in new parts.


Rookie2

 

[Bird]

hey thanks for the input. got a message from7P's and he described the same as you. the axle ball has a significant amount of thick and runny grease thats greyish in color. so i guess its off to the mechanic for a closer look. I will try to work on my terminolgy and should get digital camera soon but would rather put the money into an 80,lift,winch bumper,and mud shoes.
thanks for the help.
bird

 

[IdahoDoug]

Bird,

Be advised that unless you bring it to someone intimately familiar with the 80 they will be of no use in examining it for you. Yes, they'll nod their head ominously and tell you it needs to be torn down immediately or your firstborn will die and such but I think your best course would be to take a picture and post it here. About a hundred folks who've repacked their own axles will instantly and definitively tell you what you're looking at.

DougM

 

[meluhha]

...About a hundred folks who've repacked their own axles will instantly and definitively tell you what you're looking at.

X2

A digital camera does wonders in the fine art of mud diagnostics!

You can get a good one for about $150. Which is pennies if you have the mechanic do the work for you...

 

[Bird]

I will get the camera next week. Thanks for the help!

 

[fzj80kidpen]

you would have to carefully define "caked with grease"
It is normal for the felt axle whipers to collect a little grease.
As long as it looks like grease (gel consistancy) and is only about 1/4-1/2 thick then its probably just normal.
If is more like oily-grease mix then the axle seals are leaking.
Front axle job - $1200
Do it yourself - weekend + 150 in parts.