Hub and Brake line question?

[Waterboy]

1. Why is there grease dripping from the bottom of my hub? I just redid these with new seals and bearings not to long ago. I have not even driven it yet. What would cause this? Did I use the wrong grease? I bebuilt everything when I did my disc swap. If you need more info let me know.

2. I have been making my own brake lines but I cant for the life of me figure out how you guys get them completely straight? Mine all have very minor waves in them. I would like to straigten them out. I started with a spool from the auto parts store. Is there a tool?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[NikP]

Grease dripping? or is it gear oil dripping? If 85W-90W gear oil was used then I say you have a seal problem. Maybe the surface area has a problem or the seal was damaged on installation.

Make sure what's dripping is gear oil. It could also be brake fluid (but you said it's a disc swap so that rules that out).

On the wavy brake lines... Google "Brake line straightener" you'll find a few ideas and even a tool for $199. Might be cheaper to start with a rigid line and a bender.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

^x2
It sounds like your inner axle seal is leaking. Oil from the diff getting out to the hub.
When you did the swap, did you align the axle or just reuse the shims?
Did you use the standard seal or the marlin seal?

 

[Waterboy]

Its grease leaking (its pink). I used the standard seal. If I remember I used old and new shims. I know...dumb move. I also checked the other side and its doing the same thing? What could I have missed or done wrong?

 

[hedgehog23]

pictures might help.

marlin seals or stock?

 

[Waterboy]

Left and right side. Factory seals. Got the rebuild kit from Marlin. I used Valvoline multi purpose grease. This is a pic of the bottom looking up.

Sent from the Bahamas

 

[edwjmcgrath]

I don't see what you are talking about in the pictures.
The felt seals on the backside of the knuckle keep the grease in.
A little grease getting by the felt seals is ok. Is it more than that?
If the inner seal fails, it lets oil get into the grease and that will cause a goopy mess that is thinner and can leak easier.

 

[Waterboy]

It's running down the knuckle studs. See all the pink. The wipers and everything are brand new. Was screwing around one day up there and felt the grease on the bottom of the knuckles. That's what I can't figure out?

Sent from the Bahamas

 

[Waterboy]

Bump for answers...

 

[Waterboy]

Last bump for answers.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Grease doesn't run on its own.
If you mix grease with oil, you end up with a slimy mess that runs. That can happen if the inner seal fails.
If you put grease under a lot of pressure by overfilling it, it will squirt out even the smallest opening.

My theory is that it's got to be one or the other. Either the knuckle is overfilled or the inner seal is leaking.

 

[DaveWest5150]

looks like atf to me... who serviced the diffs last?

 

[saryon7]

Grease doesn't run on its own.
If you mix grease with oil, you end up with a slimy mess that runs. That can happen if the inner seal fails.
If you put grease under a lot of pressure by overfilling it, it will squirt out even the smallest opening.

My theory is that it's got to be one or the other. Either the knuckle is overfilled or the inner seal is leaking.

This is a lot of wisdom here. I was thinking the same thing. Grease is pretty thick and would not run like that. A couple of other ideas might be...you used the wrong grease, the gear oil was something that was too thin and moved past the seal, or there are simply too many shims in there and it just doesn't seal well.

If I was a betting man, I would say the inner seal is leaking because there are too many shims and the axle shaft is off center. This allows the gear oil past the seal and into the knuckle where it turns the grease into red tinged gear oil which can leak out because there are so many shims that they don't seal well. Smell the grease because gear oil has that peculiar malodorous aroma and will be easy to smell.

Hope that helps...and maybe you could answer a question for me....why is it that gear oil always ends up in my hair and gasoline in my armpit when I am doing maintenance.

 

[DSRTRDR]

I always thought birfs and hubs take moly grease

 

[Waterboy]

Great advice guys. I'm back in the islands for a couple weeks. When I get back I'll start taking things a part. It's very possible I used the wrong grease and over filled it. I will most likely order the marlin crawler seals also just to be sure. I might order some new shims also.

Thanks

Sent from the Bahamas

 

[edwjmcgrath]

I reread your earlier post. You say that you used old and new shims.
What do you mean by that? The traditional wisdom is that you either keep track of the shims as you pull them out and put them back in the same place OR you use a centering gauge to figure out what shims to put in. Which did you do?

 

[NikP]

Frankly, I'm not so sure I'd worry about it. Wipe the grease off if it bothers you but there's nothing hurt by the current condition. If you start to drive it and have gear oil running out and a big puddle of grease on the floor, then yes replace the inner seals and go into it further.

The axle grease you used wasn't the spec'd moly the TSM calls for but again, if it's not running out the knuckle seals and such, there's no harm. The small amount on the studs is mostly irrelevant. (Yeah, I get that you want to know why it's happending... but... )

 

[Waterboy]

I reread your earlier post. You say that you used old and new shims.
What do you mean by that? The traditional wisdom is that you either keep track of the shims as you pull them out and put them back in the same place OR you use a centering gauge to figure out what shims to put in. Which did you do?

I bought a used kit here on mud that I shouldn't have. When everything arrived it was in pieces. I did not use a centering tool and did use some of the old shims. I know...dumb. I did check the tension and it was with in spec. All said and done I wish I had just bought a brand new kit! I will be redoing everything when I get back in town. Is it absolutely necessary to use the centering tool?

Sent from the Bahamas

 

[NikP]

Now that I know how you got here, I recant my last suggestion to leave it be. I'd tear it apart. You need to go through the centering process. You might get lucky but I doubt it. Old and new shims together isn't a big deal, its more the fact that it's probably not centered properly and you'll have problems later.

With regard to the grease, I still wouldn't say the seal or the centering is the cause because where the grease is has nothing to do with centering. If it was gear old then it's a centering and inner-seal issue.

 

[Tools R Us]

The knuckle bearing cap, studs don't have any type of seal, so it's common for them to seep a bit.

Grease is oil in a thickener, in this case, a soap, lithium. The ratio of oil to thickener varies, some manufactures put more oil and it tends to separate, especially when it sits. My guess; some oil is being liberated and seeping out past the studs. If the grease that you used is red, that looks like oil from it. Cleaning that area well and applying a good coat of paint will sometimes seal it up.

Moly grease is likely the best for birfs, but any grease is better than dry! Having the "proper" grease is much more important on full time rigs, like the '80 series. On a part time rig, the front drive is used less often, mostly slow speed, so , especially if it's not wheeled hard.