Should I be concerned - Grease leaking from dust cap...

[s2kutah]

Hey folks,
Need your opinion on this leak from the front right.
Please see the attached files.
Looks like grease is leaking through the dust cap. Probably been doing this for a couple thousand miles. Noticed my front right wheel had some grease on it after a long road trip.

Should I be concerned?
Should I just hit it with a hammer and see if I can make it seal better?
I guess the main thing that is unknown is how much grease has actually left the hub.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Probably not an emergency concern, but depending on when it was last done I'd consider regreasing the hub.

 

[Spike555]

It was overgreased. That is the excess. Nothing to worry about.
Only the excess grease will leave the hub, in other words...it will stop leaking once it is to it's proper "level".

 

[abuck99]

Leaking isnt a big deal, but the fact that the grease is liquid enough to seep out, indicates its probably time for clean out, repack hub and bearings with fresh grease. This will be a good point to inspect bearings, grease spindle bearings and reset bearing preload.

Heres a good DIY thread on the process:

Bearing repack GURUs

 

[s2kutah]

Thanks everyone for the information on this. About to do a several week trip to the northwest with the family and wanted to make sure I would be fine. Sounds like I'll add the bearing repack to the list of things to do when I get back.

 

[Skidoo]

Another possibility is the dust cap, it is shown as non-reusable in FSM. Most folks reuse them several times but they can get worn.

 

[Julian Stead]

Dust caps should be renewed, but I wouldn't expect to see the grease to be that thin coming out from there as is isn't worked that hard at that point. I would make sure the grease is the correct type or your hub isn't getting to hot, or both. Why not do the bearing repack before you go for piece of mind, it doesn't take long and you will know that the preload is set correct.

Ps, My grease hardens in the cap not gets thin as there are no moving parts. I do live in a coldish climate though.

 

[uHu]

Absolutely check that hub before going on a trip. Looks like too high temperature. Is there any slack/movement in the bearing at all?