Hub leaks

[shogun]

S2a/109, mile marker hubs

I am not well versed in the maint of this vehicle (yet).

The front wheel hubs are leaking oil, spraying out over the wheel (outer side). These hubs were previously heavily covered with coagulated oil/grease, which I scraped off. There appears to be no leaking at all on the inside of the wheels or dripping from the hub joint (whatever thats called with the shiney ball).

Speculation centers around diff fluid leaking past a seal on the axle or the hub oil itself somehow getting past a seal to the manual locking hub. Before taking it apart i am wondering if this is a standard issue and if so, the fix. Or can I keep running it for a while just keeping the oil topped up.

 

[Antichrist]

The stock configuration for the IIa is open between the swivel housing and hub, so the gear lube will pass back and forth. But if the seal is weak/blown in the axle tube where the half shaft passes in to the axle tube and your axle housing breather is clogged, you'll get pressure build up and it will push the lube out wherever it can.
Or it could be that you just need to reseal your hubs.

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

The leak is onthe inside of the wheel?

Look at the hub seal (RTC3510) and remember that the sealing surface is the replaceable "distance piece".

 

[shogun]

The leak is on the Outside face of the wheel, apparently coming from the selectable hub area.

Tom, I am not sure what/where the "seal the hubs" operation happens. There is a large seal in the hub around the swivel (inboard of the wheel/hub), but that is not where this is leaking.

It could be that it is simply in need of a gasket/o-ring in the manual hub to keep it from leaking out, but I havent disassembled yet to see if that is how it is built.

I will look for the axle vent to see if its clogged. Very possible since it sorta started when I scraped and cleaned the gunk off the axle. May have gotten a glob into the vent.

Thanks

 

[shogun]

The stock configuration for the IIa is open between the swivel housing and hub, so the gear lube will pass back and forth. But if the seal is weak/blown in the axle tube where the half shaft passes in to the axle tube and your axle housing breather is clogged, you'll get pressure build up and it will push the lube out wherever it can.
Or it could be that you just need to reseal your hubs.

OK, checking the diagrams, the axle tube seal you refer to, is that "#5, Oil seal, in casing"?

And what you refer to as hub seal, is that "#83 Oil seal for swivel pin bearing housing" or the "#99 Oil seal for inner bearing"?

Again, not being fluent in these vehicles yet, I apologize for not understanding what is probably common usage.

 

[I Leak Oil]

Chances are it's the MileMarker hub that's leaking or the joint where it bolts to the wheel hub. Remove it, reseal it with what ever type of seals the MM uses, RTV th joint and bolt it back up. Not uncommon for most Rover FWH's to leak with age because most are designed for vehicles that use standard wheel bearing grease not 90wt.

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

Dob! Re-read that...yup clean up the outside bits and see what part of the selectable hub is leaking.

 

[shogun]

Chances are it's the MileMarker hub that's leaking or the joint where it bolts to the wheel hub. Remove it, reseal it with what ever type of seals the MM uses, RTV th joint and bolt it back up. Not uncommon for most Rover FWH's to leak with age because most are designed for vehicles that use standard wheel bearing grease not 90wt.

I removed the hub selector cap (the 6 allen bolts) and there was gear oil inside. Based on replies that should be expected. However, the paper/plastic gasket was pretty crispy and fell apart.

My mistake, they are Superwinch hubs. Any idea if these gaskets are available? They would be a complex cut if I have to cut my own.

 

[meatblanket]

I had a set of Superwinch hubs on my IIa and they leaked from new. I could never get them to seal properly. I've had much better luck with the old Warn M11 hubs.

 

[shogun]

Update;

Hand cut the gaskets, used gasket sealer, installed. So far no or minor leakage. Have to clean wheels again and watch closely. I think any leakage may be coming from the dial area, not the cap/gasket/joint. I didnt disassemble the cap/dial.

 

[Red90]

Yes, they pretty much always leak... Crappy design.

 

[Snagger]

I hate free wheeling hubs - they all leak, regardless of brand (just some sooner than others), they stick out so far that they can easily be damaged, they are an added weakness and complication, they require manual engagement if you unexpectedly need 4wd (requiring you to get mucky in the process) and they increase wear in the prop shaft slip joint and the swivel housing bearings. They have no measurable effect on performance or economy, either. Their sole benefit seems to be that you can isolate a blown diff or half shaft easily for repair at home. Bin them and refit standard drive flanges!