Ron -
If the hub seal is leaking, you will not see any of that oil on the
outside of the drum, the oil will only leak out from the little gap
between the drum and the brake's back plate.
The hub seal is different than the half shaft seal and it will leak
(if worn) even if the 5 bolts are tight. Also, if the o-ring on the
half shaft seal is old (and they do get old) it will leak also even if
the 5 bolts are tight.
Another thing that can cause this type of leaking is if the
differential is over filled with oil. If you put too much oil in the
differential, it will put too much oil into the rear hubs and they
will leak out of the hub seals. The hubs are designed to run with
some oil in them, but not too much.
To lower the level of oil in the diff, all you have to do is remove
the top filler plug and wait for any excess to drain out... the
appropriate level is the bottom of the filler plug's hole.
I think the square peg to remove the filler plugs is 7/16" square,
usually if it isn't too tight a 3/8" ratchet handle is enought to get
it loose, but it is best to use the right tool for the right job.
I would go through the effort to dismantle the hub, drive out the
bearing, replace the seal, reset the bearing (you can drive the
bearing in and out with a shop vice and some sockets) and also get a
new o-ring seal and paper gasket, and seal it all up properly. Do not
buy sheet paper gasket for this job - be sure to get an original style
pre-cut paper gasket from a healey supplier -- the gaskets on the diff
and halfshafts are all of a certain size so that it all fits together
properly.
So what you need for this job is:
1) the rear hub nut socket (Moss and others sell this)
2) rear hub oil seal
3) half shaft o ring
4) half shaft paper gasket.
You can replace the bearing if you really want to, but my experience
is the hub bearing is bullet proof.
Good Luck!
Alan
'53 BN1 '64 BJ8
On 5/29/06, Ron Davies <rdavies1@cox.net> wrote:
> Ok, I got back from shotgun practice here in sunny SoCal and took off the
> right rear wheel to look for the oil leak.
>
> The five bolts looked snug and they were. No sign of oil from the outside.
>
> Using a mirror I looked around the perimeter of the inside of the drum. No
> oil except the lower third of the circumference.
>
> Lots of oil under the differential and near the filler port (as usual). I
> looked around for a tool to check the diff but couldn't find a square one. I
> knew I had one somewhere. Is it a half inch square?
>
> Am I on the right track?
>
> Ron
>
> 67 BJ8
>
> Your messages not reaching the list?
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