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Re: Leaking rear wheel oil seal; indicator of anything?

To: lundgren@iname.com
Subject: Re: Leaking rear wheel oil seal; indicator of anything?
From: Mike Hartwig <mhartwig@cbu.edu>
Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 08:08:35 -0500
At 08:19 AM 5/18/98 EDT, Jethogger wrote:
  Check your rear shocks for leaks and also
>check the rear rubber brake hose. If it is orginal.  It most likey needs
to be
>replaced.  
>Good luck   John   Flintstone British
>
Good ideas, John.  Well, Andrew while the seal may have just plain wore out
over time, you can't just assume it has.  If you are getting oil into your
brake drums, then you are either looking at a worn seal, or the
differential and axle are coming under pressure.  Check the breather on the
passenger side axle.  Make sure it is not clogged.  A clogged breather will
allow pressure to build up after you have been driving for some time, and
coupled with a slightly overfilled pumpkin, you can have leaks. 

During replacement of the seal, insure your axles are not loose, with
specific attention to the up-down play of the axle.  I have not seen
bearings wear out so that the axle wobbles, but is possible (maybe once in
a million times???).  Also check the collar which the oil seal will
encircle  Check to see that it is not grooved from the previous oil seal.
Many revolutions can cut a groove into the steel collar. If so, shim the
collar out (away from the car) so that the oil seal gets a good smooth
surface to rub against.  

The necessary other things like wheel cylinders, brake hoses, brake shoes
(likely replacement needed), and differential oil level need to be
inspected.  You may want to wait on the brake shoe replacement though.
Make sure you have the leak stopped before you put those nice new shoes on.

Buy a can of brake cleaning compound and cleaning that horrible dust will
become easy as pie.  Just use common sense when using the stuff.  Some of
those cleaners contain some pretty nasty volatile compounds which can wreak
havoc on the environment (seriously).  I'm not a tree-hugger, but I am
environmentally conscious.

Jay


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