[mgm]

This is the nearside (left) front wheel of the Series 3 that I'm trying to rebuild.

There's smelly oil pouring out from someplace and I was wondering if this would be the result of the freewheel hub or if I'm going to have to go all the way back to the swivel pins / ball joints to find the leak.

It doesn't smell or look like brake fluid.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[mgm]

My pic is a .jpg, but it won't upload. I keep on getting an error message.

 

[Serg]

It's too big.. there are size restrictions on sizes you can upload.. reduce the image size and try again



Serg

 

[TerryS]

One of the most common cause of oil appearing around the inside of the front wheels is a plug axle breather. As the oil heats up, it build pressure inside the axle casing and the oil is forced out. It can come out the pinion seal, but that is usually in better shape as the axle seals take more abuse. Just unscrew the axle breather and make sure that the tiny hole is clear to the atmosphere.

 

[Moeras]

One of the most common cause of oil appearing around the inside of the front wheels is a plug axle breather. As the oil heats up, it build pressure inside the axle casing and the oil is forced out. It can come out the pinion seal, but that is usually in better shape as the axle seals take more abuse. Just unscrew the axle breather and make sure that the tiny hole is clear to the atmosphere.

Terry

You have just solved one my my biggest frustrations!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanx mate!!!

Just goes to show - you can always lear something new!

 

[Bogatyr]

Yeah, those breathers are in a bad spot and often get clogged.

You can run extended breather lines to fix this.

Take a vice grip and pop the top bit off of the cap. You'll be left with the part that screws into the axle casing, with a ball bearing inside the shaft and the dust cap. Remove the dust cap and bearing and take the contraption to your hardware store. Buy about 6' of pvc tubing and two hose clamps.

I ran the rear breather up into the cab behind the front seat. The front breather ran up along the left side of the radiator panel. Make sure to bend the last few inches of the pvc down so you don't get any dust in there. You'll also have to buy thick enough pvc so it won't kink and cause the same problem you have now.

My total cost couldn't have been more then $10 USD and my axle seals are no longer weeping.

Bogatyr

 

[Moeras]

I ran the rear breather up into the cab behind the front seat.
Bogatyr

1) I take it is Flexable PVC not hard pipe?

2) No ugly vapours in the cab?

 

[Bogatyr]

Moeras,
Right, it's flexible clear pvc tubing...but it was the thickest stuff they had at the hardware store so it wouldn't kink.

Heh, no odors in the cab except for what you would expect from a 35 year old truck...

Bogatyr

 

[Series 3 guy]

If you get a wading kit foe your Landy that will solve the problem.Gets high enough to avoid clogging.Helped me BIG time!!