Leaking trailer axle?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Lostmykey, Sep 13, 2021.

  1. Lostmykey

    Lostmykey Medium Load Member

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    Not really sure what’s going on. Can’t get a straight answer from the mechanics. Our shop did a preventive maintenance on it. According to the sheet, it states they repaired wheel seals, hubs, and fluid levels; but doesn’t exactly state which wheel was done. Rim was clean when I left yard, but an hour later looked like:
    B6B0F571-BA8C-4DDD-95CB-7D1354A9E841.jpeg AECC0A8E-0AA7-4BF2-A8D4-D026D0BBAE92.jpeg
    It was unreadable at the yard; can they be overfilled?

    Hubcap was replaced and I cleaned rim, but 2hrs later looked like it was leaking again:
    FC8FE993-E008-495C-B79D-66014FBDD760.jpeg

    By chance, another company driver was next to me with diesel mech experience and she pointed out these other spots to me:
    331187AA-A003-47E5-B7D8-0398C268EE97.jpeg 9A45E452-8785-4F41-B3F3-3ABA70A75DC8.jpeg
    I watched a video on wheel seals and went under to look inside the drums, would a shiny piece here be expected? Could just be a new part:
    AE8F9AFC-521D-406E-AA47-758D6FAB6755.jpeg

    For comparison:
    4F7F56B9-E6D1-4C98-98A0-3D6B3B5B25ED.jpeg

    Would one expect to continue seeing an oily residue after a wheel seal repair? Could the oil have drained out somewhere during the repair and is just being flung out now? I’ve put about 9hrs of driving on it.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2021
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  3. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    That hub cap is leaking, loose, or they overfilled it. Wheel seal is fine. Run it and keep it clean, or waste your hours taking it to a shop.
     
  4. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    This is your wheel seal. It's dry. No leaks. AE8F9AFC-521D-406E-AA47-758D6FAB6755.jpeg.jpg
     
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  5. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    The oil on the mudflap was just flung through the holes in the wheel.
     
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  6. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Here you can see the full and add lines images.jpeg-13.jpg

    I'd say we'll overfull compared to the above pic AECC0A8E-0AA7-4BF2-A8D4-D026D0BBAE92.jpeg.jpg
     
  7. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    It should not have oil anywhere. That just looks like a hub cap gasket or window seeping. As long as you have oil in the hub it should be OK to run. Oil level looks a bit high to me. It may work itself out.
    That is really a decision for the company shop? We used to not have cell phones and media. Keep oil in it and finish the job. Check to see if it is getting hotter than the other hubs.
     
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  8. Lostmykey

    Lostmykey Medium Load Member

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    Live and learn; I already wasted the time. When I told this shop that the wheel seal had been replaced, they immediately said it was just a bad cleaning job and it’s just the leftover residue I’m seeing.
     
  9. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    If you have one you can always take a wrench and just tighten the hubcap.
     
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  10. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    ^^^^ What Dino said. I have often had to re-tighten those hubcaps after work was done. Even had a couple new trailers that I had to do it on.
     
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  11. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    That is a little different deal than we run here. The ones we have with air lines connected run grease and we do not have that problem.
    Old school hub caps vented through a hole in the center of the rubber plug. When a hub meter set up was installed the center was solid. Those had a small hole in the window about an inch from the center. I suspect you have a similar deal and it is just enough to make a mess.
     
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