Hub oil

The easiest way to spot a leaking hub seal will be the streaks of oil radiating out from the hub on the inside of the rim and tire.

Once they go they go fast.

 

I have not dealt with hubs on anything built after 1992 with the exception of trailers and steers. Those hubs do matter but are usually sealed. ONCE in a while you find a hub that has a small center removable rubber cap, after cooling the wheel over a short time, pop the cap, stick a finger in there and it should cover your 2nd knuckle or close to it.

I include all the wheels, bearings etc in my pretrip. But there isnt anything above and beyond to be a "Safer driver" that is a state of mind. If you find a defect your company is required to fix the defect and sign your DVIR that it is repaired and safe to go.

IF you have a company that refuses to fix the item, then you know you want to start looking for another company that will be safer. And double down on your efforts to have the defect fixed before you drive her onto the highway for your run today.

If you ever got into a accident and the investigator learned that you found a defect and your company did not fix it and you went ahead and drive away? Well both you and the company are now exposed to civil suits etc which will cost way more money than it was to fix the original defect.

Ive said enough. I do not know much about trucks built after around 2007 or so. Things have changed between my time out there and today.

 

As far as hub seals go oil leak is usually the first indicator in my experience... Oil inside rim usually indicates the hub seal... But depending on design and position (steer, drive, trailer) it can also be on the outside of rim. And each position requires slightly different work to fix.

My best advise for you, as you dont have much mechanical knowledge, is to look for excess or new oil/grease marks on, around, or in anything that spins, pivots, rotates, or bends. If you notice anything unusual or out of the normal take pictures and send them to who ever in your company deals with repairs and ask if it is a possible symptom of something wrong... If they blow it off as nothing without an explanation get a mechanic (on the road or at a terminal) to take a quick look and see what they have to say about it.

 

This pic is on a pickup... But it will look very similar on a truck. This is either a bad hub or axle seal. See how the oil streaks out away from the center of the tire and wheel assembly? If you see this dont let anyone blow you off and tell you its nothing to worry about.

 

That's stop now lol.

 

Lol... Yeah thats a pretty bad leak there... I have nursed a pickup along like that to get to a mechanic to have it fixed before... But I think I bought up most if not all of the gear oil between where I noticed it and the mechanics shop. Stopping very 30 miles or so to add more oil... That was a long day.

 

Bearings are a whole different topic. Learning about the cage, races inner and outer followed by the bearing surfaces etc. It's really important to the truck. But not something that fails often. (I have had two fail in my lifetime so it's relatively rare)

Others have mentioned something I consider a problem. Do not let anyone brush you off a problem. THEY are not driving the truck. you are. YOU decide if a mechanic needs to fix this or that or whatever, you do not accept brush off.

If the shop person sees there is no issue he or she will take a moment to educate you and that would be something very valuable for the future.