Rear axle grease leaking

[Will N]

Took the T for a spin yesterday, and when I got home I noticed that there was grease sprayed on the inside of one of the rear tires. The brake drum has grease coming out of the gap between it and the backing plate. What should I be looking for when I pull it apart? I'm thinking that the felt seal went kaput.

 

[Jack Innes]

Will,

Before you pull anything apart check the fluid level. It should be about 1 inch below the filling hole. Very often too much or too thin lubricant is the cause of leaks like you describe.

 

[Will N]

Fluid level is good. I pumped out the old and filled it with new 600 wt. myself when I first got it. Left it an inch below the filler, as you described Jack.

 

[Jack Innes]

Will,

It would still be worth checking the level again. Given the right (or wrong) circumstances oil can migrate down the drive shaft from the transmission area. One thing that can increase this possibility is an aftermarket transmission screen. The screen does a great job but it intentionally directs a lot of oil to the 4th main area - I had to remove the screen from a T for that reason. Things were a little loose & the u-joint area poured oil constantly. If the ball had been tighter more would have made it to the rear axle. (It is all fixed now & the screen is back in service.)

 

[CharlieB]

Ideally diff. fluid should not be able to reach the outter bearings. You do have a clean up and seal replacement job in front of you but I was wondering if you were on a heavily crowned road or parked at an extreme angle causing the fluid to flood one side. I state the above only because you said the level is below the filler hole which is where it should be and shpuld not reach the outters under those conditions.

 

[Will N]

Ok, just removed the wheel. Grease all over the place. It has the original style felt seal. I checked the diff oil level, and it's good- not too high. Should there be any movement of the axle shaft? While the bearing remains still, I can move he axle up and down and side to side by about maybe 1/32 inch. Is that too much? Could this motion have pumped the grease out past the seal? If that motion is ok, I may have been a little overzealous when I was filling the grease cup and may have squeezed too much in.

 

[John Otis]

Even in the best of circumstances there is always a little play. No matter what, the gear lube will always eventually make its way to the wheel bearings. I always used worms on the axles of nearly every T I ever owned. Install worms, replace the felt seals and I doubt this will ever be an issue again.