grease/oil appeared on front wheel

[Flimbo]

hiya guys

i've noticed that on the passenger side front wheel there is a small pool of oil like fluid appearing.
i wiped it off and then drove a little further to see if it would come back and to see if i could tell where its coming from.

i've not had a proper look yet because of the weather but it has come back as bad as before.
it seems to drive and brake as usual.

i'll try and get some pictures of it if that might help? any ideas where it could be coming from?

its a 1984 short wheel base series 3 with free wheeling hubs if that makes any difference?

thanks a lot, matt

[Robbo]

maybe the seal on the front of the freewheeler, need to see picks to be certain, but they do leak indeed...

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

most likely a wheel cylinder - check the brake fluid level

[James.Harwood]

Normally when the gasket or FWH leek the oil apears to leave lines of oil on the rim like it has been sprayed.

Im with Dave from what you have said.

The other thing to look for is the colour, dark/black is normally the axle (because none of us change it as often as we should) light is brake fluid.

[Flimbo]

ok thanks guys, i'll get some pictures tomoro.

i've been busy the last couple of days so not had chance to do anything.

but i'll get some pictures up tomoro and i'll check the brake fluid. although it does still seem to brake in a straight line so would that rule out the possibility of it being a cylinder?

there are also lines as though it has been sprayed out when driving.

ah well, thanks for the help so far guys

[DFR]

check that your axle breathers arnt blocked as that will force oil out through the hub

Dom

[Flimbo]

whereabouts are the axle breathers, and what exactly do i need to look for?

i dont know an awful lot about mechanics at the moment, but i learn pretty fast!  :P

thanks

[DFR]

if you have a look on top of your axles there are 2 mushroom bits sticking up (1 on each axle) undo them with a spanner (about 14mm I think) be carefull though as they are quite flimsy. Take the top off it you may have to stick it in a vice. Inside is a bearing take it out give it all a clean up so that the bearing moves around freely inside and put it all back together and refit to the axle
.
I did manage to brake one the last time I refitted it they are not made out of the strongest material, brass by the looks

hope this helps and solves the problem

Dom

[S188]

A leaking hub seal could be caused my loose wheel barings too.

Axle brathers comonly get painted over.  SOme people go to great lengths to repair them but they actully only cost a couple of quid from Paddocks, much easyer in my opinion.