Left front wheel oil leak ??

[Renden]

Arrived in Ft Myers Saturday, Nov 5 (2,000 miles from Canada)- yesterday, Nov 8, a Resort neigbour tells me my left front wheel is leaking oil - have not seen oil leak during my trip as I check Tire pressure every morning
I remove the CAP to find the stemco Hub seal with a finger of oil left and advice to add oil (to axle I guess) - So, would appreciate members' opinion - I did request some help from RVTECH, on site. Since I cleaned the leaked oil - no more - but it does need attention and some additional oil - my 1st encounter with this problem on my 2006 DSDP - Thanks

[Pigman1]

Be sure you fill it to the correct level. There should be a line on the transparent cap and it's only filled to the BOTTOM of the line. Way less than half full. Put in too much and you blow it out through the inner wheel seal.

[Renden]

I would like to know why it is leaking - the rest is service with the proper oil -

Thanks

[ottffss]

The Stemcos tend to do that. Particularly the ones made in 06/07/ The new replacements seem much better. I have never had a problem with the newer versions.

A "dry" fill is ~<8oz. of 75w90 gear lube. I use full synthetic per techs at Spartan Valvoline SynPower at NAPA. BTW Change interval is 15,000miles for tag & front.

As pigman said DO NOT OVERFILL. There are lines on the clear plastic showing full and low!!!!!!

Yours are leaking - I'd order a new Stemco (and gasket!!!!) from Spartan (www.rvchassisparts.com) (~$30 - $50 get the entire assembly). BTW - you can also get them at any Freightliner place too - take the old one in to compare as there are several different types.

It is a completely no brainer installation.

1) jack the front wheels off the ground via your levelers. OK to do as you are not going underneath or removing a wheel.
2) rotate the drain plug to the bottom, remove it using a 5/16in allen (ball head is best) and drain into the slurpee cup.
3) remove all the bolts with a 1/2in socket wrench
Stemco comes right off. Clean the gasket mounting area and reassemble. No need for gasket goop. Tighten the bolts snug. Tighten in a criss-cross pattern.
4) Fill thru the rubber plug, rotate the wheel while filling to get it up to the full mark. You are almost done. Reset your levelers level.
5) Allow it to settle overnight - it'll take time to drain back into the bearings - and then top off the next day. You'll wind up adding quite a bit more the next day.
6) When you get back home just cinch up the 1/2 bolts a little.

[Renden]

Thank you for the good advice

[Brigadoon]

You might want to try buying new rubber plugs for the Stemco's. They are inexpensive so buy several. That solved my leak problem. If that doesn't work, then buy the new Stemco's.

[Perry White]

If the vent in the red rubber plug (slot you can barely see) stops up, the heat from running will blow that plug out. Been there.

[Renden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brigadoon You might want to try buying new rubber plugs for the Stemco's. They are inexpensive so buy several. That solved my leak problem. If that doesn't work, then buy the new Stemco's.

It seems my Stemco does have a metal plug, no rubber seen

[Iron Man]

In the center of the cover is a metal plug? Usually a red rubber plug is in the center.

[Renden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron Man In the center of the cover is a metal plug? Usually a red rubber plug is in the center.

You are right and there is oil around it so it should be changed - where to buy (oil also ?)
Thanks

[mfire1339]

Oil level in that pic says it is good. Do not add. It is above the add line.


Mike

[ottffss]

Good advice so far...

BTW - it's not like this type of leak is going to blow itself apart in the next few miles. You could drive probably forever like it is and just keep cleaning up the mess and refilling every few thousand miles.

FYI
Drain plug, the metal 5/16 inch allen is at 1 o'clock in the photo.
Fill plug the rubber one, is red at dead center. Pulls out with fingers. Be careful as air pressure can build up in there and gently blow the plug out as you pull on it giving you a little stir! Even simple atmospheric pressure changes can cause this.
BTW The hub shows proper fill in the pic.... Oil looks to be clear, also very good.

The oil residue on the wheel hub (black part in picture) is the "classic" Stemco leak. My guess it arises from the Stemco mating plate warping or something causing it to seep from the Stemco-to-hub flange. I have tried gooping that gasket, replacing the gasket with a new one and tigtening those flange bolts. ALL to no avail. New Stemco, problem solved. It's pretty cheap and like I said easier than cake to replace. In your case, your only fix is to replace the Stemco.

A couple of "ifs" for reference on what we are looking at when we analyze your picture...
If you had oil residue slinging around the clear window that would have been the rubber plug - then try a replacement plug.
If you had oil residue slinging off the flange that holds the clear window then that joint would be suspect. You can try to tighten those small allens, but sucess would be minimal also indicating a new Stemco.
If the clear window showed melting/distortion of any type, you have imminent bearing issues.
If the oil was cloudy/milky that indicates other much more severe issues.
If the other side of the wheel (the brake drum/rotor side) is oily around the center like the outer side is, you have an inner wheel seal going bad and that will need to be addressed fairly soon.

[ottffss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renden Y...where to buy (oil also ?)

Re read my first post. All details there. I'll repeat one key thing again, don't forget to ensure the gasket comes with the Stemco, sometimes they do sometimes they don't.

www.rvchassisparts.com (it's the online side of the Spartan Parts Dept, really), order online or call with your VIN (last 6 digits) - NOT the Newmar build number.

[Renden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottffss Good advice so far... BTW - it's not like this type of leak is going to blow itself apart in the next few miles. You could drive probably forever like it is and just keep cleaning up the mess and refilling every few thousand miles. FYI Drain plug, the metal 5/16 inch allen is at 1 o'clock in the photo. Fill plug the rubber one, is red at dead center. BTW The hub shows proper fill in the pic.... Oil looks to be clear, also very good. The oil residue on the wheel hub (black part in picture) is the "classic" Stemco leak. My guess it arises from the Stemco mating plate warping or something causing it to seep from the Stemco-to-hub flange. I have tried gooping that gasket, replacing the gasket with a new one and tigtening those flange bolts. ALL to no avail. New Stemco, problem solved. It's pretty cheap and like I said easier than cake to replace. In your case, your only fix is to replace the Stemco. A couple of "ifs" for reference on what we are looking at when we analyze your picture... If you had oil residue slinging around the clear window that would have been the rubber plug - then try a replacement plug. YES If you had oil residue slinging off the flange that holds the clear window then that joint would be suspect. You can try to tighten those small allens, but sucess would be minimal also indicating a new Stemco.NO If the clear window showed melting/distortion of any type, you have imminent bearing issues. NO If the oil was cloudy/milky that indicates other much more severe issues.NO If the other side of the wheel (the brake drum/rotor side) is oily around the center like the outer side is,NO NO you have an inner wheel seal going bad and that will need to be addressed fairly soon.

ottffss,

My answers to your diagnostics found in your TEXT- it seems the Red PluG is the problem so I ordered 5 new ones from RV Chassis Parts. Would appreciate knowing exactly what original oil to replace in Stemco - you did mention Synth lube but I am certain a 2006 does not have synthetic oil in ?? - 75w90 gear lube you recommended - can this be added to the Original Spartan Stemco oil of my MH ? Thanks so much !!