Oil leak at rear wheel??

[EyeTaska]

Hi I am hoping someone can give me a little insight into what I am up against and possible solution.
Brand new owners of 2010 Itasca Sunova 33c, its been parked in our driveway for 3-4 weeks with the parking brake set. Noticed yesterday a pool of oil is leaking from somewhere in the drum??

Where would I take the coach for rear wheel inspection, this is all very new.

Thanks

I added a picture but isnt showing, maybe I need certain number of posts?? Thanks
The oil seems to be leaking from the rear inside of the hub and flowing down edge of tire and small pool on driveway.

[Cincy Steve]

Wheel seal. Any place that does heavy duty truck repair should be able to assist you.

[twinboat]

The axle half shaft will need to be removed ( small circle of bolts ) and then the the nuts holding the bearings come off. Next is the hub with bearings are removed.

Some shops remove the tires first, others take them off together.

If it has disk brakes, the tires come off to remove the brake caliper.

Hot pressure wash the drum ( rotor ) and brake shoes ( pads ), if not to much oil soaked in, clean and inspect the bearings for damage.

Re-assemble with new seal, bearings and shoes ( pads ) if needed, and then top off the differencial with oil.
The differential oil is what lubracates the wheel bearings.

[Lt Dan]

First off, Welcome to IRV2!

First, try tightening the circle of bolts around the end cap. Many have found the gasket around the cap leaking. I had the same thing happen with our '06 Itasca on a Workhorse chassis. Any major truck shop can handle the repairs.

[EyeTaska]

Thanks a bunch guys. Have an appointment on Monday at heavy duty truck repair shop.

Will update thread. Thank you!

[Carnac]

Are you sure it is oil and not brake fluid? Either way, the truck repair shop should be able to locate the problem and fix.

Jim

[Jeff-Ford]

I’m sure truck shop will find the leak but my guess would be brake cylinder.

[Unplanned Tourist]

If it's a wheel seal, have a good look at the breather on the differential housing.

A plugged vent can cause the seals to leak due to pressure building up from heat expansion.

Happy Glamping.

[US1]

I suggest the OP have a closer look at the fluid, and push on the brake pedal a few times to see if it goes to the floor and then check fluid resorvoir level. If its brake fluid, I'd rethink your plans of driving it to the shop. Gear lube will be a dark thick oil. Brake fluid is watery and light in color.

[Carnac]

Originally Posted by US1

I suggest the OP have a closer look at the fluid, and push on the brake pedal a few times to see if it goes to the floor and then check fluid resorvoir level. If its brake fluid, I'd rethink your plans of driving it to the shop. Gear lube will be a dark thick oil. Brake fluid is watery and light in color.

10 year old brake fluid can be pretty dark and look a lot like oil, but it would probably be thinner (more like water) vs. diff/axle oil (black and thick).

Just don't want to jump on the pulling axles and such if it is a brake/wheel cylinder issue.

Good call about being careful driving if it is a brake problem.

Jim

[Mark_K5LXP]

Odds are it's a hub seal but I had a similar oh sh*t moment earlier this year to see some telltale dribble down the sidewall of a tire and onto the pavement. Didn't smell like gear lube and was too thick to be brake fluid. Turned out to be coming out of the centramatic balancer I put on last year. So will be working with that as I dewinterize this month but it's a pretty sinking feeling when that sort of thing happens.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[EyeTaska]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yvFt5BTK6bqfoykD6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3DgAC4Q6Ds49HY989


The oil is pretty thick like maybe 90 weight, I thought at first it was brake fluid and then i compared it to brake fluid which was really thin weight.

Headed to shop Monday morning. Thanks all!

[n2zon]

Brake fluid and gear oil feel distinctly different feel when rubbed between the fingers. Gear oil is noticeably slippery, like grease. Brake fluid is not particularly slippery; it's almost gritty in feel. (This might not be true of silicone brake fluid. It's been around for a long time but I have no experience with it. I also doubt anyone would put it in a coach. If someone did, there should be a prominent warning label on or near the brake fluid reservoir.)


Many or perhaps most motorhomes do most of their braking with the rear wheels, unlike cars that do most of their braking in the front. Be *careful* driving it anywhere if you have an axle seal leak. Test the brakes to make sure you can manage a quick stop and to see if it pulls to one side.

[mike brez]

Differential oil has a real nasty smell to it.
I would bet that’s what it is. Been there done that with new pads.