I think I have a leaking wheel bearing oil seal on my S3 SWB. I noticed a bit of oil coming from the back of the brake drum. Upon removal of the drum the inside is plastered with oil, rendering the practically brand new pads useless. I've removed the halfshaft driving member to expose the bearings, and a load of EP45 (i think) came spewing out...now I know I'm a bit of a novice but even I know thats not right!!
Is this a case of a dodgy oil seal in the bearings? If so how do I remove the large nuts securing the bearings? My limited toolbox doesnt have anything that big to remove it. How can I remove them?
You have EP90 oil from the diff/axle leaking into the hub. There are two options on this one:
(easy) the axle breather is blocked, the axle is pressurising and forces EP90 out past the hub oil seal - simply replace the breather valve.
2 (harder - but much more likely!) The hub oil seal has gone - either due to the hub seal failing or the stub axle collar wearing out. It's most likely best to plump for this choice and replace the axle collar and the seal. Not too bad on the rear axle either - you'll need a new seal, new collar and a new locking washer for the big hub nuts (you can reuse the old one but it's pennies for a new one). Don't economise by trying to get away with just replacing the seal - I did and screwed up a set of brake shoes. - You'd best replace those too be on the safe side (and the springs and, and , and)
The wheel bearings in the hub are lubricated by the EP90 from within the axle. When you pull the drive flange off you will get a leak where you show the red oval - no problem, Land Rovers leak everywhere, if they don't then you need to top up the oil.
Common problem im afraid!. You get good at doing hub seals after you do it a few times! :)
When you remove the halfshaft driving member a load of oil IS supposed to come out!. the hubs are fed with oil from the axle, and this is supposed to happen!. No oil there means something is wrong!. When you put it back on you want a hub gasket (about 10p) or some sealant or both!.
To undo the wheel bearing nuts you can either use a hammer and chisel, or go spend about £7 at your local landy shop on a big socket that fits on there. The socket makes it a lot easier and doesnt knacker the nuts up as much. If i were you i'd go buy one, as you'll be doing it again before long!
There is an oil seal on the back of the hub itself (at the back amost touching the brake backplate). It looks from your 2nd pic like this is leaking and messing up your brake pads. When you remove the wheel bearing nuts and pull the hub off it will be obvious. Prise the old one out with a screwdriver and press a new one in (tapping round it with a hammer works well). this is a hub oil seal and will probably cost you a couple of quid. You can get these in plastic and leather varieties, the leather one is an extra few pence, and is loads better (expands more and seals better in my experience).
If you go shopping to buy bits before you do this job, then you might also want to buy a wheel bearing nut lock washer while you are there. This is between the 2 bearing nuts and is often easier to renew than put the olf knackered one back in.
Also its worth checking your axle case breather (screwed into top of axle just the other side of the diff). Hub seals often leak when the breather is blocked and isnt working. these are also inexpensive!
A Hub Nut Spanner is £4.25 from paddocks, most LR Specialists sell them. You can use a hammer and chisel if you don;t mind buggering the nut but for the price of a spanenr I can't see why you would want to. Cheers
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