GQ front hub grease leak

afternoon everybody, new to the forum here. ✌��

just chasing my tail over this grease dribble i’ve got on the driver side coming from between the stub axle and dust cover. i have replaced the seal twice and both times it has been dry for a day or two and then goes back to what’s pictured here. it’s got me stuffed, i did the entire front end about 20k ago, the leak doesn’t smell/feel at all like diff oil & is very sticky like grease once cooled off. i’ve had 0 issues with the passenger side since i did the front end rebuild and i did it exactly the same as drivers.

the seal is seated all the way in the rotor and facing the correct direction, i think there’s a chance i’ve put too much grease in the bearing assembly but other than that i have no idea.

i also believe it looks runny from sitting on the highway at 100km/h + today for around an hour. any know-how or advice would be greatly appreciated! cheers ��

Hi mate, i saw your post on FB. You said there that you packed the swivel hub solid with grease? Is that correct? The main body of the swivel hub is an Air Void mate and does not need to be packed with grease
It is possible that as the grease gets warm it is pressurising the hub ans blowing out the scraper seals.

Initially I was going to say inner axle seal but the leak is from the wrong place for that.

Drop out a bolt from the lower King pin bearing, if oil doesn't leak out then you are looking at Grease and not a diff oil leak. In which case too much grease is your problem imo.

Get a bit of the seepage and give it a sniff. If it pongs like diff oil, as MR posted then go deeper. My Patrols hubs have always seeped a bit, even with new seals, just par-for-the -course, but packing in too much grease is a common mistake.

Which grease did you use?

Only because I was nuffy rooting around installing an air locker a few weeks ago first time on an old GQ I believe it could possibly be your seal between the stub/spindle axle?As others have kindly suggested they are a relatively dry CV joint and the most common leakage symptoms are from a simple failing axle seal down and out through worn scrapers on the axle housing. It is strange how your leakage (grease or oil either way) appears to be coming from the opposite than usual side and should honestly demand a further wheel/hub/disc complete removal to assess its integral stub/spindle axle connection is ok [emoji1696][emoji120][emoji106]


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Originally Posted by sussgq

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i also believe it looks runny from sitting on the highway at 100km/h + today for around an hour. any know-how or advice would be greatly appreciated! cheers ��

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Scratching my nuffy head again a little bit SussGQ Mate! There’s no chance you are running the old girl at 100kmph with your manual hubs locked in too Brother?


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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

Hi mate, i saw your post on FB. You said there that you packed the swivel hub solid with grease? Is that correct? The main body of the swivel hub is an Air Void mate and does not need to be packed with grease
It is possible that as the grease gets warm it is pressurising the hub ans blowing out the scraper seals.

Initially I was going to say inner axle seal but the leak is from the wrong place for that.

Drop out a bolt from the lower King pin bearing, if oil doesn't leak out then you are looking at Grease and not a diff oil leak. In which case too much grease is your problem imo.

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cheers for the reply mate, i didn’t pack the air void in the cv no, just leading to believe i’ve packed too much into the wheel bearing assembly.

i was following the manual, which stated to pack the gap between both bearing races once they’re in the hub, but apparently that doesn’t need to be done.

i’m going to pull apart and redo with just the bearings packed & a smear over the grease seal lips tomorrow and see how that treats me!

Sounds good SussGQ Mate!
Please do keep us posted for the greater good Brother [emoji106][emoji106]


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Originally Posted by mudnut

Get a bit of the seepage and give it a sniff. If it pongs like diff oil, as MR posted then go deeper. My Patrols hubs have always seeped a bit, even with new seals, just par-for-the -course, but packing in too much grease is a common mistake.

Which grease did you use?

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it’s definitely grease, doesn’t have that distinct rank smell of gear oil. it never did it before i replaced the seal which is why i’m pretty sure i e put too much grease in the wheel bearing assembly

i used Castrol HTB2

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Originally Posted by MB

Sounds good SussGQ Mate!
Please do keep us posted for the greater good Brother [emoji106][emoji106]


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will do mate! i did accidentally leave my hubs in a while ago for a few weeks of highway driving lol

it was already leaking grease beforehand but i assumed that would’ve ruined the seal, so i replaced it again about a week ago but still to no prevail.

it was chockas with grease both times though so i’m 90% sure that’s my issue

update on this, apologies it took so long, wasn’t really on my phone over christmas/new year! so i’ve removed the kingpin bolts and every single one was bone dry. it doesn’t smell/feel at all like diff oil on the dust cover, so next is to pull the hub and rotor off again to repackage with lots less grease. cheers boys

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sussgq

update on this, apologies it took so long, wasn’t really on my phone over christmas/new year! so i’ve removed the kingpin bolts and every single one was bone dry. it doesn’t smell/feel at all like diff oil on the dust cover, so next is to pull the hub and rotor off again to repackage with lots less grease. cheers boys

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Hi mate, good to see you back touching base, I appreciated the followup.

For your reference check out this thread, heaps of good pics for you. A quick look might help you out.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...Rebuild-Thread

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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

Hi mate, good to see you back touching base, I appreciated the followup.

For your reference check out this thread, heaps of good pics for you. A quick look might help you out.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...Rebuild-Thread

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cheers for that info mate! i pulled it all down yesterday and there definitely was too much grease in there, only been a day and haven’t driven more than 55-60klms but no leaks yet. i took a really good look at my stub axle and i think i’ve concluded that is the issue. very significant lip worn into the top half of the seal contact face. i’ll see how i go this week, but if it leaks again it’s 110% the stub axle 🤠🤙🏼

gday blokes! not sure if anyone is still following but i just through i’d let everyone know that it was my stub axle. had an almost 3mm lip worn into it half the way around. replaced with a smooth one and all is good 👌🏼