BigBrother-84 Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 Hi Gentlemen! From birth to 2013, Big Brother had kind of "grey" (and always dirty) steel wheels. In 2013, I painted the truck charcoal, with black wheels. For the 2020 resto, I decided to offer Big Bro a bran new 1984 two-tone costume with nice 1984 white steel shoes. As some of you already know, after couple of quiet years, Big Bro has got back to the road more seriously this 2023 summer. This made me notice that: A) I have to clean these nice white wheels really often! B) The passenger locking hub seems to weep... Looking closer to pictures before 2013, it is possible that this was already there, but picts I have aren't that clear. I noticed that the passenger locking hub isn't perfectly tight, a bit slack if I try to rotate it. The driver side one is really stiff. I suspect that the driver's hub is more recent (lever is still red red instead of sun burned "pink"). Anyway, I now have these thin grease lines around the passenger wheel. Looking at the parts diagram, it doesn't seem to have any gasket or seal there. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 Jeff - I'm pretty sure that there's an o-ring around the hub that's not shown in that illustration. And I'd bet that it is leaking, which is why you are slinging grease. I'd pull the hub off and inspect the o-ring and its recess in the hub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 Jeff - I'm pretty sure that there's an o-ring around the hub that's not shown in that illustration. And I'd bet that it is leaking, which is why you are slinging grease. I'd pull the hub off and inspect the o-ring and its recess in the hub. Ok, so there’s probably a seal there (which sounds logical). Going to take a look, but maybe not before the trip (I prefer not to risk to break something, a rust retaining bolt or who knows). This is my temporary solution: This will also help to confirm beyond any doubt that this is the source of these grease drips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 Ok, so there’s probably a seal there (which sounds logical). Going to take a look, but maybe not before the trip (I prefer not to risk to break something, a rust retaining bolt or who knows). This is my temporary solution: This will also help to confirm beyond any doubt that this is the source of these grease drips. I think that will work nicely. And it'll prove where the leak is - or isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 Ok, so there’s probably a seal there (which sounds logical). Going to take a look, but maybe not before the trip (I prefer not to risk to break something, a rust retaining bolt or who knows). This is my temporary solution: This will also help to confirm beyond any doubt that this is the source of these grease drips. Another thing in my opinion, is to service it as per the factory manual. Those hubs aren't load bearing and don't require a bunch of grease. The auto hubs on my Bronco call for submerging the hub in ATF and letting it drip before install. Folks will complain that those auto hubs don't work when it's cold and they pack them with wheel bearing grease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBrother-84 Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 Another thing in my opinion, is to service it as per the factory manual. Those hubs aren't load bearing and don't require a bunch of grease. The auto hubs on my Bronco call for submerging the hub in ATF and letting it drip before install. Folks will complain that those auto hubs don't work when it's cold and they pack them with wheel bearing grease! You're right Dane, these manual Locking Hubs are harder to switch during winter. Before I bought Big Bro from my wife's father, they broke something in the front locks, pulling a boat trailer out from the water, after a moose hunting week. That year, the river level was very low, the trailer was in the mud, and they didn't see it was stuck on a hidden stump. Set up in 4WD-Low, instead of spinning, Big Bro hurt himself... The garage guys probably "submerged" the front hubs with grease when they serviced them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 You're right Dane, these manual Locking Hubs are harder to switch during winter. Before I bought Big Bro from my wife's father, they broke something in the front locks, pulling a boat trailer out from the water, after a moose hunting week. That year, the river level was very low, the trailer was in the mud, and they didn't see it was stuck on a hidden stump. Set up in 4WD-Low, instead of spinning, Big Bro hurt himself... The garage guys probably "submerged" the front hubs with grease when they serviced them. Winter lubrication often means '00' grease. The preferred lube for snowblowers and other winter equipment. The hubs don't see constant rotation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351FUN Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 That reminds me, I need to get new hubs at some point too. One of them got smashed pretty good and I'm not even sure it still engages. I haven't seen mud or even a proper dirt road since I moved last July though, so it's not urgent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanSavage Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 I think Gary is correct. I did my front end u joints early in the summer or late spring, the o ring is on the locking part of the hub that is removed. Here it is noted at TK for a Warn cap/manual: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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