Perfect great info on torque math using the bar! I have a 18 inch breaker I should have a cheater piece of pipe somewhere. I'm 160 so 2'3" if my math is right. I will grab Locktite 609 as well.


I've read several threads and I'm curious to see if my issue may just be the O ring. I'm pulling off the tire and rotor tomorrow or Monday to check where the leak is coming from.

 

O-ring leak is at the housing to hub connection, hub seal is leak is right behind the flange so it get flung everywhere. If you have gear oil on the caliper and pads, that's the problem. I installed a BritPart one I got from RN, but make sure you shop around. I found prices varied by $100's for the same part.


You can make the 18" bar work for you too if you have a chubby friend or an 80lb. bag of concrete around that you can hold while you stand on the bar.

 

I will be checking out where the oil is coming from hopefully tomorrow. I have started to check for used and aftermarket hubs, I will be checking some local junkyards as well. I'm not sure if the abs sensor is simply plugged in or if I need it with the assembly, I'm anxious to dig into it to see what I'm in for.

 

screwed in

 

To be clear about the "oil on your finger" comments. That doesn't mean if you stick it far down in the diff and get gear lube on it you're ok. It should be level with the opening.
Fill it until it starts to run out and replace the plug.
Drive it around then drain and replace, since it sounds like you've never changed it or checked it before.

 

I have not changed it before. I could not detect any gear oil when I put my finger down the fill hole. It was wet so I bought the oil and topped off til it dripped out the fill hole. They front xfer and rear have all been drained and filled at 60k service but not by me. The oil leaked out the O ring or hub assembly and I will be looking at it this afternoon to determine the source of the leak. Hoping for O ring but as I read previous posts it looks like I will probably need a replacement hub assembly.

 

I pulled off the caliper and rotor to see where the leak was coming from. I took the attached pics of the hub assembly parts. I'm still trying to determine if it's an O ring or the hub assembly. The back of the brake caliper had a good amount of gear oil on it.


I tried to get the hub off to get a closer look but had trouble getting the axle nut off. I pulled the lock tab up and used a breaker bar and the 32mm socket. I guess I need to jump a bit harder on the breaker bar it just makes me nervous because there is a little bit of play and I don't want to torque it too much.

 

Did you not break it free? You should really just hit it with PB blaster, a torch, and an impact wrench.

Replace the O-ring, then if it still leaks replace the hub. $10 vs. a few hundred.

 

It sure looks like the hub to me. The o-ring seals the hub to the axle housing, so if that were the problem it would be leaking where it bolts to the housing down a part of the hub that doesn't rotate. You have a leak that is coming out the front and getting on to the rotor.

That nut should break free with enough effort. I have an impact gun so mine was a cinch but with 3 ft. of breaker bar and cheater pipe it should come off. By the way, if you are going to use heat on it I would plan on a new hub.

 

Localized heat won't affect the hub, if you hit the center of the nut you won't really heat up the bearing/hub. If you're torching it for minutes, yes you may have some issues.