Leaking front driver’s side wheel bearing(?) on a 1995 DT466 AT545 International 3800

[wood-duck]

Hello again!

I just took my bus for a 3hr drive (the longest drive in several months) and when I stopped I noticed some fluid leaking from the front drivers side wheel hub (pictures attached). This leak is new, and was not there when I walked around the bus at a brief stop just 45 minutes before. This is the first time in 2-3 years that I’ve seen fluid come out of here.

I see a similar topic discussed here, though it looks like different hubs in the pictures.

wheel bearings

I went for a drive yesterday, the first in over a year. The wheel bearing cover on the driver's side is leaking (oil)? My questions are: Can I clean this and replace the gasket? How would I put oil in there? (tip the bus on it's side?) The one on the driver's side was leaking when I got the bus...

www.skoolie.net

A couple questions:
1. Is this a leaking “bearing seal”?
2. Is this the sort of thing that can be fixed WITHOUT taking the wheel off? I do not currently have beefy enough jacks and I haven’t yet found a video or instructions where someone takes the small cover off.
3. How much of an emergency is this to fix? Could I safely drive it the 10-20 miles to a repair shop? 100 miles to a repair shop?

Currently in the vicinity of Colorado Springs CO if that is relevant.

Thank you all very much!

 

[Mr P]

Does this video help? Seems like you can pop out the center "plug" to add fluid until you get to a location of service convenience.

(My "new" bus has the same Dayton setup and I need to learn also, so I look forward to any experienced advice you receive.)

 

[nikitis]

Yeah the quick fix is to pop off the cover, add some grease or fluid (depending on the wheel type). Mine uses Grease.

It could simply be a lose cap, but you don't really want to take a risk driving on it long, get it checked out. Drive slow to reduce heat in case it does have a lack of fluid/grease. If you wear out your knuckle it then gets expensive $$$.

As far as repairing yourself:
My instructions below may be different as you have a snap ring wheel, but I think it is similar. Remove the wheel

With the wrench to remove the nuts, to remove the wheel, then remove the hub, it pops off the knuckle.

The hub should have a seal that is green (Likely faded or discolored.) This has to come out, and a new one put in, then pack the grease, reinstall the hub, then the wheel and the cap, and fill the fluid. if it's fluid based.

May need to purchase a new cap if it's leaking as well.

I cannot vouch 100% of the accuracy of my statements here though as your wheel type is different from mine but there should be some similarities.

 

[Mr P]

Wheel bearings ride on the spindle, which protrudes from the knuckle, right?

 

[nikitis]

Correct the spindle is a part of the knuckle. And the Hub which is large and heavy holds the bearings, and seal. And the wheel is mounted to the hub.

Inside on the pic is the side you insert the spindle into and the wide part is where the wheel mounts to.

 

[wood-duck]

Thank you both very much!

I attempted to pop the cap off to take a look at the fluid in there and in the process shattered the whole viewing window of the hub cap (photos attached). The good news is that there was plenty of fluid in there, the bad news is that it is all gone now!

I found an international dealer nearby and they have replacement hub caps for this vehicle (only $17 ea which might be my cheapest repair yet) and also a quart of fluid for $12. And they say that to replace this part on this particular wheel you can leave the wheel on and just replace the hub cap and add more fluid..

The other side looks like it’s newer and in a lot better shape but I’m getting two anyways.

 

[nikitis]

Looks like you just added a "twitter" bird logo on the wheel

 

[wood-duck]

Indeed!

This afternoon I've replaced the hub cap and gasket with a new one and added new oil. Pretty straightforward to do. I'll keep an eye on it but I'm hoping this particular issue is just about resolved! I've attached some photos.

 

[nikitis]

Should work.