Club 80-90 Forums

Hello all
Maybe someone could tell me if this is a serious needs attention right now get the thing off the road sort of a problem?
The van an 85 vanagon (US Transporter) pulls to the left as it has since I have had it (since may 06) but I have just noticed that after taking off the hub cap that the dust cap that covers the hub is loose and there is oil of some discription all over the hub.
This is not the case on the other front wheel and their are no dust caps on the rear hub so I am thinking that perhaps the brake fluid or something is leaking, although the level seems fine.

Any clues?
Much appreciated
UNcleMOnty

hi there welcome to the club
hard to say really but if in any dout i would say get it checked out asap, safty first and all that

Would help to know what the oil looks like - is it thick and more greaslike or is it thin and clear - bit like cooking oil?

I presume the oily stuff is over the Left hub?

thats the speedo drive and needs lubricant

Pulling to the left can be tackled starting with a tracking check. and adjustment
Wrongly tracked steering will wear away one side of the front tyres.

After the check swap the fronts with the rears and take it for a drive.

Note: a heavily cambered road will pull the van to the left somewhat any way

not realy one to answer but if it`s worrying you get it looked at,pulling to one side could be tracking, worn tyre,low tyre pressure,brakes binding.the oil or is it brake fluid could it be a leaking brake cylinder,grease from lubricating the speedo,some people grease the drum to stop the wheel sticking on,
i`m sure somebody on here with some experiance will be able to tell you but i would get it looked at soon.
have a good 2007

trikey wrote:could it be a leaking brake cylinder

,

is that what you call calipers


,

trikey wrote:some people grease the drum to stop the wheel sticking on,

it's a disc on the front

Thank you all
IN answer to the appearance of the oil it is actually more like black grease, and when thinking about it the dust cap on the hub is connected to a cable of some type so I will assume it is the speedo cable as suggested.
Still will get it looked into.
Many thanks again
Uncle monty

Was there any work done on the hub.I am thinking was the correct grease used for the wheel bearings as there are high and low melting grade.Only high melting should be used.

I'm assuming you are talking about the front brakes and you have checked the rear hubs?

Would the steering wheel spin to the left when you are braking (if you were to let go?)

Sounds like you may have a problem with the right (O/S) caliper ...perhaps one of the pistons is seized if it is the 2 piston type?

The claggy stuff on the left (N/S) could be melted hub grease .... is this side brakes seized on causing overheating?. The hub cap is a simple knock on affair, be carefull you don't damage the speedo drive cable when knocking the cap back on as far as it will go, use a large socket.

Jack up both front wheels (use axle stands as a matter of safety) turn the wheels by hand and notice if there is any undue drag from either wheel.

Check for any lift/excess play on the hubs whilst you are about it.

If all appears well, have someone operate the brake pedal by a series of small increments, check each wheel is being retarded by the same amount until the wheels lock, if you've got a dodgy caliper (or worn out pads) it should show itself using this method.

Good luck and work safe.

Tex Ritter

Yes, get it checked thoroughly by someone competent soon. Various places peeps here use in London...

Could be all sorts of things, and if its brake binding, bearing trouble or tracking out (less likely) needs to be sorted. Check your tyre pressures ASAP, its easy to be running a low pressure/slow puncture without realising till its very low due to the geometry cleverly concealing any pulling (negative scrub radius).

An overpacked hub bearing (no air space) will overheat and maybe melt even HMP grease. Grease caps should not be filled with grease normally, grease should be levelled off with the bearing face and the cap itself act as an expansion volume.