Ok so today I was going to replace my rear brakes and when I pulled the PS drum off I found this mess...





So naturally I became concerned. Upon further investigation it appeared that what was all over the place in there was not brake fluid. Not only did it not smell like it but when I wiped it off it looked like this...



Here's what I'm wondering. Is what is all over my shoes bearing grease, as in the seals are leaking? If so, should I also be looking to replace the bearings in the axle or just the seals? I don't fancy the idea of getting into this job but if I do it I want to do it right. Can I get some opinions on this? Thanks a bunch guys and gals.

 

It wouldn't hurt to replace the bearings however you should pull the axles first to see if the axles themselves are not worn as well.

Many years ago when I did automotive repairs, when a car came in for a leaking axle seal, a new bearing was highly recommended. If the seal leaked again without having the bearing replaced, we couldn't warranty it.

Since the weight of the vehicle rides on the bearings and on the axle, you need to make sure the axle isn't worn. Semi-floating axles have this disadvantage.

To see if it's brake fluid or not, flip the boots off the ends of the wheel cylinders. If it's damp behind the boot, it's brake fluid since the fluid shouldn't be going past the inner cup seal.

 

Thanks for the tip. I did check the diff fluid while I had the rear up and it had enough in it so my thought was either bearing grease or brake fluid. It didn't smell like brake fluid but I'll check that next chance I get. I was told when I bought the car this pst april that the wheel cylinders had been replaced and I took that for truth because the bleeder screws are still shiny. Guess we'll see. Thanks again.

 

The seal hardly ever goes bad by itself.

Almost invariably, the reason it leaks, is because the axle is flopping around in the bearing.

Problem is, the inner race of the bearing is the axle itself. Meaning, if the seal leaks, it's because the bearing is bad; and if the bearing is bad, the axle is destroyed as well.

Pull the axle. Look at the place where the bearing rides. If it's ANY different AT ALL from the surface right next to it, it needs an axle.

IF that's what you find, I highly recommend these, in preference to "custom" axles such as Moser, which while "good" and at least "better" than stock, are made of soft enough metal to have splines CUT into them as one of the last steps before shipping; where instead, these have ROLLED splines, machined BEFORE heat treating, meaning they're hardened AFTER machining. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SAG-EV10-4/ They come with bearings and seals. Save the "custom" axles for situations where different dimensions from stock - i.e. "custom" - are really needed.

 

macmatt - hey man throw a jack stand or something under that axle, that jack is on wheels... or it could fail/blow a seal and hurt you - no one wants to hear you got hurt

 

Check the second pic in post 6 for an axle gone bad:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...ing-axles.html

JamesC

 

Thanks for the concern man! I just had it up on that jack to check it and didn't actually get under the car until the stands were in place.

It actually does seem to be brake fluid after all because I cleaned everything off with brake parts cleaner and put the drum back on and then pressed the pedal a few times. When i took the drum back off there was fluid leaking from the boots on the wheel cylinders. I also thought that since I don't know the last time the diff was serviced I'd go ahead and do that and figured since I'll be in there might as well replace the seals too. I checked for play in the axles and unless I'm doing it wrong there is virtually none outside of the usual bit of in and out. Thanks for the help guys!

 

do they make 'axle saver'bearings for camaros?

 

Yes. We sell them at work. They are what you would put in if the hole for your bearing and seal are a little wallowed out.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0055&ppt=C0337

That should fit most third gens if not all of them.

 

You can see the off-set bearing in post #7 of the link above. From my experience, I wouldn't recommend them. A search might provide insight from others.

JamesC

 

I agree, I have used the axle bearing savers a few times in a pinch and they only worked 1 time out of 7-9 times. They leak worse than a leaky seal. I have the correct install tool 4 them!!!