Help Needed: Rear axle is leaking lube - RV was sitting

[TDInewguy]

Hello all!

I'm about to hit the road and head to Texas from the cold north (Minnesota) and in prepping the RV I noticed two puddles about 6-8" in diamater dripping off each rear brake drum.

I've got a 2002 Itasca Horizon with the 3126E CAT motor and Allison 3000. So it's a pusher with the big rear axle.

It was very very cold overnight a few days ago and I was heating the interior of the barn with a propane heater - to work, but it never got very "warm" inside, but there was a fair amount of humidity from the non vented combustion.

Anyhow - The coach has 110,000 miles and the rear has NEVER leaked anything - and while sitting there in the cold it puked quite a bit of lube out of each axle seal.

Here is one brake drum:




Here is the puddle of oil:

The other brake drum:

The other oil puddle:

Thoughts? What should I do?

[TDInewguy]

Ivylog wrote:
You should've headed south sooner, the cold got you. There is no need to replace the good looking brake shoes but the oil needs to be burned out of them with a torch. If I was doing it myself I would do the one side with the major leak and not worry about the other side as warmer temperatures may solve the problem.

I travel for work and use the rig... So the dallas/Fort Worth run is to demo a large LED video wall at a church...

I'm wondering if I'm better off taking it all apart at home in the barn - or if I should run it into a shop and then risk the brake shoes becoming all greased up.

I did check this evening and the puddle is larger, so it's still leaking. I just found it surprising that both sides decided to let go at the same time!

Any advice for a first timer at replacing the seals?

[wrgrs50s]

It looks thin for axle grease but cant imagine what else it could be.

If it was recently serviced maybe it was overfilled?

[ScottG]

You definitely dont want to drive it that way since it may be low on oil now.

[K_Charles]

I had a hub seal go bad in SC on the way home last month. When I went to change it I found a bad bearing. Fix it before you go on the road. It would have made it easier for me had I been home.

[ScottG]

Since you haven't driven it that way, the shoes may be fine. Maybe you can find a good mobile mechanic?

[jfkmk]

It happens, and that's a fair amount of oil that leaked out. I'd have the seals replaced immediately. And, if the brake shoes got any oil on them whatsoever, replace them! Most of the labor associated with replacing the shoes needs to be done anyway to replace the seals.

[Ivylog]

You should've headed south sooner, the cold got you. There is no need to replace the good looking brake shoes but the oil needs to be burned out of them with a torch. If I was doing it myself I would do the one side with the major leak and not worry about the other side as warmer temperatures may solve the problem.

[Jay_Pat]

wolfe10 wrote:
Will have to get the seals replaced (any HD truck shop).

If brake shoes were soaked, they need to be replaced as well.

Not a big deal-- much better that you caught it before the rear axle seized up/rear brakes became inoperable.

garyemunson wrote:
I would think the 15 year old seals just couldn't take the -22 cold and cracked. Rubber gets pretty hard at that temp....

Bill.Satellite wrote:
I have to replace my wheel seals on a fairly regular basis and it's quite frustrating. In any case, you are going to need new seals which will not break the bank but also cannot be ignored.

I fully agree with these guys!
Pat

[midnightsadie]

I would not leave on your trip till fixed, if the oil got on the brake shoes there junk.

[Bill_Satellite]

I have to replace my wheel seals on a fairly regular basis and it's quite frustrating. In any case, you are going to need new seals which will not break the bank but also cannot be ignored.

[garyemunson]

I would think the 15 year old seals just couldn't take the -22 cold and cracked. Rubber gets pretty hard at that temp....

[TDInewguy]

wolfe10 wrote:
Will have to get the seals replaced (any HD truck shop).

If brake shoes were soaked, they need to be replaced as well.

Not a big deal-- much better that you caught it before the rear axle seized up/rear brakes became inoperable.

Any idea what caused this? Is the cold weather or some other reason why BOTH failed at the same time just sitting there?

It did hit -22F that night...

[wolfe10]

Will have to get the seals replaced (any HD truck shop).

If brake shoes were soaked, they need to be replaced as well.

Not a big deal-- much better that you caught it before the rear axle seized up/rear brakes became inoperable.