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Topic: water in hub left front wheel seal  (Read 773 times) previous topic - next topic

water in hub left front wheel seal

I had something happened last winter that you may need to check on your coach.I noticed oil seeping out of left front hub cap and when removed water poured out.It was completely full of water and since water goes to bottom of oil it had filled oil cavity full of water.I had to remove hub and to clear water and make sure no damage to bearings.I had previously replaced wheel seal so no need to do it again. Now when its parked for a period of time i remove cap.

Curley

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #1 –
Surprised you got water in hub. Wonder how it got in.

Long ago, we used a hole saw to drill a center hole in each of the front hub caps. Check oil level before each trip, along with hydraulic, engine & coolant levels.  Easy & important checks...

BTW, finding the center point of the curved hub cap took some measuring.

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #2 –
Agree, very unusual unless you have driven in really deep water-- deep enough to get the hub under water.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #3 –
If the seals are good water will not get in through the tiny vent hole in the cap even under water unless a very hot hub was submerged and vacuum pulled water in from the cooling effect on the hub.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #4 –
Quote from: craneman –
If the seals are good water will not get in through the tiny vent hole in the cap even under water unless a very hot hub was submerged and vacuum pulled water in from the cooling effect on the hub.


Agree, the sudden cooling is what creates a vacuum that sucks in the water.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #5 –
As strange as it seems. I have seen the same thing once before. I was looking at a grand villa, and checked the hub oil level. I pulled of the chrome center cap and and removed the oil fill plug to find it full of water. Always wondered how that was possible. I don't think the coach was driven through rain as a possibility. The coach I looked at had sit for awhile.

I don't know if it rains hard enough that the center cap could fill with water, and with a old fill plug not tight allow water to enter. If someone knows how this is possible I would love to know. I have racked my brain for 4 years trying to come up with an answer.
John Hobbs
1995 U300 SE
M11 / Retarder
Private toilet
1 of 1
Wichita, Ks

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #6 –
If the coach was driven with water in there it would be good to pull and check bearings. Any seizing could be really expensive and time consuming.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
If the coach was driven with water in there it would be good to pull and check bearings. Any seizing could be really expensive and time consuming.

Pierce

Yup.  Even recall a ForeForum member who sheared off his front axle from a seized  bearing.  Did a LOT of damage to the coach when the wheel came off and the coach fell to the ground..
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #8 –
 Water runs down the side seam and drips very near the hub center.  I have the baby moon hub caps and  they seam to guide the water flow away from the center red cap .  Watch the water flow in a light rain .
 

Re: water in hub left front wheel seal

Reply #9 –
I have seen that frequently on the older coaches with the baby moon caps. We drilled 1/8 inch holes 90 degrees apart that way the water can't get high enough when parked to get into the hub.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins