Author: Accad

Rear Axle Seal Replacement

The facts

1. The brake drum is wet with oil

2. Brake lining is also wet with oil

3. Brake fluid has no indication of leaking anywhere

4. There are two oil seals in the rear axle, the inner oil seal and the outer rubber seal.

The video will show you the axle hub and outside and the inside or back of the brake disk.

I. Replacing the inner Oil Seal

Wet Brake Drum

Wet Brake Lining

No leak on the Motor Vehicle Wheel Cylinder

Brake master assembly-no dissipation

The First Time

I noticed that the brake drum has been wet with oil. I have to see what’s really making this little thing. I detached the wheel and detached the brake drum. I was wondering why the inner part of the brake drum and the brake lining were totally wet with something like grease. But I don’t see leaks from the motor vehicle wheel cylinder and no dissipation from the brake master assembly. So what I did is wash everything and assembled it back and continued to use to vehicle.

The Second Time

They say, history repeats itself and it is true. I saw again that the brake drum was wet.  This time I have in mind what is possible since I disregarded the possibility that it’s from the brake system.

Rear Axle Casing

Rear Axle Oil Seals

Now, to test this and prove that what I did is the right thing, I will be fetching the young people from the Summer Camp in San Pablo City.  That is around 60 kilometers away from my place. So I will be running at 120 kilometers to and from.

To see this I will be giving an update tomorrow afternoon when I come back with eleven young people from the camp.

II. Replacing the Outer Rubber Seal

I promised to give you an update on what it took when I test the vehicle and see if what I did is the solution to the problem.

When I got home I did not bother to examine the thing until the following week. It seems the issue is lurking and I have to check it.

For the third time, I want to be sure if the issue has been resolved or is still lurking. Again, I removed one by one the parts and I saw that the brake linings and brake drum were wet with oil again.

Brake Lining

Brake Drum

In the rear axle hub, there are two oil seals and these are the images:

Rear axle oil seal

The Rear axle outer rubber seal

1. This first seal is placed here:

That oil seal is placed in the axle casing so it will fit in between that axle casing and the axle main bearing.

Rear Axle Shaft and Bearing

Rear Axle Casing

When the seal is replaced and the axle shaft is put back to its place it will look like the image below. You can see the nuts and bolts tightened together to hold the axle casing and the axle hub.

2. And this outer rubber seal is placed here:

Now, as you can see above the first oil seal, in other words, the inner axle oil seal is replaced already and when you assemble it, that’s how it looks.

For this time let’s replace the outer rubber seal which is the second seal in the axle assembly. But don’t be confused this must be done first before the whole axle assembly is placed back to the axle casing. We have just illustrated how and where the inner seal is to be.

The outer rubber seal is placed in between the axle hub and the brake disc. This will seal oil that may come out or slipt out of the axle main bearing.

If this outer rubber seal is installed it’s now time to assemble back the axle together with the brake disc where the axle main bearing is attached.

Rear Axle outer Rubber seal

Axle with Brake Disc

After it has been assembled it will look like the image below. It’s just a small part of the outer rubber seal is being exposed fitly in between the axle hub and the brake disc.

Axle Hub and Brake Disk with new outer rubber seal

Concluding words

What we’re trying to solve are the facts below:

1. The brake drum is wet with oil
2. Brake lining is also wet with oil
3. Brake fluid has no indication of leaking anywhere

We have tried our best to solve for the first time by replacing the inner axle oil seal but we did not succeed. Nevertheless, I am happy that it was replaced because I know its time has come and we have to shoot two birds in one stone.

We have come to our sense that oil leakage is on the brake disc, the brake lining, brake drum but it does not come from the motor vehicle wheel cylinder. However, the oil leakage is on the outer side of the brake disc not in the inner side.

If it’s in the inner side and the problem is the inner oil seal it should show some signs in the image below. Don’t worry what you can see now is not a leakage but a spill when I adjusted the brake.

We have discovered the fact that the outer rubber seal has been the culprit why the problem has been lurking after we have done all other things.

After we have replaced that outer rubber seal, now, we have the peace of mind and safer and better driving with the dry brake drum, dry brake lining.

Thank you for reading and please give your comments on the comment box below and I’ll be happy to get back to you and respond to the discussion.

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT

Does your brake lights switch needing a repair or does it need replacement? Let’s try to learn how this part works for our vehicle.

Brake lights are an important part of a vehicle. These are the lights placed at the right and the left side of the back of any vehicle. The use of this auto part is to warn the driver who is following after you on the road that you are slowing down or stopping by.

Every driver can see anything in front of his car or vehicle but there are times especially when in dim light colors are optically deceiving. If there is a light that flashes or blinks the eyes will send a message to the brain that the car before you is slowing or stopping and you are already near to bump and the brain commands the foot to step on the brake.

What could be the issue and what could be done when your brake lights do not light on?

Switch on your Ignition switch but not necessarily starting the engine.

When you step on the brake pedal and one or both of the brake lights will not light on the possibilities are: busted bulbs or line disconnection.

But there is another way to check this, you place the clutch on the reverse and when the brake lights on then there are no disconnected lines and no bulbs busted.

Then the problem here would be brake light switch that is to be reconditioned or replaced.

This auto part can be easily opened so you can see what is inside if it is only corrosion that you can clean or you need to replace it.  If you have cleaned any dirt inside and no rust that will continue to ruin the brake light switch then you may opt to just repair it. But if you think the problem will repeat itself in a short time you have to replace it.

As you can see it in the picture I bought a new brake light switch. I cleaned the old one and tested but it doesn’t work anymore.

RED COLOR BRAKE LIGHTS

For those who bought a second-hand vehicle, there may be modifications made as it is the fashion these days especially motorcycles. I’m sure it’s very rare in cars.

The standard color for brake lights is red, it is not white it is neither yellow. If it happens that it is not red then maybe they have erred in connecting the lines.

Let’s bear in mind that brake lights are important for the safety of everyone and not is just a decoration of a vehicle for the eyes to see and relish. So it is important that this part must be checked every time you travel because you are not only helping yourself but you are helping other drivers to take precautions in driving.  It will help eradicate accidents along the road. 

Thank you for reading this blog and if ever you agree or disagree with my opinion, please drop your comments and we will learn together saving lives through little things.

What is a Power Steering Pump?

The power steering pump is an auto part that is used to help the driver steer the wheels in less effort regardless of car or truck sizes. This part is important especially when the car is moving forward and backward slowly more particularly on curve roads and maneuvers.

The pump is located in front of the engine and is attached to the steering gearbox.  Driven by the engine crankshaft through a belt-pulley mechanism, the steering pump compresses the hydraulic fluid which helps rotates the steering gearbox when steered by the driver.

When a car or a truck is equipped with power steering pump it would be easier for anyone even a woman to drive because the steering wheel is manageable and controllable by less effort.

However, if the power steering pump is defective even the strongest man will find difficulty and steering the wheels because you exert much effort.

Symptoms of a bad, failing, defective Power Steering Pump

• A Squealing or Whining Sound

You will hear this at the moment you start your engine. It’s a sound that is abnormal, a sound that this time only you noticed about it. It’s not a part of the normal sounds that you always hear when you drive.

If you hear that kind of sound that means you are now having a failing, bad, or defective power steering pump. However, it does not mean that everything is bad, failing or defective and cannot be fixed. If you have heard that for the first time maybe your power steering pump is just lacking automatic transmission fluid (ATF). You better refill it. If you have refilled it and the sound remains maybe the next problem that you will encounter is stiff steering wheels.

• Stiff Steering Wheels

Now, you only not hear an abnormal sound that is squealing or whining but you find your steering wheel so stiff. It’s time for you to have it repaired or replaced.

I have tried to recondition this power steering pump but it doesn’t work well. Its performance is not good as it should be so I have to look for a replacement.

That’s the only thing to be done to avoid wasting your effort especially when you are no longer comfortable with your steering wheels.

You can find a replacement for your power steering pump here, whatever brand your car is.

Or you click the image below to see what fits your car.

Thank you for reading this post and I hope I’ve contributed an idea that could help you keenly observe your car as you drive to your work, engagements in businesses, and many other commitments in life. Have a safe journey with your dream wheels.

What is a Ball Joint?

A ball joint is a component of your car’s suspension and steering.  It is that connects the upper and lower arm suspension to the steering knuckle.

The function of a ball joint is to serve as the pivot of the steering knuckles where the wheels are attached through the spindle.

Ball Joint

The steering knuckles are where the spindle is attached shown in the image below. That flat round part is the spindle where the four studs are inserted.

Steering Knuckle with the protruding part

The ball joint is inserted into that protruding part of the steering knuckle.

Spindle attached to the Steering Knuckle

Ball Joint

Defective Ball Joint Symptom

Have you experienced that your front wheels move more than what your steering control does?

When you feel there is more movement than what you can control over your front wheels especially when you turn right and left along the road.  There is somewhat a sudden sway of your front wheels more than your steering wheels can hold, that is a defective ball joint symptom.

When just one of the front wheels’ ball joints is defective it is not obvious.  The other wheel can hold the movement coming from the other wheel. But when both left and right ball joints are no longer working normally, definitely it will be obviously felt and you may wonder why as if your car wants to dance as you proceed along the road.

In slow speed, you can control whatever circumstance it may bring but when more speed is exerted the riskier your situation inside your car will be. It is not a thing that you should ignore but it is a thing that you should fix immediately.

The Result of a Defective Ball Joint (s)

Because you cannot determine when the extra movement of front wheels come, and you cannot control it, this will cause an accident not only to you but even to other motorists that will coincidentally be on the counter lane.

That little movement from the ball joints will enormously bring a derailment of the car from its proper lane and may hit another car coming from the other lane.

Or when either the ball joints can no longer serve the purpose the wheels will freely flip.

Life is Precious

So why ignore it when you have already noticed something beyond what your steering wheel controls. It is better to be cautious than to be regretful. The safer the better and you can save not only your life but your money that would be used for hospitalization.

Replace your ball joints with the proper brands that will endure the road challenges. The better brand the more secure, the calmer you are.

You can go online and see different suppliers for different brands of what you need. Explore the cheapest one but a brand that you can rely on.

555 Brand 

OTHER Brands

GMB Ball Joint

  The 555 brand is the number 1 brand in my location and the GMB brand is the next one. The price differs with a great discrepancy.  You may have better brands in your own location.  All these brands come from Japan.

I hope I’ve helped you with my experience, let’s save lives.

Please leave a comment or an idea that will help our online readers. The comment box is always ready to accept what you will write in it.

Thank you very much. I hope you enjoyed reading.