Mystery grease???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 81
From: Florence SC
St. Jude Donor '12
Mystery grease???
Hey guys! I've got my 02 Vert up on jack stands in the garage in order to install my new eradispeeds. This is the first time I've had my wheels off since I got the Pfadt c/o's so I figured I'd do some much needed cleaning/detailing underneath the fenders while everything was open and accessible. To my surprise when I pulled the right rear wheel off, i found evidence of some kind of grease on the inner wheel barrel and also around the a arms that looks like it got distributed by the rotation of the axle/wheel. I checked the rubber boots on the axle and can't find a crack in the boot or any active leaking of grease anywhere. I'm stumped
Anybody else have any issues like this before? Where else could it be coming from if not those rubber boots? The time for me to fix this is now while its up and accessible. Thanks!
Jim
Anybody else have any issues like this before? Where else could it be coming from if not those rubber boots? The time for me to fix this is now while its up and accessible. Thanks!Jim
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 81
From: Florence SC
St. Jude Donor '12
Thanks. Kinda not looking forward to this. Any insight as to where to find a "how to" on this repair? I'm guessing the axle shaft will have to be removed right?
Jim
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
You are correct, the axle must be pulled.
Axle is best clamped into a vice to get the boot, clamps & circlip removal to seperate the joint.
Clean every thing up, to include the ball bearings & apply new poly grease, boot & two clamps.
It's best to order the boot kit from GM.
Bottle of grease ,boot & two clamps are in the GM kit for around $60.
I'll see if I can find the DIY, that I used when I replaced mine.
Axle is best clamped into a vice to get the boot, clamps & circlip removal to seperate the joint.
Clean every thing up, to include the ball bearings & apply new poly grease, boot & two clamps.
It's best to order the boot kit from GM.
Bottle of grease ,boot & two clamps are in the GM kit for around $60.
I'll see if I can find the DIY, that I used when I replaced mine.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 81
From: Florence SC
St. Jude Donor '12
You are correct, the axle must be pulled.
Axle is best clamped into a vice to get the boot, clamps & circlip removal to seperate the joint.
Clean every thing up, to include the ball bearings & apply new poly grease, boot & two clamps.
It's best to order the boot kit from GM.
Bottle of grease ,boot & two clamps are in the GM kit for around $60.
I'll see if I can find the DIY, that I used when I replaced mine.
Axle is best clamped into a vice to get the boot, clamps & circlip removal to seperate the joint.
Clean every thing up, to include the ball bearings & apply new poly grease, boot & two clamps.
It's best to order the boot kit from GM.
Bottle of grease ,boot & two clamps are in the GM kit for around $60.
I'll see if I can find the DIY, that I used when I replaced mine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
I found the DIY that I used & sent it to you in a pm.
If you do a search there are some horror stories in regards to using an after market boot & clamps instead of the GM kit.
There are a few other horror stories in regards to going with an after market axle too.
If your not going to be going at high rates of speed & jack rabbit starts, you may be alright with going with an aftermarket axle.
If you do a search there are some horror stories in regards to using an after market boot & clamps instead of the GM kit.
There are a few other horror stories in regards to going with an after market axle too.
If your not going to be going at high rates of speed & jack rabbit starts, you may be alright with going with an aftermarket axle.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
I repaired a hole in mine a couple months back with it in the car. I accidentally cut it while replacing the rear hubs. I did not replace the boot. I patched the hole. Not a single speck of grease since the repair. In fact I was just under it this past weekend to check on it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
get the GM kit...it is a straightforward repair. screwed mine up when changing shocks if that makes you feel an better
send me a pm with your email address, I have a set of instructions including some pages from the GM manuals.
send me a pm with your email address, I have a set of instructions including some pages from the GM manuals.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 81
From: Florence SC
St. Jude Donor '12
Thanks guys for all the advice. Did a forum search last night and read plenty of threads on this subject. Haven't decided weather or not to do a repair or just replace the axle half shaft. Gene has a pretty good price and my schedule doesnt offer alot of free time. Already have planned a couple weeks/weekends on this brake mod/detailing. whats a few more days right? Thanks again!
Jim
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 48
From: Yuma CO
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 586
I Tywrapped the part so it could not move and I had good access to the hole.
I cleaned the surface with alcohol.
I roughed up the surface a bit with sandpaper
I bought Loctite plastic epoxy (labeld for plastic and says it is translucent yellow). It doesn't have a part number on the tube. It is a purple and blue tube. It's a two part that comes out of a double plunger. You have to mix it after you dispense it.
I put a small amount of the hole and let it set I then added a bit and spread it further out being careful NOT TO FLEX THE BOOT so grease will not push back out of the hole. It sets in 5 minutes. At about the 2 and 1/2 minute mark of the second application, I wrapped one turn of silcon tape (black) around the boot covering the spot where the hole was. It bonds to itself after you wrap it and it bonded to the ABS too. I put enough tension on it to retract or draw tight to the boot. Not only does it not leak, the patch is also is not visible and protected by the silicon tape.