fluid leak inside rear wheel
04-05-2011, 10:47 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
fluid leak inside rear wheel
Earlier tonight I was getting a ball that rolled underneath my 2004 F150 FX4 and noticed fluid on the inside of my rear driver side tire. Definitely some type of leak. Any thoughts on what it may be? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
04-05-2011, 11:17 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you sniff it n almost barf, its an axle seal (gear oil smells nasty). If its kind of slick, but not as viscous as motor oil, its brake fluid, and therefore wheel cylinder in the rear brake.
04-06-2011, 07:17 AM
#6
Moderator (Ret.)
Wheel cylinder? I thought all the F150's were 4 wheel disc brakes. Wheel cylinders are for drum brakes. The rear parking brake is mechanical, so no wheel cylinder there either.
Could be a leaking brake caliper, or the end seal allowing the rear end fluid to leak out the side axle. As others stated, it has a strong pungent smell to it. Brake fluid is thiner. Brake fluid leak resembles that of a cat marking it's teritory; the fluid will run down the inner rim and over the tire. The brake pedal will start getting spongy too when you apply the brakes.
Could be a leaking brake caliper, or the end seal allowing the rear end fluid to leak out the side axle. As others stated, it has a strong pungent smell to it. Brake fluid is thiner. Brake fluid leak resembles that of a cat marking it's teritory; the fluid will run down the inner rim and over the tire. The brake pedal will start getting spongy too when you apply the brakes.
04-06-2011, 10:34 AM
#7
"Hold My $tone$"
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Dank$ville, near Bud$burg, U$A (It $tink$!)
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes
on
10 Posts
And if it is brake fluid leaking, after repairing the leak use some brake clean on the affected rotor and change the brake pads as brake fluid renders pads useless.
That's been my experience anyhow...........Maybe the ceramic pads aren't affected, but back in the day, brake fluid on drum brakes and the old style shoes and pads were worthless after exposure to BF.
That's been my experience anyhow...........Maybe the ceramic pads aren't affected, but back in the day, brake fluid on drum brakes and the old style shoes and pads were worthless after exposure to BF.
Trending Topics
04-06-2011, 01:34 PM
#9
Senior Member
'04's all have rear discs.
Fluid dripping down on the wheel is more than likely rear diff lube, and if it is, don't just change the seal, you probably need a new wheel bearing as well, and new e-brake shoes, as the diff oil destroys them.
Fluid dripping down on the wheel is more than likely rear diff lube, and if it is, don't just change the seal, you probably need a new wheel bearing as well, and new e-brake shoes, as the diff oil destroys them.
