By the way, I forgot to mention this is on a 2000 Xplorer 250.
Not sure if it matters that much because I think many of these hubs are the same.

 

I recently took my front hubs off and cleaned them good. I replaced the bearings and put Type-F ATF fluid in them temporarily. The reason I temporarily put this fluid in there temporarily is because I need to change the inner hub seals, they are leaking.

I noticed that where the seal rides in the shaft/spindle, there is a groove. Does anyone know if the groove is supposed to be there or has the seal worn the groove there? Is there any fix to this if it isn't supposed to be there (I'm pretty sure it's not).
Has anyone else ever had this problem?


(This started the explaination, somehow it got put second)

 

surely, this is familiar to someone

No help?

 

I dont think your seals would wear a groove in any metal. I would go to your local polaris shop and find out for sure though. Put a new seal in it and be on your way. If it still leaks, all your out is a seal and thats not expensive. Also, when fillling your hubs, make sure you only fill them half way (a little less than half is best), too much fluid in there will cause leaky seals.

 

Are you talking about a groove in the metal or the groove you feel in the rubber seal itself? The seal itself has a groove in it. If it's not leaking or grinding it's probably ok.

 

your seals will wear grooves and the easy fix is to take the new seal, pull the little spring out
of the back of it , look real close and you will see where the spring is screwed together,
unscrew it and cut abought a quarter inch off the fat end and screw it back together.
put the spring back in the seal and install the seal, it will fit alot tighter and stop leaking.
atf fluid is to run in the front hubs. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I'm talking about a groove in the metal, and yes it can do it.

On small block chevrolet engines, the lower pulley is mounted on a harmonic balancer. The balancer has a short shaft on it that extends through a seal on the timing chain cover. That seal, which is very similar to these hub seals - just smaller, will sometimes wear a groove like I am describing into the shaft. This then leaks. To fix this problem auto parts stores sell a thin metal sleeve that installs over the shaft, therefore making a new sealing surface without a groove.

I guess I am wondering if anyone has had a problem like this with their front seals, and if they know of any fix?

Also, I thought I was supposed to fill the fluid up to the filler plug on the hub (when the hole is at the topside for filling)?

Thanks for the help guys.

 

No way man, never fill that all the way up. Im guessing thats why its leaking. You want to fill it a little less than half. To do this you need to put some fluid in, turn the fill hole to the 3-4 oclock position. When the fluid is barely seeping out at this position, your good.

 

Are you talking about the inside hub seal (the seal inside the strut that rides on the sleeve over the shoulder of the CV joint) or the front hub seal (the seal inside the hub that rides on the sleeve over the hub coil assembly)? Both can get scored and leak.

 

Thanks oondaddy, that's likely the problem, or at least part of it.
Do you know how to completely empty out or flush out the fluid in there so I can put in the better stuff (Mobil synthetic, I believe it is)?
At the bottom of the strut assembly it drops down lower and kind of has a resivor down there. Any suggestions?


its2125, it's the hub seal. It's got a groove there, no doubt about it. I'm not really surprised though, when I took the hub apart, there was mud/dirt and a little moisture in it, no fluid. The guy I bought it from has never heard the word "maintenance".