i have a 00 500 sportsman....b/4 my ride this weekend i noticed a small amount(a few drops)of hub oil on the inside of my front left rim...i've never change hub oil b/4 or never took any thing apart in that area so i looked to see were it was coming from...it was dripping off the very bottom of the strut where the a-arm attaches there is a small rubber boot there and that it were it was dripping from onto the rim....it wasn't running down from the hub but directly off this rubber boot that is on the bottom of the strut..so is there some rear hub seal that might be going out?...i checked my hub oil level and that was still good so it isn't a bad leak....yet...thanks for the help....by the way what color is the grease that polaris uses in their cv boots when it is new?..thanks

 

mngoat

If you checked the demand drive fluid and it was ok, it is probably the grease dripping out of the front strut assembly. You'll notice a grease fitting on the lower,front of the assembly. I think water mixes with a small amount of grease and drips out. The Polaris grease is purple, but when it gets wet, it turns brownish in color. When putting fresh grease into this fitting, you will see old grease push out of the bottom of this strut assembly. I wouldn't worry about it unless the demand drives start showing signs of leaking.

 

That very same thing happend to me with my xped. I thought maybe my hub was leaking fluid but it was not. The explanation above sounds logical to me. Now I will forget about it to. rangerchet

 

thanks guys i think your right...upon closer inspection their is actually a small tear on the edge of the rubber (boot?) on the bottom of the strut assembly...wonder if a little extra water is getting in there then mixing with the grease then dripping back out?....maybe i'll replace that rubber boot and see what happens....thanks again

 

mngoat,

These guys have hit it on the head. As long as the rubber boot isn't gone, I wouldn't worry about it. Just grease it every couple rides. Like they said, you will see the old grease being pushed out by the new grease. When you've greased it, you may want to take a rag and wipe away any excess to prevent it from getting on the rotor and into your brakes. A stick probably hit the rubber boot, forcing out a small amount of liquified grease onto the rim, and tearing the rubber boot at the same time. All that rubber boot does is act as a dust cap, preventing mud and dust from getting into the ball joint so easily. It's not a true "seal", but rather is there to help keep out most dust and keep in most grease. Hope this helps.