Stupid question re: wheels/hub oil

What is the oil/fluid in the wheel hubs for?

The fact that a hub cap is missing from one, and there's leak on another... how concerned should I be?

its for lubing. you probably need new hub seals

bigcarorguk said:

What is the oil/fluid in the wheel hubs for?

The fact that a hub cap is missing from one, and there's leak on another... how concerned should I be?

Click to expand...

it's axle oil, it migrates along the half shafts and if the oil seals are well past there best allow the oil to get past the bearings and out onto your hubs.
The rubber caps would keep it in and some peeps even take out the oil seal and allow the wheel bearings to be lubricated by the axle oil.
that wouldn't be my choice, so either get some new hub caps and keep an eye on the axle oil levels or renew your hub bearings.

is it the front or rear axle? the rear axle's on these ex mod 110's have an inner and an outer bearing oil seal so would be one of them. the rubber cover of the outside is merely a dust cover to stop grime getting onto the end of the half shaft and siezing the drive flange to the half shaft.