1986 PT40 Axle Leak

[ragster_ga]

I got home yesterday with the 'new-to-me' 1986 PT40. I picked it up
in Texas and brought it to its new nest in Marietta, Ga. The only
problem I encountered was a leaking driver's side rear (drive) axle.
I stopped at a Freightliner service center and they replaced the
gasket on the axle 8-bolt cover (in Jackson, Mississippi). I called
the original owner and he said that he replaced it a few weeks back
because it was leaking. His approach was a cork gasket and silicon
which for some reason did not hold. When Freightliner replaced the
gasket, they used a paper gasket (they also had a metal gasket that
would fit but said they always use the paper gaskets).

Now that I made it home, I checked the axle again and I have signs of
another leak in the same axle.

Anyone have any experience on keeping the axle from leaking. I don't
understand why the gasket did not hold the second time. They cleaned
and polished the metal surfaces before reassembly. Freightliner said
that no sealant was needed.

Glenn and Lisa
Marietta, Georgia
1986 PT40

[mbulriss]

Glenn,

Congrats on the new-to-you PT!

I had that same problem on my 83 PT40 on the same spot, driver's side
drive axle. Actually, it was more of just a minor annoyance than a
real problem. When the grease got hot, it would invariably seep very
small amounts past the gasket and sling little streaks of grease along
the aluminum wheels due to the centrifigal rotating force. Took it in
three times before it was finally stopped for good. Bearing grease
was always good whenever it was checked, so loss of grease was never a
real issue. The last time was a paper gasket and liberally coated
with sealant, the blue silicone stuff as I recall. That stopped it
again.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ragster_ga"
wrote:
>
> I got home yesterday with the 'new-to-me' 1986 PT40. I picked it up
> in Texas and brought it to its new nest in Marietta, Ga. The only
> problem I encountered was a leaking driver's side rear (drive) axle.
> I stopped at a Freightliner service center and they replaced the
> gasket on the axle 8-bolt cover (in Jackson, Mississippi). I called
> the original owner and he said that he replaced it a few weeks back
> because it was leaking. His approach was a cork gasket and silicon
> which for some reason did not hold. When Freightliner replaced the
> gasket, they used a paper gasket (they also had a metal gasket that
> would fit but said they always use the paper gaskets).
>
> Now that I made it home, I checked the axle again and I have signs of
> another leak in the same axle.
>
> Anyone have any experience on keeping the axle from leaking. I don't
> understand why the gasket did not hold the second time. They cleaned
> and polished the metal surfaces before reassembly. Freightliner said
> that no sealant was needed.
>
> Glenn and Lisa
> Marietta, Georgia
> 1986 PT40
>

[ragster_ga]

Mike,

That sounds like a similar problem. If I wipe out the wheel and
then take about a 20 mile ride, when I return, I will have a small
puddle of oil on the aluminum wheel with streaks all around.

Were you charged each time you had them try to stop the leak or did
the repair shop stand behind the first attempt?

Thanks

Glenn

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...>
wrote:
>
> Glenn,
>
> Congrats on the new-to-you PT!
>
> I had that same problem on my 83 PT40 on the same spot, driver's
side
> drive axle. Actually, it was more of just a minor annoyance than a
> real problem. When the grease got hot, it would invariably seep
very
> small amounts past the gasket and sling little streaks of grease
along
> the aluminum wheels due to the centrifigal rotating force. Took
it in
> three times before it was finally stopped for good. Bearing grease
> was always good whenever it was checked, so loss of grease was
never a
> real issue. The last time was a paper gasket and liberally coated
> with sealant, the blue silicone stuff as I recall. That stopped it
> again.
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ragster_ga"
> wrote:
> >
> > I got home yesterday with the 'new-to-me' 1986 PT40. I picked
it up
> > in Texas and brought it to its new nest in Marietta, Ga. The
only
> > problem I encountered was a leaking driver's side rear (drive)
axle.
> > I stopped at a Freightliner service center and they replaced the
> > gasket on the axle 8-bolt cover (in Jackson, Mississippi). I
called
> > the original owner and he said that he replaced it a few weeks
back
> > because it was leaking. His approach was a cork gasket and
silicon
> > which for some reason did not hold. When Freightliner replaced
the
> > gasket, they used a paper gasket (they also had a metal gasket
that
> > would fit but said they always use the paper gaskets).
> >
> > Now that I made it home, I checked the axle again and I have
signs of
> > another leak in the same axle.
> >
> > Anyone have any experience on keeping the axle from leaking. I
don't
> > understand why the gasket did not hold the second time. They
cleaned
> > and polished the metal surfaces before reassembly. Freightliner
said
> > that no sealant was needed.
> >
> > Glenn and Lisa
> > Marietta, Georgia
> > 1986 PT40
> >
>

[mbulriss]

Glenn,

I was charged only once, but that may not be the case where you are at...

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ragster_ga" wrote:
>
> Mike,
>
> That sounds like a similar problem. If I wipe out the wheel and
> then take about a 20 mile ride, when I return, I will have a small
> puddle of oil on the aluminum wheel with streaks all around.
>
> Were you charged each time you had them try to stop the leak or did
> the repair shop stand behind the first attempt?
>
> Thanks
>
> Glenn
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Glenn,
> >
> > Congrats on the new-to-you PT!
> >
> > I had that same problem on my 83 PT40 on the same spot, driver's
> side
> > drive axle. Actually, it was more of just a minor annoyance than a
> > real problem. When the grease got hot, it would invariably seep
> very
> > small amounts past the gasket and sling little streaks of grease
> along
> > the aluminum wheels due to the centrifigal rotating force. Took
> it in
> > three times before it was finally stopped for good. Bearing grease
> > was always good whenever it was checked, so loss of grease was
> never a
> > real issue. The last time was a paper gasket and liberally coated
> > with sealant, the blue silicone stuff as I recall. That stopped it
> > again.
> >
> > Mike Bulriss
> > 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> > San Antonio, TX
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ragster_ga"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I got home yesterday with the 'new-to-me' 1986 PT40. I picked
> it up
> > > in Texas and brought it to its new nest in Marietta, Ga. The
> only
> > > problem I encountered was a leaking driver's side rear (drive)
> axle.
> > > I stopped at a Freightliner service center and they replaced the
> > > gasket on the axle 8-bolt cover (in Jackson, Mississippi). I
> called
> > > the original owner and he said that he replaced it a few weeks
> back
> > > because it was leaking. His approach was a cork gasket and
> silicon
> > > which for some reason did not hold. When Freightliner replaced
> the
> > > gasket, they used a paper gasket (they also had a metal gasket
> that
> > > would fit but said they always use the paper gaskets).
> > >
> > > Now that I made it home, I checked the axle again and I have
> signs of
> > > another leak in the same axle.
> > >
> > > Anyone have any experience on keeping the axle from leaking. I
> don't
> > > understand why the gasket did not hold the second time. They
> cleaned
> > > and polished the metal surfaces before reassembly. Freightliner
> said
> > > that no sealant was needed.
> > >
> > > Glenn and Lisa
> > > Marietta, Georgia
> > > 1986 PT40
> > >
> >
>