Oil leaking from inside tire area and tire angle

[robertsfd2002]

Fairly non-mechanical dad helping a fairly non-mechanical son with a 1984 Mexican Beetle.

Been noticing a little oil where the back left tire is. Just a little here and there. Nothing major. Put car on jackstands to change oil and adjust valve clearance. Lots of oil dripping out now from the inside area of the wheel. Picture included. Not sure what we need to do to fix this, if it's something we can learn to do.

Also, notice the angle of the tires in the other picture. Is this normal not to be completely vertical?

Thanks in advance for any direction.

[Glenn]

It's gear lube. Most likely bad axle seals.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

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[viiking]

.... and yes, the tyre angle when not loaded is totally normal.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[67rustavenger]

[robertsfd2002]

Thanks.

I can't smell, but my wife's comment was "it stinks and doesn't just smell like oil" She said she wasn't sure what sulfur smells like, but didn't think it smelled like rotten egg smell.

Not sure this is something we should try to fix.

[Dan the workingstiff]

Gear lube is oily and brake fluid "drys" your hands out or feels funny on you fingers. It will also wash away pretty easily with plain water.
_________________
'69 Beetle
'66 FG buggy
My other air-cooled's
'76 IH 1200
'75 IH 1200

[volksworld]

a common cause of a leak like this is the axle nut not being tightened properly...many "mechanics" see a big nut with a cotter pin and think it should be finger tight like a front wheel on an early american car...it needs to be a min of 217 ft lbs...your brake shoes are now saturated in gear oil and also need to be replaced and everything else cleaned....yes gear oil smells like rotten eggs and will be very slippery between your fingers while brake fluid really isnt slippery and easily washes off with just water...just like gear oil if the shoes are soaked in brake fluid they also need to be changed as well as the wheel cylinder which is where the fluid would be coming from... normal US market cars stopped using your style of transaxle in 1968 so if you try to order parts for it tell them its a 68

[vamram]

Also use gloves when working w/the brake fluid. Your body will absorb it thru your skin and the stuff will in the long run destroy your kidneys. Or something else you don't need damaged!
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Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
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[robertsfd2002]

Thanks for the replies. Seems that it would be gear oil and not brake fluid and I'll need to replace brakes too now.

Now to figure out how to do those tasks. And find the time to learn how and then do them.

Anyone know where I can find some 8-day weeks (or even better, 9-day weeks)?

[volksworld]

get yourself a bently manual if you're going to attack this yourself...the blue one will cover the swing axle...i dont think the orange one (70 and up) will...you'll also need a 36mm (1 7/16) socket to get the nut off...or at least to get it back on cause its probably loose...preferably 3/4 drive as you can snap 1/2 drive at the proper torque...also a torque wrench that goes that high enough or a torque multiplier to put it back on correctly...or a 4 ft piece of pipe over the handle of your breaker bar and a good guess...and i'm still looking for one of those longer weeks myself

[vamram]

Buy this tool. Sadly it's gone up in price quite a bit since I bought mine back in '12, but it's worth every penny. You will use it over and over again if you keep this or any other Bug for any length of time.


https://www2.cip1.com/c13-16-9602/
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Lingwendil]

^ Excellent advice!!!

I picked one up last year and have no idea why I waited so long! Worth every penny.
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73 super beetle thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=649622 Back on the Road!

Modify your Kadrons for SVDA http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8115884#8115884

Cast iron VJU4BR8 SVDA reference thread- https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Need replacement filters for original Kadron aircleaners? WIX #42087 is a perfect fit, as is Napa Gold #2087!

[robertsfd2002]

Thanks for the extra tips.

I've got the John Muir book so I'll see if that's enough. And that tool looks like a good gift for my son.

[volksworld]

just try not to follow his advice on removing and reinstalling big nuts with a hammer and chisel...stuck on the side of the road desperation tactics only

[robertsfd2002]

Got it volksworld.

[Busstom]

Original Poster: you can also mull some of these threads, there are many good tips and comments from others who have been down this road many times. The early brake drums are slightly different so don't be distracted if you see parts mentioned (like "oil slinger") that aren't on your car. The threads with the most replies often have more pics and more discussion. It makes good bedtime reading.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?searc...=titleonly

[Dan the workingstiff]

[robertsfd2002]

This may be a stupid question, but when I fix the gear oil leak, should I go ahead and drain and replace the oil?

Follow-up question unrelated to the gear oil leak but now an issue in getting the car back on its feet.

Doing a valve adjustment and find the valve cover gasket ordered from JBugs that was supposed to fit is too small (about an inch too short sideways). No local stores I know of in my small town carry anything that will fit. Unfortunately I peeled out the old gasket before checking the new would fit so no reusing it.

Is there are way to know the gasket you order online will fit? I can't find anywhere that gives any kind of dimensions. Am I left ordering from somewhere else just hoping it will fit and repeating that until I luck out?

Thanks.

[Cusser]

[Busstom]