Greasy Alloy

[Ton]

Hi guys! everytime i clean my front offside alloy i notice a really greasy patch on it, and when i try to clean it it builds up more. does any1 have a clue to what this could be? leaky breaks or somethin? Ill get a pic up of it if that'll help anyone? Cheers

[AndyJohnson22]

Would be a good idea to look underneath at the inside of the wheel to check if the driveshaft boot is still secure. This can be made a little easier by parking with the steering on full lock towards the offending side.

The metal strap holding the boot on can fail allowing the grease to escap from the driveshaft CV joint. This greae often ends up running over the wheel. The grease looks like thick black treacle, rather than brake fluid which is pale yellow in colour and has the consistency of water.

If the boot has become free then get it fixed quick, before the CV joint dries up & fails!

[AlexB]

Yep, remove the wheel and inspect the CV joint boot. If the strap failed, then adding grease and putting a strap or a jubilee clip around the boot is cheap (under a tenner). If the job is delayed and the CV joint fails, then it will cost hundreds of pounds (driveshaft replacement).

[Ton]

Oooo this stuff is a pale yellow but quite thick like vaseline, but its not runny, it just sits there, i clean it off n then more just appears from a magical hole!

[AlexB]

CV grease is black, so the boot is OK. Pale yellow thick grease is probably lithium NLGI 2 grease from wheel bearings (or a practical joke...). This is pointing at the seal, which is a 1h job. Are there any traces of the same stuff on the back of the hub?

[Ton]

not sure, ill have a ganders and take the wheel off in the morning, bl00dy car! i love her really...