Right front wheel laced w/ fluids

happy123 · Post by **happy123** » 19 Mar 2018, 14:40

we now own a 2015.5 (the extra .5 model yr because they had to rectify a number of issues w/ the 2015) S60T5 AWD which has, since new, secreted some kind of oil/grease/fluid out of the right front wheel, from the inside (behind the hub) out, so it spirals outward as some artists do w/ a canvas on a spinning wheel. The dealer dismisses it as merely "brake dust" but the other 3 wheels actually do have "brake dust" which wipes off w/ the stroke of a finger whereas this one requires special cleaning fluids to remove.

Throw in I use to work in a garage, on a Formula 2 racing team, have 5 motorcycles and this Volvo is but one of 6 cars... I think I know the difference between the two. I've done my share of brake jobs and caliper rebuilds. Now the fluid has stopped, only to be replaced by a rumbling... and yes, I've replaced a wheel bearing or two in my day. This bit around the 20,000 mile service mark, several months ago.

The service writer heard it within the first 30 feet (you needn't go fast to hear it) but then they had a tech whose head has been in a fender well his entire 55 yrs ride along with me and of course, he couldn't hear anything. The service manager, finally getting involved simply jumped in the car, took it up to speed and dismissed any noise as either wind or tire noise.

Volvo NA says "no worries, do to your documentation, if/when the bearing goes we'll cover it out of warranty" which, since it's the wife's car, is kind of unsettling... particularly if you've ever witnessed the consequences of a detached wheel going down the road. They're none too happy w/ their dealer but they're also not hooking me up w/ the factory rep who would quickly solve the problem. Any thoughts on this one?

crlande · Post by **crlande** » 19 Mar 2018, 15:12

I have seen some nice artistic spiral spews when a CV boot starts to rip.

Post by **oragex** » 19 Mar 2018, 15:19

happy123 wrote: ↑19 Mar 2018, 14:40 The service manager, finally getting involved simply jumped in the car, took it up to speed and dismissed any noise as either wind or tire noise.

There are dealers who don't care, while others do. If there's a second one not far, I'd pay him a visit. Bearing spraying grease is uncommon but not impossible, always possible to have a manufacturing defect. At least I'd have an independent Volvo garage (search on local.google.com) look at it/turn the bearing by hand.

While there the flexible brake line and CV boot cover clamp can be inspected.

If it's indeed the bearing, it's quite a safety matter, as a dry bearing can seize all of a sudden.

happy123 · Post by **happy123** » 19 Mar 2018, 17:54

Fellows, thanks so much for the feedback! They have inspected the cv boots but can't find anything meanwhile, clearly something is coming from somewhere. I meant to post some pics but, being new here I missed that feature. If I see it as a follow up option (vs. you had to have done it from the beginning of the post) I'll post some pics so you know what I'm talking about. This dealer certainly has all the flash & sizzle but I'm not sure whose in back getting the job done ie, on one of the warranty visits I clearly marked "rotate the tires/wheels and I will pay for it" on the ticket and they totally missed it! How'd I know? Aha, the ugly right front wheel was solidly in place!

happy123 · Post by **happy123** » 19 Mar 2018, 18:04

Ok... I think I found the angle for posting pics... holdon... Ok, so here are two pics, both of the right front wheel, one zoomed in. The other 3 wheels look perfectly normal... as in, they might have some "dust" but none of this heavy oily residue.

crlande · Post by **crlande** » 21 Jun 2018, 14:29

I may have stumbled on the reason for the wheel laced fluids. I recently put Fluid Film rust and corrosion protection on the surface face of the the rotor where the wheel makes contact with it. I now have the same spiral streaks.