Drive Axle Hub Smoking

[Mubashir Hayat]

Today I had the drive axle seals and bearings replaced on passenger side along with new 85w140 diff fluid.  Drove the coach about 4 miles down the road and she started smoking near the drive axle hub. Mechanic shows up and tells me it’s the brake drum/slack adjuster. He loosens then tells me to drive on down the road.  A few miles later it is nearly in flames.  He hits it with a fire extinquisher and tells me the bearings are fried. My question is this:  What damage can be done other than new seals, bearings, gaskets and racers?  In addition, what mistakes did this guy make to cause this big of a problem? Can the brake drum heat up enough to cause the hubs/bearing to go out?  Not sure but it was a mess and now I have to trust this guy to re-do it.  I found all new parts to re-do the work but any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks…….     Chris and Christy Rawlings 2000 XL Klein Conversion (bunks for kiddos) 2013 Jeep Wrangler Tulsa, OK

[Mubashir Hayat]

I am not the guy to answer your questions but I am so glad no one was hurt and you did not have a major fire and lose your coach. Thankfully you were paying attention. You have had a terrible day but it could have gotten much worse quickly.

Davy

Home is where you go when there’s no place else to go!
1995-96 Prevost XL Vantare
Detroit 60 Series
Toad-2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Toad-2006 Scion Xb
1997 Featherlite 24′ Trailer
http://www.boggsblogs.com

[Mubashir Hayat]

I’m wondering if the mechanic properly lubricated the drive axle after bearing replacement. He needs to lift each side six inches to allow lubricant to flow into the wheel end bearing assemblies. Lift each end six inches and hold in position for one minute.

[Mubashir Hayat]

David is right on as to what happened. Merely filling the differential with gear lube does not get oil into the hub. Your coach was run with dry bearings and your problem may be significantly more extensive than new seals.

If you are verrrrry verrrry lucky you did not damage the end of the differential where the bearings seat. At the very least the bearings need to be replaced, but if they are seized onto the end of the differential you may have to not only get them off without damaging the differential, you may have to remachine the differential end.

The seals are no good due to heat, the bearings are now bad, and you need to alert the shop that serviced the hub seals they have a large bill coming to them as a result of the damage caused by an incompetent mechanic.

FWIW on at least two occasions that I know of two other owners had hub seals replaced and the mechanics failed to refill the hubs or pack the bearings with grease and in both cases they got a very limited number of miles (around 4 miles if I remember right) and they destroyed the bearings and the differential end. Both coaches had to be trucked to a service facility and the guilty shops spend thousands of dollars to repair the damage.

 

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

[Mubashir Hayat]

My theory is that he over tightened the six inch hex that seats up to the bearings.  However, for some reason I think there was an issue with the brake drum, shoes or something.  They had collected some gunk and debris from the slow leak I had in the seal and he cleaned and treated the brakes.  He may have messed up there.

I am headed over to his shop now.  I am going to stand over his shoulder while he fixes this issue and I see it first hand.  My understanding is this is a routine job for big rigs and he has done dozens of these before.  He is Prevost certified and travels every two years up north for training.

I will post pics and an update once we are finished.

 

Chris and Christy Rawlings
2000 XL Klein Conversion (bunks for kiddos)
2013 Jeep Wrangler
Tulsa, OK

[Mubashir Hayat]

Do not trust this guy. Replacing a hub seal is a fairly easy and straight forward process and it generally takes about 2 hours. But no matter how well a mechanic does the job, if he does not insure the bearings are being lubed it indicates he really has no business doing that kind of work.

I really hope the company that did the work has deep pockets for your sake.

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

[Mubashir Hayat]

The Prevost shop manual is very clear on the tightening process. They list two methods, one being to tighten to a specific value and back off a specified number of degrees or tighten and measure runout. A Prevost certified mechanic would either know the procedure or know where to find it in the shop manual.

I suspect overtightening could create the problem described but would guess the real problem was lack of lubricant. A qualified mechanic is not going to over tighten.

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

[Mubashir Hayat]

He didn’t pre lube the bearing and the heat from the brakes added to the problem it is hard to over tighten a tapered bearing if lubed right one always pre loads the bearings in the transmissions and the rear gears they have O clearence .He should have filled the hubs with oil or packed the bearings with grease and sounds like he did not would be my guess.The excess heat probably cost you a rear drum also

good luck

[Mubashir Hayat]

Your housing is probably toast.  The end where the bearings and seal reside is easily damaged beyond repair when this sort of thing happens.  There are some mobile techs that specialize in this type of repair who can re-weld and then turn down to the proper specifications, but since you paid this moron to do the job, make him buy you a new housing and have a shop that knows what they are doing install it.

This is what happens when people take stuff to shops that say they are trained to work on Prevost stuff, and in all reality are not.  ANY mechanic who does not pre-lube the housing end parts when doing this work is an idiot who should not be working as a mechanic.

Do not let this moron talk you into just filing it down and shining it up with emery cloth and slap new parts on it and call it good.

Mark & Kristi
Jasper, TN
2022 Newmar King Aire
2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

[Mubashir Hayat]

I agree. Don’t let that guy tell you any differently.

The spindle end of the axle housing is most likely toast. you can call a nationwide company called Axle Surgeons. they have made a living since the 1970’s from these kind of bonehead mistakes.

 

• Bill & Jean
  1990 Marathon XL 2013-2021
  2001 Marathon H3-45 #0678 2019-present

[Mubashir Hayat]

Guys don’t think Prevost Service  Centers are not with sin they can screw one up in a hurry also, the good part is they have the money and new parts to fix their screw up and I don’t know if his shop has the money to replace the 8000 dollar housing sad indeed  when you try and save a few bucks for some reason it always bites back

good luck

[Mubashir Hayat]

For Chris and Christy : I hope the damage was more show than damage!  That said: Easy for me to say. Some one else would fix it to insure that it was not a cosmetic fix to get me out of sight.  Sure you can later try to get satisfaction tru the legal system if he screws it up again..  BUT…..  how much time ? who really wins???  Bus Life is suppose to be FUN!!  Hard to find the fun in it when you trust someone to do their job  correctly?  This guys name wasn’t Joe was it?   Bob

 

98 XLE home built triple slide-SW Indiana

[Mubashir Hayat]

OK.  Here is the update….

The bearings/race fused to the axle snout.  I have the Axle Surgeon coming on Monday to cut off and re-weld a new one.

In addition I am paying another mechanic to do the work in this guy’s shop.  Unfortunately I can’t get it towed as it sits now.  Bottom line I can’t sleep knowing this guy did the work.  Once it is out of his shop I am dropping it off at top notch shop to inspect all parts and work done including the axle snout.

This has been a wild and nearly dangerous ride.  I cna’t begin to tell you how extremely frustrating this has been.  I guess you would understand since you love your rigs as much as we love ours.

A small seal drip has turned into a massive ordeal.  Thank you for your input and tips.

 

 

Chris and Christy Rawlings
2000 XL Klein Conversion (bunks for kiddos)
2013 Jeep Wrangler
Tulsa, OK

[Mubashir Hayat]

Since you are not the first Prevost owner that has had a small maintenance issue turn into a major nightmare don’t beat yourself up.

The message you should take to all who will learn from your experience is first and foremost don’t ever take a coach to anyone who lacks expertise (can they prove they have it), who does not have the financial means to stand behind the repair, and who is willing and capable to make it right if something goes wrong.

I am going to guess anyone can screw up. The critical issue is if there is a screw up is the shop going to make you whole? A cheap mechanic who is operating on a shoe string might beat the price of an established shop that carries liability insurance, but that cheap mechanic no matter how charming could turn out to be the most expensive guy in the world. The good news in your case is nobody got hurt. There are far too many risks taken when you ignore the fact these coaches require people with skills to maintain them.

You are paying another mechanic yourself?????????? Seriously?????????? The guy that screwed this up should be front and center bearing the responsibility to make the damage he did corrected. Not necessarily doing the work, but paying for it.

 

Check with your insurance company to see if you are covered. Your coach has been damaged to a great extent and insurance might cover the repairs. If yours won’t see if he has insurance. (fat chance).

 

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

 

[Mubashir Hayat]

If the shop that screwed up your coach stands behind it, even though they messed it up they need to be named as a shop that does take proper care of their customers.

If the shop or mechanic does not make you whole they also need to be named. Other owners need to be made aware they need to avoid getting service there.

Jon and Di 2006 Liberty Elegant Lady, 2021
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1950 Ford
Knoxville, TN

Owner of three Liberty Coaches since 1990

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