Fluid flowing out from driveshaft hub bolt?

[dazar5]

Hi

I will try my best to describe this problem. I replaced the abs ring recently and when I removed the driveshaft bolt I noticed some black fluid like oil came out. I was wondering what this fluid would have been as I think I can hear a very very quiet rumble/rolling noise from the wheel after driving for a while. The fluid came straight out of the driveshaft bolt hole and I can't see any leakage from the cv joint. Might be nothing but just wanna check.

[insanitybeard]

It is actually CV grease from the outer CV joint, the outer joint casting is infact hollow where the bolt threads into it so when you remove the hub bolt it opens up the chamber within the CV joint where the grease is situated. In itself, a little grease leaking out when removing the hub bolt is fairly normal.

[dazar5]

Thank you for replying so quickly 

Do you know if the driveshaft bolt could cause the very quiet noise is it isn't tightened enough. I have tightened by hand as far as I dare.

The noise is hard to describe but it sounds like a hollow rolling noise

[insanitybeard]

Be warned, that hub bolt is a stretch bolt and is meant to be renewed if it is removed for any reason, obviously it locks the driveshaft into the hub but also is responsible for preloading the wheel bearing, it is possible reusing an old bolt may affect the bearing preload but I can't say for sure if it could cause a noise as a result. The torque for a new bolt (at least on the Mk2 Galaxy, and it looks like the Mk1 hub bolt is the same part number as the Mk2) is 150 newton metres plus a 90 degree angle tighten.

[Mirez]

Do you mean finger tight or with a wrench? If its the former do not drive it! The hub bolt holds the CV to the shaft which would be catastrophic if it comes loose at speed!

As above it should be renewed and torqued up, you can inject greese into the CV through the bolts hole before refitting if your old stuff has turned to oil

[dazar5]

Turns out that the bolt was just under the rated torque.
Had to bite the bullet and get a torque wrench.

Thank you for the advice.

[insanitybeard]

Was it a new bolt that you fitted? Has the noise gone now that you've tightened it up to the specification?

[dazar5]

Tightened the original bolt and noise is gone. Will look at replacing bolt if noise returns but fingers crossed it won't because can only get the bolt with a new cv joint.

[insanitybeard]

Not true, you can certainly buy the bolt from Ford and I can't see any reason why the one fitted to the Sharan would be any different, the Ford part number is 7201538, I've had to replace both of mine for one reason or another, check out the Ford parts diagram- number 21.