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If there is enough leakage for you to notice then there is something wrong. The knuckle joint has a small amount of grease in it which is to lubricate the internal mechanism. If the grease is leaking out then it has been diluted by either oil or water. It is most likely to be diluted by oil. The oil is leaking from inside the axle through the oil seal. This is because:
1. The oil seal is worn allowing oil to seep past the seal
2. The KingPin bearings are worn, allowing the knuckle to wobble and permitting oil to seep past the seal.
3. The axle is bent or the wheel bearing is shot. Again the wobble caused by these are permitting oil to seep past the seal
If it is water then the large rubber seal on the knuckle is letting water into the joint and then its leaking back out.
It it is axle oil based leakage then it smells real bad.
Martin
Martin
2003 M13 early KAP build.
3" Trailmaster lift with 1.5 Spacers on front
Customised winch bumper and roll cage
235/85R16 Maxxis Bighorns on 16" Rims, 4:1 Rocklobster, Rear ARB locker and on-board air
Corrected arms all-round, rear disks, Recaro seats and harnesses
Looks like you just need to give your steering knuckles a good overhaul as you say there's no play in the bearings.
My Jimny needs the same, there is a noticable amount of grease coming out through the seals onto the swivel ball on mine too.
It should go without saying that the oil seal in the axle should be replaced when the rubber and felt seals are replaced. Just take your time and keep everything in the order it came off, clean it all up and put it together with some gasket sealant in it to stop water getting in. Pack your bearings and CV's in CV grease and all will be fine.
Be careful removing the oil seal in the axle tube though as you don't want to damage the axle tube.
I've not done this on a Jimny yet but I assume it's the same as an SJ, which i have done both mine and a friend's now.
Yes you do need a bearing release tool and a small torque wrench to get it all torqued back together nicely. I have guessed with my SJ but will do it properly with this car.
You might want to replace the wheel and kingpin bearings and their runners whilst you have the steering joint in bits. The kingpin bearings have shims though and these can be removed to make them a little tighter. You'll need a spring balance to get them right with the new seals on.
The bearing tool can be got from Bits4Vits ebay shop for just under £44.00 delivered or twice the price at Suzuki's.
I've ordered my tool this evening and have to do my axle seals when it's warmer and I have to fit my fixed hubs soon too.
Kirky
The underdog often starts the fight, and occasionally the upper dog deserves to win - Edgar Watson Howe.
fitted a new inner seal and kingpin bearingd to the passenger side and hey pressto all is ok , well i get a very slight wobble when i go over bumps but that might be my off sett wheels.
when i took the knucle joint out the bottom kingpin and surrounds had like a hard thick crusty type of grease on it and the inner axel drivshaft seal had deformed and split , i guess this was the kiddy causing me greif:woohoo:
