I noticed a strange braking feel recently.

So I checked things and found the right rear drum and shoes had a film of gear oil on them. It's gear oil, you can smell it.

There is no oil outside the drum, or past the backing plate. No oil on the wheel or tire. There is no leak on the left wheel. The diff oil is not low.

I checked the breather cap, and it was covered with a perfect film of dried mud, almost like someone painted it on. The cap was trapped in the down position.

I wiggled the cap and broke it loose and dusted everything free. I'll look for some hose and do an extended breather mod today.

I raised the rear and wiggled both wheels and used a "listener extension", both bearings seem fine.

Since it looks like my leak was very light and just started, I'm wondering if anyone here has ever had the same situation: quick discovery before the leak got bad, and the leak stopped when the breather tube was cleared. Anyone?

 

You might get lucky then maybe not.

You will just have to keep watch