[T3] Leak under front driver side

[Dave Hall]

Could it be the oil separating from the grease in the torsion arm bearings?
I think there are drain slots at the bottom of the axle where the halves
join.

If it's oil-based, it won't rinse off you finger under a tap, but normal
brake fluid will (not silicone fluid though). 
The brakes aren't very close to the axle beam, so I can't think of how brake
fluid could appear there.

Is it from the steering box?  The grease in there can also separate and
dribble out over a time.

With a simple fuel tank vent, there is a pipe that ends up near the
left-hand axle beam end - could fuel fumes condense in cold conditions and
drip from there?  


Dave.
UK VW Type 3&4 Club
===================

-----Original Message-----
From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
[mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of Jacob Adam
Schroeder
Sent: 15 March 2013 22:21
To: type3 at vwtype3.org
Subject: [T3] Leak under front driver side

I have recently noticed a leak under the front driver's side of my 1972
Squareback.  The fluid feels somewhat viscous and has a yellow-ish tint to
it. Upon smelling it, it just smelled like everything else on my VW --
oil/gas/dirt mix.  It is a low leak, but I notice a small pool every few
days and my garage concrete has an oily look to it under the pool.

The place where it drips from the frame is just below the lowest front-end
grease nipple on the driver's side, which is also the lowest part of the
body right there.

Any ideas what this could be?  How urgent of a fix is this?  If it is the
brakes, I imagine I should get this fixed ASAP.  I'm not sure it is the
brakes, however, because the pedal feels firm and does not sink no matter
how firm I press on it.

The car has sat for about 8 years before I got it out of my parents house
and into mine.  I'm trying to get this to be my daily driver.  Any help,
advice, test procedures, or just comments are appreciated.  Thanks!

Jacob
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