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Grease On The Inside Of The Wheel

Black grease sprayed on the inside of a front wheel or around the suspension usually means a CV joint boot is torn and the joint is losing its grease.

Normal risk

Have it repaired soon. A dry CV joint wears quickly and starts to click.

Short answer · Why is there grease inside my wheel?

The CV joints on the driveshafts are packed with grease and covered by a rubber boot. When the boot cracks or tears, the turning shaft flings grease around the wheel arch. Dirt and water then get into the joint. If replaced early, only the boot and grease are needed; once the joint clicks, it usually needs replacing.

On this page

Safe checks you can do

  1. Look behind the wheelWith the steering at full lock, check the rubber boot on the driveshaft.
  2. Look for clicking in turnsA clicking joint already has wear.
  3. Check for grease on brake partsClean grease off brake discs before driving far.

Questions that narrow it down

  1. Is there clicking when turning?The joint is already worn.
  2. Inner or outer joint?The outer joint near the wheel tears most often.
  3. Was the car recently lifted?A boot can be damaged during work.

Possible causes

Listed without ranking. Use the questions above to see which ones fit your car.

  1. Torn outer CV bootMost common.
  2. Torn inner CV bootGrease near the gearbox.
  3. Loose boot clampGrease seeps out.
  4. Wheel bearing greaseRare; usually from a damaged seal.

Questions about Grease On The Inside Of The Wheel

How urgent is a torn CV boot?

Repair it soon. Early repair is cheaper than replacing the joint.

Can I drive with a torn boot?

For a short while, but the joint wears faster each day.