It starts out as a small oily smudge on the outside of the brake's backing plate. You notice it, but ignore it. Next time you look, there's oil and absorbed dirt making a mess all around the wheel.

They're one of those parts you rarely think about until they go bad. And then you're usually content to just check the diff-oil level every now and then. But neglecting a weeping or leaking axle seal ...

Q: I have an older Lincoln Navigator and it has a CV boot that is leaking grease. I took it to two shops and they both want to replace the axle, not the boot. Is this necessary? A: Making some ...

Dear Tom and Ray: I have a 2009 Subaru Outback with 54,000 miles. Since April 2012, every time I take it in for an oil change (at two different places), I am told that the front axle clamps have ...