Swivel preload or wheel bearing - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

proletariat · 08-01-2005, 05:35 AM

1992 RRC

I investigated why the rotor was scraping the mud guard through turns on the pass. side last evening. The wheel has slight play top to bottom. I tightened the wheel bearings and couldn't eliminate the play. Does this automatically mean the swivel preload needs adjusting, or can there be play in conical bearings that can't be eliminated by tightening the preload (even if the preload is too much)? The wheel turns smoothly in all cases. I admit, I didn't disassemble enough to see the inner bearing. Last night was just reconnisance.

Also, I found my swivel balls leak into the hub.
Should I:

a.- Consider it a blessing to have an automatic oiling feature and joyfully top the swivels up monthly.

b.- Bother to seal it.

Serious One · 08-01-2005, 07:21 AM

Rob Davison from another board has had his bolts from the swivel ball to axle housing have come loose before.

I've heard of others having it happen too, not a bad idea to check them.

rollazuki · 08-01-2005, 07:38 AM

get the car on a jack, and a buddy in the car.
Get him to press and hold the brakes on while you check again. If the play goes away the problem is bearings, if the play is still present the problem is swivel bearing/bush.(the brake locks the hub and swivel together)If the wheel bearing is to blame, replace it, if the swivel bearing is to blame, chuck a new bearing and 'Rialko' bush in there. The taper bearing at the bottom does have a life, but the 'Rialko' bush in the top can wear so no amount of preload gets rid of all the play. Its only cheap anyway, so throw a new one in. As for the oil leak, fit new axle seals while the swivel is apart, then fill the swivel with Landrover 'oneshot' grease sachets. They are a kind of thin Moly Grease in a sachet that you just squirt into the swivel thru the oil filler plug. No more oil leaks!

proletariat · 08-01-2005, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollazuki

If the play goes away the problem is bearings, if the play is still present the problem is swivel bearing/bush.

Pffft. Why would I want to do it the obvious way?

edit:

rollazuki · 08-01-2005, 09:19 AM

Just trying to be helpfull, you never know if you guys across the pond have the same dubious Landrover history as us Brits.

08-01-2005, 05:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
proletariat Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Member # 19263 Location: PA Posts: 354	Swivel preload or wheel bearing 1992 RRC I investigated why the rotor was scraping the mud guard through turns on the pass. side last evening. The wheel has slight play top to bottom. I tightened the wheel bearings and couldn't eliminate the play. Does this automatically mean the swivel preload needs adjusting, or can there be play in conical bearings that can't be eliminated by tightening the preload (even if the preload is too much)? The wheel turns smoothly in all cases. I admit, I didn't disassemble enough to see the inner bearing. Last night was just reconnisance. Also, I found my swivel balls leak into the hub. Should I: a.- Consider it a blessing to have an automatic oiling feature and joyfully top the swivels up monthly. b.- Bother to seal it.

08-01-2005, 07:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Serious One Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Member # 8768 Location: Utahr Posts: 4,054	Rob Davison from another board has had his bolts from the swivel ball to axle housing have come loose before. I've heard of others having it happen too, not a bad idea to check them. __________________ Michael

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08-01-2005, 07:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
rollazuki Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41618 Location: sheffield UK Posts: 93	get the car on a jack, and a buddy in the car. Get him to press and hold the brakes on while you check again. If the play goes away the problem is bearings, if the play is still present the problem is swivel bearing/bush.(the brake locks the hub and swivel together)If the wheel bearing is to blame, replace it, if the swivel bearing is to blame, chuck a new bearing and 'Rialko' bush in there. The taper bearing at the bottom does have a life, but the 'Rialko' bush in the top can wear so no amount of preload gets rid of all the play. Its only cheap anyway, so throw a new one in. As for the oil leak, fit new axle seals while the swivel is apart, then fill the swivel with Landrover 'oneshot' grease sachets. They are a kind of thin Moly Grease in a sachet that you just squirt into the swivel thru the oil filler plug. No more oil leaks!

08-01-2005, 09:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
rollazuki Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41618 Location: sheffield UK Posts: 93	Just trying to be helpfull, you never know if you guys across the pond have the same dubious Landrover history as us Brits.