By Tom P. on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 09:19 am: Edit

I adjusted the swivel pin preload a few weeks ago and had some residual oil seep (which I had expected). After a thorough cleaning and several thousand miles it appears that I do in fact still have some oil seep from the top swivel pin, where the shims are added/removed, not the actual swivel seal.

FWIW, I'm running a 50:50 blend of LR grease and 90wt and the seep is only on one side (?).

Any sugestions here? I made sure that everything was meticulously clean before disassembly/reassembly, and I purposely did not use any sealant. Should I have used something like hylomar when reassembling? Will the sealant have any effect on the preload value?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Tom Proctor
96 Disco

By Ron on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 10:16 am: Edit

I use a little hylomar on shims as a matter of course w/o problems, but not in this specific application. You can get them apart again which would be harder with right stuff/permatex

I am unsure if it would effect preload. My gut tells me not enough to effect it but I do not know.

If that helps.

Ron

By Ron on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 10:17 am: Edit

Not in this specific application means that I have not had to take mine appart yet to adjust. i would not hesitate to put a little hylomar on though.

Ron

By Tom P. on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 11:41 am: Edit

Ron,

I'll have to celan it down with brake cleaner again and try to id the exact leak path. It just buggs me that it actually leaks at the top swivel, and only on one side.

I'll probably have to disassemble and use hylomar.

Tom P.

By Ron on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 11:42 am: Edit

That sucks Tom P.

did the adjustment help the handling?

Ron

By Tom P. on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 12:13 pm: Edit

I did new bushes at the same time, so, yes it helped :-). The preload adjustment in combinations with the bushes eliminated some highway wander. All I have left to do is steering box adjustment. Then I'll decide on replacing the damper. (I'm still running the original steering damper, which feels about 60% as stiff as a new one.)

Oh, and I readjusted the steering stops - took about 4-5 feet off my turning radius! Yeah, they were way off...

The only real bitch about having to hylomar the shims is time, but better now than January!

Tom P.

By Ron on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 12:17 pm: Edit

Good to know Tom.

Just drive over a 2 ft log. That will hasten steering damper replacement

Ron

By Rico on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 12:29 pm: Edit

Check were the abs sensor goes in just above the swivel. I thought I had a leak in the swivel. After several returns to the dealer they finally noticed that it was coming out of the ABS sensor. They replaced the seal and no problems since.
Luckily it was under warranty.
It also appeared to be coming from the top of the swivel.

Rico

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 12:51 pm: Edit

Tom - Rico's point is a good one - if you removed your sensors - seal replacement is mandatory (according to the manual anway - no firsthand experience)

Good thing you held onto that hub nut tool!

Good luck

By Tom P on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 01:07 pm: Edit

Although I never removed the actual sensor from the upper pin, that seal is worth investigating since it was *handled*.

I'll returnt hat hub nut tool at the Trials Bill...

Tom