Swivel pin housing grease

**skoller** · 5th January 2015, 09:17 AM

On the newer Defenders how can you tell if swivel pin housings have enough grease in them. You can look into the filler hole but not much can be seen.

Thanks if anyone can help

**CraigE** · 5th January 2015, 11:04 AM

I use a flexible piece of thin round dowel or a white cable tie by dipping in, reminds me mine is due to be checked, though I dont have any leaks so should be fine.

**skoller** · 5th January 2015, 11:08 AM

CraigE
Is there a level I should aim for or just as long as there is grease in there.

**mox** · 6th January 2015, 10:09 PM

I presume Land Rover designers went to using grease rather than oil in swivel housings to reduce likelihood of oil leaks. To my thinking, was a backward step other than possibly creating more spare parts sales when grease becomes hard and cheesy as it ages. Then when it is squeezed out of between surfaces when under load, is not very inclined to work its way back in as oil will' .

I have occasionally put a bit of hypoid gear oil to my swivel housings after seeing several years ago a Defender in a local garage having chewed out constant velocity joins replaced. Have not had any external leaks from swivel housing area. Quite likely excess oil just leaks into the diff.

I bought a set of hub oil seals several years ago, intending to replace the grease seal which became standard in late model Defenders. This was after having the left rear axle and spline run dry/rusty and strip after vehicle had only done about 60,000 km from new. Still have not got around to it. In the meantime, I have occasionally pulled off the standard plastic or rubber cap that covers the end of the standard hubs, half filled them with hypoid gear oil and slapped them back on.

**CraigE** · 8th January 2015, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by skoller

CraigE
Is there a level I should aim for or just as long as there is grease in there.

I dont think there is a level as such, I know when I last used the one shot it was 1 tube per side to fill. I know it is not full to the very top as there will be movement of the grease. I usually fill to about 1cm from the top of the fill hole, not sure if this is exactly correct or not.
It should only be a concern if you notice it leaking around the swivel ball or is contaminating the diff oil.
I now make my own grease and it should be explained it is not straight grease but semi fluid grease to stop leaks while lubricating. This was due to the one shot being too hard to get and expensive for what it is.
Recipe
1/3 good quality lithium EP grease1
2/3 gear oil 90 (or 80W90)
Place both ingredients in a mixing vessel (tin) mix with paint mixer until smooth and homogenous. (Being careful not to lift mixer out of ingredients, as this will spray lube all over the garage)
This will provide a semi-fluid lubricant with a base oil viscosity of about 150-200cSt.
Notes:
1 Moly based grease can be used, and they will provide better extreme wear protection. Ideally any good Extreme Pressure (EP) grease will work. Make sure that it is a lithium soap (Lithium hydroxystearate, or lithium complex). Grease with tackifier will also enhance the quality of your semi-fluid lubricant.
Some of the greases that are recommended are;
BP Energrease LC2T
BP Energrease LSEP 2
Castrol APXT
BP Energrease LC2M
All these greases have base oil viscosities in the range of 155 ? 220 cSt.
NOTE: ?T? denotes tackifier
?M? denotes Moly (MoS2)

Thread: Swivel pin housing grease

Thread Tools

Swivel pin housing grease

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions