Military S3 swivel hub lubrication

[aussearcher]

Morning everyone,
I am helping a (very non-mechanical) friend get his ex Army LWB Series 3 back on the road after a prolonged period in storage. I have a civilian S3 workshop manual, which if I am reading it correctly says that the swivels have oil in them. So, yesterday car went up on hoist. No oil in the swivels, just some pretty cruddy grease remains. I injected correct amount of correct spec oil as per manual, which promptly came out through the swivel seals.


So, should the swivels have oil in them, in which case the seals are shot, or do they run grease? Could the swivels have been converted from oil to grease at some stage - is this a "known mod"?
Thanks!

[schuy1]

You are correct ,the swivels should be running oil. The grease fix is what people do when they can not be bothered replacing the swivel seals. Unless the grease is the proper swivel housing semi liquid grease that later models run the joints and swivel bearings will be damaged.
Cheers Scott

[gromit]

As Scott stated, they should run oil.
If there has been no oil for some time the taper roller bearing at the bottom, the Railco bush at the top & the drive shaft universal need to be checked.

Are the chrome swivels OK, if so stripping & fitting new seals should do the job (check the bearings etc. at the same time & set up the pre-load).

Some people fit a semi-liquid grease to the swivels as a fix for leaky seals (even Land Rover themselves did this). There is some discussion as to whether the Railco bush at the top of the swivel receives enough lubrication with grease.



Colin

[JDNSW]

As the others have said - Series 3 should have oil in the swivels. The seal will leak if there is damage to the seal or there sealing surface, if the swivel preload is incorrect (or the bottom bearing or top bush and pin worn), and possibly be encouraged by a blocked axle breather.

If it has been run for any length of time with the swivel filled with grease, not oil or semi-liquid grease, expect the swivel bush and pin to be worn, and probably the bottom bearing. The universal joint will also need inspection.

Since the swivel communicates with the wheel bearings, and what lets oil out can also let water in, the wheel bearings will also need inspection, but you will be disassembling these to fix the other problems anyway (it is possible to change the seal and swivel etc without removing the hub and wheel bearings, but not easier!).

John

[B.S.F.]

If ever you have to work on you swivels away from the luxuries of a workshop you'll be grateful that your swivels contain oil and not grease. Removing the grease can be quite messy.
I've done mine 10 years ago and have traveled 103000km since, under all conditions and they still hold oil and I've never even readjusted the preload.
.W.

[aussearcher]

Everyone,
Thank you very much for the feedback and advice. I'd certainly not describe the grease in the swivels as "semi-liquid" and it bears no resemblance to the stuff I run in my Disco. The chrome however look to be in good condition. Ahh well, looks like a rebuild!
Much appreciated,
Alan

[aussearcher]

OK, I've looked at what is involved in replacing the swivel seals and undoubtedly some bearings. Since it's not my car and I'm flat out at work, any suggestions on who should get this job in Melbourne? I'm thinking at least one of the swivels is going to need replacing as its lost some chrome, and given the hubs have been run dry the Railco bushes have probably gone also. What sort of $ is my mate looking at? (Ball park, as I know it will depend on what needs replacing...)
Thanks!