Thread: Changing swivel hub oil

Use a piece of wire or a cable tie to probe the small plug hole to check it isn't blocked.

It is easier to refill the oil with the steering turned to full lock, but it isn't essential.

Originally Posted by BigJon

Use a piece of wire or a cable tie to probe the small plug hole to check it isn't blocked.

I hadn't thought of that, I will give it a go. Why do they even have a separate fill plug? Is it ok to just use the level plug to fill it as well (the same as diffs, gearboxes, etc)?

Why do they even have a separate fill plug? Is it ok to just use the level
plug to fill it as well (the same as diffs, gearboxes, etc)?

The level plug is tiny. You would be there all day trying to fill it. Why not fill it with one shot grease like I have done, as long as it doesn't leak out the seals too much.
Come to think of it, if it was empty you are probably going to find most of the oil on the ground in the next few weeks.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

The level plug is tiny. You would be there all day trying to fill it. Why not fill it with one shot grease like I have done, as long as it doesn't leak out the seals too much.
Come to think of it, if it was empty you are probably going to find most of the oil on the ground in the next few weeks.
Regards Philip A

Yep, I think you have a point. I think i'll just get some one shot grease. Its a bit of a hassle as the nearest Land Rover dealer is almost an hour away, but it's all good. I've got a feeling the swivel hubs will need redoing soon anyway, as the steering is dodgy..

I wouldn't recommend that grease - I stripped a few old swivels and found the CVs were rusted out. Water had mixed with the grease and wrecked them. You can't drain grease to get water out as you can with oil, so it had been in there for a long time.

My guess is that you already have grease in there, and it's blocking the level plug. As said, a bit of wire should clear it. And don't do what I did - I had the metal end of an oil pump stuck in the filler hole with the steering at full lock, and then I straightened the steering, and the end of the pump sheared off and fell in. So I rebuilt both swivels, which turned out to be a very good result since there were a heap of other problems anyway!

If you want to change the grease, I recall someone posted a long time ago that all you do is add some ATF and drive around the block.
Every now and then I drop out the drain plug, and any water should show then.
I also use a zip tie to test the level, by turning onto lock and dipping through the filler. You also see the colour from this, light brown good caramel bad.

Land cruisers and patrols have used grease since time immemorial and any old RRC will have enough damage to the balls that really new balls will be needed to stop leaks.
Regards Philip A