Thread: Steering ball leather gaiters

Do you think gaiters are neccessary? I reckon they will keep the dirt in, not out (as in most brake backing plates). No other 4WD I've had needed them.
If the seals are in good nick they should scrape the dirt off the swivels anyway. They look good though.

The general consensus its that it is impossible to ensure they won't let water in and it is impossible to see the rust starting when it gets in. I find it difficult to envisage circumstances where they would be considered a good idea.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The general consensus its that it is impossible to ensure they won't let water in and it is impossible to see the rust starting when it gets in. I find it difficult to envisage circumstances where they would be considered a good idea.

John

Yes I've heard those opinions and I've also heard opinions to the contrary, I believe that they were fitted to military vehicles.

I believe that they are not a case of fit and forget, they would need to be checked at intervals, depending on the circumstances in which the wagon operates in.

I reckon that they would certainly protect against stone chips, which maybe the origin of the rust pitting in that once the chrome is chipped, it allows the surface beneath to rust. Just an idea.

Norm.

Yes, that would be the situation where they would be useful, but I'm not too sure whether the solution (preventing stone chips) is a real advantage as against the gaiters stopping it from ever drying out. I think the intention of them, and why they were specified by some military purchasers, was to reduce wear when operating in very abrasive liquids such as fine wet sand.

In a military environment they probably specified a "remove and inspect" regime after each such exposure.

John

It's a bit like the propshaft gaiters.
Great idea until someone stands the vehicle in deep water, the gaiters fill up but don't drain afterwards....sliding joint buggered.

If you were intending to do a lot of high speed Kms on dirt roads then maybe useful but otherwise I'm not sure. My Series I had 2 small pits that I had to fill with epoxy metal, not bad from 1956. My '95 Defender has had the liquid grease mod in the past and still on original balls & seals. Series II is OK but needs seals same with a couple of others.
My Series III shorty had some bad wear marks in one spot, looked like a combination of a wheel shimmy & sand getting behind the seal. Filled with epoxy metal and doing OK at the moment.






The problem seems to be when LR's are parked up and the grass grows underneath holding mosture around the swivel balls. If they are shedded or used there is less of a problem. Mind you making the seals too leak tight might also be a problem, a slight weep and the balls are lubricated externally.

Now if you filled the inside of the gaiter with grease, that might work......


Colin

One of the main reason for them is to protect the balls from corrosion particularly salt on the roads which is really only a problem in climates where they actually salt the road.

Also the original gaiters were chamois leather that needs to be kept moist this is O.K. in places with significant rainfall but in Australia with high temperatures and frequent long rain free periods, the leather tends to crack.

As a result and has been said the gaiters are more trouble than they are worth.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

One of the main reason for them is to protect the balls from corrosion particularly salt on the roads which is really only a problem in climates where they actually salt the road.

Also the original gaiters were chamois leather that needs to be kept moist this is O.K. in places with significant rainfall but in Australia with high temperatures and frequent long rain free periods, the leather tends to crack.

As a result and has been said the gaiters are more trouble than they are worth.

I think getting wet & staying wet/moist near the swivel ball would promote rust, but would keep out the dirt.
I would think that if leather was used it would have been oiled to make it waterproof (mind you the steady leak of EP90 would have helped).

It does looks like a chamois leather here http://www.rdsparts.com/defender-differential.htm


Colin