Thread: swivel oil change

try adding another 100ml, the capacity of a dry swivel hub is 600 ml, dip with a zip tie with the steering wound all the way over to the side you are filling to get the ball clear of the fill hole.

I hope you are aware of the level hole about 1/3 of the way up the swivel above the drain hole.
if filled to there it should not go to the diff even if no seal.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I hope you are aware of the level hole about 1/3 of the way up the swivel above the drain hole.
if filled to there it should not go to the diff even if no seal.
Regards Philip A

Well I put another 100ml and its full to the fill hole. Have I put too much in now? Should it be to the middle level hole? (I didn't notice that till you mentioned), thanks Philip.

nope, generally any excess will work its way back into the diff or the wheel bearings.

It'll then leak out from the hub seal and the pinion seal depending on which assembly takes the oil.

Fill to the middle hole. Re-open the filler hole and the level plug (middle) and let it drain out. Hard to collect the excess so have some rags handy.

If you leave the excess in there it'll leak out the swivel seal over your tyres.

Be careful undoing the level plug, some are brass and easy to strip the spanner grip.

DL

I've a TD5, so no drain or level indicator plugs. Just curious, have been filling my swivels to half way up the housing. If I was to compare this to an earlier model with the level plug, would this be about the right amount? It's about 35/40mm when I dip the level.

Cheers, Tod.

The correct amount should be 0.35l of oil in each swivel housing, level plug or not. A failing of the internal axle seal is not uncommon and will allow oil from the diff moving into the swivel housing (and vice versa). Sometimes a seal failure will allow swivel oil to move into the wheel bearings, allowing for additional lubrication (rather welcome IMHO), just make sure the rubber cap on the driving member fits and seals tight.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Jojo

The correct amount should be 0.35l of oil in each swivel housing, level plug or not. A removal of the internal axle seal is not uncommon and will allow oil from the diff moving into the swivel housing (and vice versa). Sometimes a seal failure will allow swivel oil to move into the wheel bearings, allowing for additional lubrication (rather welcome IMHO), just make sure the rubber cap on the driving member fits and seals tight.
Cheers

corrected in blue

if you go this way dont forget to fit the double lipped hub seal. filling the rubber cap with turntable grease also aids in the prevention of spline wear