Thread: Disco1 swivel preload

Someone on here (Philip A?) advised that correct swivel preload was best (easiest) achieved by just putting it all back together with new pin bearings and the existing shims. Sure worked for me.

AFAIR,what I said was that it is not very effective to reset preload on worn swivel bearings , as they get a "set" at straight ahead. On the ones I have done you can see the corrugations in the bearing track,so although they are loose in one position they will be tight just off that position . When you tighten them in the loose position , they are way too tight just off that position.

The only real way to get the correct preload is to replace the bearings.
BTW I have always ended up with shims over.LOL.
Also why on earth would you want to set the preload with the seal in place? It is pretty easy to drop the seal out even if you forgot and put it on before setting the preload.
If you plan on not disturbing the big seal, and just taking out a shim, my experience is that it will leak like a seive.
Regards Philip A

I have already replaced all the suspension bushes including the A frame ball joint. So it isn't that.
After driving it tonight and aiming at road bumps etc it has certainly improved things. Still wanders a little though. Maybe it is just the castor being out from the lift. I really can't remember if it always drove like this or not. It was lifted 2in when I bought it 2 years ago. Maybe I need a wheel alignment. I'll just leave as it is for now and see how it goes.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Also why on earth would you want to set the preload with the seal in place? It is pretty easy to drop the seal out even if you forgot and put it on before setting the preload.
If you plan on not disturbing the big seal, and just taking out a shim, my experience is that it will leak like a seive.
Regards Philip A

It isn't that I put the seal on before I set the preload by mistake. The seal was already in place. What happened was I did the entire job including putting it all back together and refilling with oil before I remembered that I was going to drop the seals.
It is tighter than it was before and it does not bind or feel rough through its range of movement. It has improved the bump steer too so I'm assuming all is well in that department. I'll remember for next time.
I'll keep an eye out for oil leaks. I have replaced one wiper seal in the last 12 months so maybe the other one is on its way out anyway. No leaks yet though.