Thread: Swivel preload

Hi Lou,
Just did mine on Saturday. If your wheel bearings are OK, then a quick test is to jack front axle up and try and move wheel up and down. Any movement would normally indicate flogged out swivel bearings.
As an indication, mine took 5 hours to replace. It wasn't hard, but I should have steam cleaned the swivel hubs first, as grit kept falling into things. Also, drain the hub oil before dismantling.
Haynes rate it as 4/5 for difficulty. Just need a fish scale spring to check preload...

Basic procedure for checking ....

1: Put front end on axle stands
2: Take wheels off
3: Remove all steering arms making connection to hub
4: Place fish scales in hole of leading steering arm hole / "pull test" to check for the required pounds


5: Some say that the swivel seal should be unbolted when testing ...

Easy steady job for the mechanically minded ... Pain in the rear for the novice

Mike

Originally Posted by mike 90 RR

Basic procedure for checking ....

1: Put front end on axle stands
2: Take wheels off
3: Remove all steering arms making connection to hub
4: Place fish scales in hole of leading steering arm hole / "pull test" to check for the required pounds


5: Some say that the swivel seal should be unbolted when testing ...

Easy steady job for the mechanically minded ... Pain in the rear for the novice

Mike

some say! everybody says including LR..
free play in the steering wont be swivell preload, it will be dead tie rods or worn steering box (can be adjusted with a 19mm spanner and an allen key) swivell preload also shouldnt cause vibrations.

cheers phil

From my personal experience, flogged out swivel bearings caused the vehicle to wander and clunk a little over pot holes etc, nothing else...

Originally Posted by discowhite

some say! everybody says including LR..
free play in the steering wont be swivell preload,

it will be dead tie rods or worn steering box (can be adjusted with a 19mm spanner and an allen key)

swivell preload also shouldnt cause vibrations.

cheers phil

interesting you should say that....as I have heard on here whether or not it is true that land rovers really shouldn't run RTC's as there boxs aren't strong enough for them!
whether or not this is the case I don't know
tie rod ends I think are about 2/3 years old would they really be knackered already?

the free play in the steering wheel is only really felt as I hit 100kph thats when it is most noticeable. I get that first and then I get the vibs

only reason I wrote swivel proload was because another member on here was complaining about the same thing said that he changed all his bushes etc etc everything else was tight and everyone said swivel preload...I figured if he is feeling and complainin about the same things I have why would it be different for me.

Like I say Dullbird, checking swivels is as easy as jacking up each front wheel and checking for axial movement.
Also, check both of your driveshaft unis.
Check your steering dampener by unbolting it and checking there is some resistance against in/out movement.
Has anything else been changed on the vehicle lately that may have contributed?
Have you had a wheel balance lately?
Just some thoughts...

[quote=dullbird;966621]interesting you should say that....as I have heard on here whether or not it is true that land rovers really shouldn't run RTC's as there boxs aren't strong enough for them!
whether or not this is the case I don't know
tie rod ends I think are about 2/3 years old would they really be knackered already? are they greasable? if so when were they done last and how often?

the free play in the steering wheel is only really felt as I hit 100kph thats when it is most noticeable. I get that first and then I get the vibs the ''freeplay'' feeling sounds like incorrect toe in/out adjustment to me. was this played with when the new wheels/tyres were fitted? vides also could be tailshaft. wheel bearings wheel ballance.


only reason I wrote swivel proload was because another member on here was complaining about the same thing said that he changed all his bushes etc etc everything else was tight and everyone said swivel preload...I figured if he is feeling and complainin about the same things I have why would it be different for me.[/quote]if he had changed everything then there isnt anything else to change except the swivell bearings. i still maintain the swivell bearings wont cause vibes, more so tracking or pulling. when that one of mine died i shook the crap out of that side as i knew something was wrong but i didnt get any movement out of it till i dropped all the steering gear and removed the wheel.

cheers phil

Originally Posted by brianwood

Like I say Dullbird, checking swivels is as easy as jacking up each front wheel and checking for axial movement.
Also, check both of your driveshaft unis.
Check your steering dampener by unbolting it and checking there is some resistance against in/out movement.
Has anything else been changed on the vehicle lately that may have contributed?
Have you had a wheel balance lately?
Just some thoughts...

good point brian, lou's steering dampner is missing some parts.
take it off and see if it gets better or worse.

cheers phil