Lightning Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 (edited) I decided to refill the swivels with grease (on my TD5 Defender) One side was OK it took about half the tube of grease but the other side was full of axle oil. So l take it the seal between the axle and swivel has failed. But do l need to do anything about it? I checked the axle and the oil level was fine although it clearly has been contaminated with swivel grease. So l changed the axle oil anyway. The swivels themselves are OK, they were replaced about 18 months ago by a LR garage. The swivel that’s full of axle oil is leaking a little (l think that’s why they changed to grease?) but not enough to be an issue. Edited February 12, 2019 by Lightning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 So long as it has oil or grease in there, It's not an issue. If the leak gets too bad then renew swivel seal and do stub axle seal at the same time... But it's ok to leave it as is for now, just get set for a messy tedious job at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 Well, as the swivels were replaced last year l am going to let the garage who did the work have a look at it. As it’s only done around 10,000 miles since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Not sure the garage will give you any joy, as the seal in the stub axle has failed and is not disturbed when doing the swivel joints?..... May be bad timing but they are a wear and tear item, that said some guys DO knock the stub axle seals out and let the diff oil (EP90) flow straight through. Garage may renew swivel seal at best if deemed to have failed significantly??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 (edited) If it wasn’t leaking out of the swivel seal l would leave it, but it’s leaking oil onto the inside of the tyre. l am happy to pay them for the work if it’s nothing to do with replacing the swivels. After all, the Landy is 14 years old and has done over 100,000 miles so l would expect some issues to crop up from time to time. Edited February 12, 2019 by Lightning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 That's the hub seal leaking, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 13, 2019 Author Share Posted February 13, 2019 (edited) Looks like it, as the swivel is full of axle oil and the axle oil is contaminated with swivel grease. Edited February 13, 2019 by Lightning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 That wouldn't bother me, lubrication is good. Especially of flange splines. But lube can only escape to the outside tyre at the swivel seal, or the hub seal between the stub axle and the bearings. If the swivel seal is good, then it must be the hub seal. Simple job, really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 If running oil through then the double lipped earlier hub oil seal is perhaps a sensible fitment. RTC3511 HTH Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 13, 2019 Author Share Posted February 13, 2019 (edited) Well the swivels and seals are fairly new. lt’s not leaking a lot of oil, certainly a lot less than before the swivels were changed Edited February 13, 2019 by Lightning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Yes, no, that's the swivel seal. That shouldn't leak, irrespective of the lube. Series swivels run on oil, and, if done properly, don't leak like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) So is it worth paying to get the suspension dismantled to repair this fault? Or will it be fine to just forget about it. I’m guessing there’s going to be a bill for over £200 if l get it done. Somebody has said that some people don’t even fit the seals and let the axle oil lubricate the swivels! Edited February 15, 2019 by Lightning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 It's not the whole suspension really, wheel off, caliper off, swivel to axle tube bolts out, pull off entire hub/swivel assembly. Replace seal and put back. Still likely to be 200 with today's labour prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 OK well probably best to get it done then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 It is do able if you are a competent DIY mechanic, if the cost is an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 No after the horror that was replacing the rear discs, l’m going to let the garage do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightning Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Well, it’s gone in today for new oil seals and a new nose seal on the front diff as that’s leaking too. l replaced the rear one myself some time ago, but they may as well do it while it’s on the ramps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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