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How to overhaul or replace steering steering swivels - pictures

by: Auto Express team

27 Sep 2017

Go to: How to overhaul or replace steering swivels

Note excessive wear and damage to the ball of the inner swivel housing, with grease leaking through the oil seal. Both sides were equally worn,
Loosen the wheel nuts, jack the vehicle and secure the Defender on suitable axle stands, then remove the road wheel.
Remove the split pin, then the castellated nut from the track rod end, split the ball joint and disconnect the drag rod link from the swivel housing.
Repeat the process on the track rod link, remove the split pin and nut then split the ball joint and remove the track rod from the swivel housing.
Undo and remove the two swivel pin securing bolts, and remove the bracket that holds the brake pipe in position, then replace the swivel pin bolts
Remove the two bolts that secure the complete brake caliper assembly to the hub assembly, then lift the caliper off the disc and secure it.
Remove the plastic dust end cap and, using circlip pliers, remove the circlip and shim from the end of the driveshaft.
Remove the five bolts from the drive member (flange) and remove the drive member from the hub and driveshaft, this may need to be pried off.
Once the drive member has been taken off, remove all traces of the old gasket from the mating faces, as a new gasket will be fitted later.
Using the correct size hub nut socket, undo and then remove the hub’s locking stake nut from the outer halfshaft.
Once the nut has been removed, you can now remove the outer bearing and the spacer from the hub assembly.
Once they have been removed you can now pull the hub and brake disc assembly off the end of the stub axle/drive shaft.
Undo the six bolts that secure the stub axle to the swivel housing as pictured, then remove the bolts and front plate ring.
Next, remove the stub axle by pulling it off the swivel housing. Once removed, check the stub axle shaft for any signs of wear or damage.
Scrape off and remove all traces of the old sealing gasket from the mating face of the swivel housing; you will need a new gasket later.
Now, the complete constant velocity joint and front half shaft assembly can be withdrawn from the front axle tube through the swivel housing.
Once the constant velocity (CV) joint and halfshaft has been removed, check the CV joint for any signs of internal wear or damage in the parts.
Undo the seven bolts securing the inner swivel bearing housing (swivel ball) to the end of the front axle tube, and remove it from the vehicle.
Undo and remove the upper swivel pin, then undo and remove the swivel ball retaining plate which secures it to the swivel pin housing.
Once the retaining plate has been undone and removed, you can remove the inner swivel housing ball from the outer swivel pin housing.
Remove the worn bearing from the lower swivel pin and check the housing for debris from broken bearings. Clean the housings.
REBUILDING THE ASSEMBLY: The replacement parts include the new inner swivel housing, oil seals, retaining plate, bearings and a new upper swivel pin.
Carefully press a new oil seal squarely into the inner swivel housing flange until it fits flush. Ensure the seal’s lip faces away from the ball.
Fit the new swivel bearing outer races into the new inner swivel ball, using a suitable drift to carefully tap the races squarely into the recess.
Lubricate the new upper swivel bearing with suitable grease, then carefully fit it into the new race you fitted in the inner swivel ball housing.
After lubricating the new lower swivel bearing with suitable grease, fit the bearing onto the lower swivel pin not being replaced.
Carefully position the new inner swivel housing into the outer swivel housing, and check that the lower pin and bearing align with the inner swivel ball.
Fit the new upper swivel pin, shim(s) and gasket into the housing, and replace the two securing bolts. Tighten to 78 Nm.
Using a spring balance, check the force required to move the swivel is between 1.16 and 1.46 kg. Add/remove shims to achieve correct pre-load.
Apply some grease between the lips of the new swivel housing oil seal then carefully fit the seal squarely into the outer swivel housing.
Fit the new swivel retaining plate and joint washer over the oil seal and onto the inner swivel housing. Tighten the 7 bolts to 11 Nm.
Fit the rebuilt swivel assembly with a new gasket onto the end of the axle tube. Apply thread lock to the bolts and tighten evenly to 73 Nm.
Slide the halfshaft and CV joint assembly into the front axle tube. When the splines are engaged, push it fully into the differential.
Fit a new gasket and slide the stub axle into position over the axleshaft. The stub axle should be located with the flat at the top.
With the stub axle positioned correctly on the swivel housing, apply thread lock to the bolts, then fit the bolts and tighten evenly to 65 Nm.
With the stub axle positioned correctly on the swivel housing, apply thread lock to the bolts, then fit the bolts and tighten evenly to 65 Nm.
Refit the hub assembly and inner bearing, then the outer bearing and hub nut. Tighten to 210 Nm, check the end float, then stake the hub nut.
With the circlip correctly refitted, fit the bolts that secure the drive flange to the hub assembly, and tighten to 82 Nm.
Remove the filler plug from the swivel housing and fill the swivel with grease using a one-shot swivel housing grease. Refit the filler plug.
Refit the brake caliper to the hub assembly, refit the drag rod link and the track rod link, tighten the securing bolts and refit the split pins.
Once you have replaced one side move onto the other side. Both are identical and both swivel housings are replaced in the same way.