Doorbell

I'm fitting new chrome balls to my series 3 109. The new big oil seal is a
very loose fit in the outer swivle pin housing. I'm worried that if I fill
the housing with oil or grease it will all leak out very quickly. Has
anybody any experience of this and any solutions.

Ian McDonald

JD

Doorbell wrote:

> I'm fitting new chrome balls to my series 3 109. The new big oil seal is a
> very loose fit in the outer swivle pin housing. I'm worried that if I fill
> the housing with oil or grease it will all leak out very quickly. Has
> anybody any experience of this and any solutions.
>
> Ian McDonald

It is a loose fit to allow you to centre it on the chrome ball. Most of the
seals have a rubbery surface on the side that is against the housing, and
is clamped against this by the retainer (if it does not clamp tightly, you
probably have the wrong seal, I think the 90/110 ones are thinner). If
concerned, run a bead of silicone gasket sealer round the seal before
fitting the retainer, but remember you may want to get it off again some
time, and make sure the seal is centred before the stuff sets.
JD

Dougal

Doorbell wrote:

> I'm fitting new chrome balls to my series 3 109. The new big oil seal is a
> very loose fit in the outer swivle pin housing. I'm worried that if I fill
> the housing with oil or grease it will all leak out very quickly. Has
> anybody any experience of this and any solutions.
>
> Ian McDonald


It needs to be loose to allow for variations in location of the 'ball'
in relation to the swivel pin housing when the swivel pin bearings are
adjusted. On assembly it's clamped by the retainer plate.

My memory from the last time that I did one of these was that the seal
is rubber coated on the edge that seats on the swivel pin housing. This
will provide that seal that you seek.

bulldurham73

"Doorbell" <doorbell@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9l9fe.42981$qK3.36352@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> I'm fitting new chrome balls to my series 3 109. The new big oil seal is a
> very loose fit in the outer swivle pin housing. I'm worried that if I fill
> the housing with oil or grease it will all leak out very quickly. Has
> anybody any experience of this and any solutions.
>
> Ian McDonald
>FWIW ,I had this problem with a 4wd ( not a LR but virtually the same
>setup ) I filled the swivel boxes with a Castrol product called Alphagel .
>This is a thixotropic EP oil/grease which is solid (ish) at rest , but
>becomes liquid as soon as it's disturbed .( you old enough to remember
>"jellipex " ?) It cured mine without the cost or trouble of changing the
>big oil seal .

Alex

On Sat, 07 May 2005 20:15:01 GMT, "Doorbell"
<doorbell@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

>I'm fitting new chrome balls to my series 3 109. The new big oil seal is a
>very loose fit in the outer swivle pin housing. I'm worried that if I fill
>the housing with oil or grease it will all leak out very quickly. Has
>anybody any experience of this and any solutions.
>

Put sealant round the seal where it fits into the swivel housing, and
then replace the retianer plate, otherwise it will leak like crazy.
Also, fill swivels with one-shot swivel grease rather than EP90.

Alex

Doorbell

Thank you for all the advice.

Ian McDonald

"Doorbell" <doorbell@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9l9fe.42981$qK3.36352@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> I'm fitting new chrome balls to my series 3 109. The new big oil seal is a
> very loose fit in the outer swivle pin housing. I'm worried that if I fill
> the housing with oil or grease it will all leak out very quickly. Has
> anybody any experience of this and any solutions.
>
> Ian McDonald
>