 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Swivel Pin - re-shimming or replace? |
 
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8205   
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Reshim.
Worth checking bearings though, at that mileage only likely to be gone if its hit lots of things or water/mid ingress Cheers James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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1st Apr 2025 7:28am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8205
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Play is only at 12/6 I take it? Cheers
James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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1st Apr 2025 7:28am |
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| LRDA110 Member Since: 15 Jun 2021 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 10  
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Yes, did the check with the brakes on and no play, so looks like it’s just the swivel pins. It’s had a very easy life so hopefully no internal trauma.
I have bought two shim packs so will take a look and re-shim as needed. Would appear to be a simpler process if the brake line bracket was not bolted on top…. |
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1st Apr 2025 7:34am |
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| johnlad Member Since: 18 Dec 2023 Location: Blackpool Posts: 69
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If play disappeared with brakes on then is it not play in the wheel bearing?
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1st Apr 2025 8:09am |
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| LRDA110 Member Since: 15 Jun 2021 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 10
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Apologies, with the brake on (isolated the wheel bearing) their IS still play.
At ~2:50 in this video they say with brake applied any play is in the swivel (or a loose wheel…) |
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1st Apr 2025 8:16am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17698 
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At that mileage it is more likely than not that you just need to reshim.
For info my Defender is still on its original swivel pins and bearings at 282k miles, also one sinde has no shims at all now and the other (as I recall) has one shim. I need to address a small amount of play on the n/s, which is the side with the one remaining shim, and hope that removing the shim will do the trick. If you reshim (or deshim) them check that the hubs still turn freely throughout the full range of steering movement with no tight spots, since these would indicate damaged bearings. Be aware also that it is worth getting a small stock of shims on hand before you do the job since you may find that there is a single thick shim fitted which when removed causes excessive preload, and as a result need a thinner shim. |
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1st Apr 2025 9:01am |
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| LRDA110 Member Since: 15 Jun 2021 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 10
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One final question, should I look to top up the one shot grease while i have the pins out to re-shim (i have a a full slections of shims a the ready)? can the swivels be over greased? one side looks to have wheaped a little.
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1st Apr 2025 12:23pm |
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| Johan_B Member Since: 20 Sep 2024 Location: Gothenburg Posts: 63  
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I am curious, what is causing the bearings to develop a play while still be serviceable? Is wear happening on the pin?
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1st Apr 2025 1:18pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2318 
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You remove shims to eliminate play.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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1st Apr 2025 3:27pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17698
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It is wear on the races which results in play. On the late Defenders the pin itself forms the inner bearing track and generally seems to wear more than you would expect from a "proper" taper roller bearing. Value engineering again, I'm afraid, cheap to make and who cares that it doesn't last as long as in the good old days. |
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1st Apr 2025 4:52pm |
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| Johan_B Member Since: 20 Sep 2024 Location: Gothenburg Posts: 63
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Thanks, that is good to keep in mind. I did have one of mine apart last summer and changed the bearings but didn't reflect on the lack of inner race for the upper bearing.
My upper bearing was completely rusted and I speculate that this can happen specially on cars not used on a daily basis. Mine had developed a sedentary lifestyle over the last 10 years and I suspect that it was left stationary for weeks and even months at a time. The lack of lubrication and movement must have accelerated the process. |
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2nd Apr 2025 11:45am |
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| LRDA110 Member Since: 15 Jun 2021 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 10
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Re shimmed tonight and all back to normal now. As the oil seals were in I not could setup as per manual, however followed the guidance here and set both sides to roughly the same force to move them using a spring gauge. Also a jack and block of wood stabilising the back of the hub and a bottle jack on the front face made lining the bearing and pin up much easier.
Also checked the one shot grease level and topped to to 2 inches below the filler hole as indicated on another thread. Road tested and no wobble at all. |
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3rd Apr 2025 12:56am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17698
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Result!
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3rd Apr 2025 9:15am |
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