 | Home > Technical > Defender TD5 Leak ball/swivel front axle |
 
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5790  
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 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Looks like your swivels are leaking, which is not ideal but not uncommon especially on something as old as a Td5. I would clean it all off with brake cleaner and see how quick it returns. I would also check you diff oil level whilst under there, and also that the diff breather is clear and isn’t blocked. The front diff breather pipework can get pinched/damaged with suspension movement this can then cause diff pressure when hot. Last edited by landy andy on 3rd Oct 2020 6:06am. Edited 1 time in total |
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3rd Oct 2020 6:01am |
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| williamthedog Member Since: 29 Dec 2012 Location: south wales Posts: 3441 
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It's leaking too much there. Time for new seals at least, check the swivel itself for pitting etc.
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3rd Oct 2020 6:05am |
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3689  
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Yep, just had mine done after leaking about that much. Time to get booked in with your mechanic!
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3rd Oct 2020 6:44am |
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| charisme1 Member Since: 23 Oct 2019 Location: Paris Posts: 39 
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Hi Thanks for your speedy reply. I guess the seals don’t cost much but this repair is mostly labor hours. Do you know how much hours were charged ? Still have the invoice ? Even if it’s in pounds, I’ll concert to €. Thanks in advance. Julien
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3rd Oct 2020 7:53am |
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| charisme1 Member Since: 23 Oct 2019 Location: Paris Posts: 39
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Hi Thanks for your speedy reply. I guess the seals don’t cost much but this repair is mostly labor hours. Do you know how much hours were charged ? Still have the invoice ? Even if it’s in pounds, I’ll concert to €. Thanks in advance. Julien |
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3rd Oct 2020 7:54am |
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3689
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I’m picking it up today so will know for definite, but likely 2 hrs labour and then the parts on top. There is little point just doing the seals, you might as well overhaul the whole thing while it is in bits, so new kingpin, bearings, ball, seals etc. The overhaul kit is c.£100, so expect the bill so be something like £200.
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3rd Oct 2020 7:56am |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1852 
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Best way is to remove the swivel and fit a new seal. 100%. But as you say it's a labour intensive job for an inexpensive part.
If you have the time to wait till the mechanic can do the job, then that's best. However, having said all that, there is a way to do a 'temporary' field repair. You can google it or search on here. I think it also appears in military operations manuals. Basically though, you get a new seal; Pull the spring out of the seal and find the 'join' - there's a spot where a tapered section fits inside the rest. You can 'unthread' this, put it around your swivel and then rejoin, with a dab of superglue or similar. Then you need to carefully cut the rest of the seal, with a thin blade. Open it around the swivel ball; carefully glue it together and then put the spring back in. I did this 'temporarily' about a year ago, as I am getting ready to do a full axle refurb/swap and didn't want to take the swivel apart properly. I even had to cut a new swivel seal retaining plate as the old one had rusted away. Either I've been careful, or lucky, but it's still there, and still sealing properly. Having done it once, I'd do this again if I needed a 'quick fix'. Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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3rd Oct 2020 8:07am |
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| charisme1 Member Since: 23 Oct 2019 Location: Paris Posts: 39
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Thanks. The labour hour here in Paris at a garage specialized in these old LR is 145 €/h Exc VTA. Dealer is 175 €/h Exc VTA Very Very expensive except if I take it to a specialized garage at 80 km outside of Paris, labor hour drops to 75 €/h Exc VTA. So I'm far from a 200 pound repair.....  Please tell me when you get yours back. Thanks. Julien |
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3rd Oct 2020 8:23am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17544 
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The other quick way is to remove the caliper and tie it back so as not to strain the brake hose, disconnect the ABS sensor if fitted, disconnect the tie rod (and drag link if passenger side) then unbolt the entire hub assembly from the axle tube (both the inboard and outboard parts of the swivel) and pull it out of the axle tube (be advised it is very heavy). The seal can then be changed and the hub assembly refitted.
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3rd Oct 2020 9:07am |
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| SteveG Member Since: 29 Nov 2011 Location: Norfolk Posts: 663 
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The best one I saw was where they simply cut the seal to get it off, the cut the replacement seal to fit 🙄. Bolted it back up and expected it to work 😊
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4th Oct 2020 11:37am |
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| rallysteve Member Since: 10 Feb 2014 Location: Cumbria Posts: 2238 
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Splitting the seal has been a 'fix' for years. The seals have to be split on a 101FC as the swivel ball is part of the axle casing.
Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread |
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4th Oct 2020 12:43pm |
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3689
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Was £204 plus the VAT which will be different for you not being in the UK. The kit was £104 including the ball and then 2 hrs at £50 an hour.
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4th Oct 2020 12:59pm |
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| roel Member Since: 08 Aug 2009 Location: Lelystad Posts: 2039  
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Click image to enlarge It's not that difficult and you don't need to take everything apart. Just taking the steering joint of the swivel and remove then bolts holding the balls to the axle. then you can easily change the seal. But have a look first if there is no play on the swivel bearings, If there is play a new seal won't help for long. Roel 1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001) 1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009) 2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts. 2003 90 Td5 (2009-now) |
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4th Oct 2020 1:58pm |
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| Fatbaron Member Since: 12 Mar 2016 Location: Devon Posts: 299
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I did mine myself too. Its not a difficult job.
Ignore the Molly grease, that was used for something else. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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5th Oct 2020 3:19am |
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