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Oldowner

Member Since: 26 Dec 2018
Location: South west
Posts: 634

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Aintree Green

Reverting to old type top swivel bearing

Any downsides to ditching the later upper swivel pin setup on a non-ABS Puma and reverting to the old top pin and separate 606666 bearing? I would rather the larger bearing area of the earlier setup and be able to fit quality Koyo / Timken etc bearings rather than rely on the later unknown one piece combined pin and bearing race with unbranded bearing.

I have never liked the later TAR100040 top one piece swivel pin and bearing arrangement, this seems to have come about due to rationalising the axles when ABS was fitted to the Defender and they had to find a way of stuffing the ABS sensor into the swivel without using the earlier Disco Railko bush.

23rd Jan 2021 7:59am

Shroppy

Member Since: 25 Feb 2016
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 866

1986 Defender 130 V8 Petrol HCPU Aintree Green

I'm doing exactly this on my 127, the Timken bearings aren't cheap (about £18 each) but like you it gives me peace of mind to know I have good quality bearings top and bottom. You could argue that the lower bearing takes most of the forces and the top really only keeps the housing straight/steady and thus a railko is sufficient but as I'm not running ABS I saw no point of going with the bush setup.

If my memory serves me correctly, you may need new swivel balls as the railko bushes are a larger diameter than the outer bearing races. Something to consider. 1985 127 V8 Build Thread
Series 2 109"
Series 1 80"

23rd Jan 2021 10:24am

Oldowner

Member Since: 26 Dec 2018
Location: South west
Posts: 634

I am reverting from the Puma taper bearings back to the earlier taper bearings, so the swivel balls stay the same.

23rd Jan 2021 10:53am

Shroppy

Member Since: 25 Feb 2016
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 866

Ah, I misinterpreted that. In which case, I'd go for it. 1985 127 V8 Build Thread
Series 2 109"
Series 1 80"

23rd Jan 2021 10:57am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17544

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

There are no downsides at all that I am aware of. In effect all you are doing is reversing a cost-cutting economy that LR introduced and reverting to a better-engineered solution.

23rd Jan 2021 12:08pm

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