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| Petronius4 Member Since: 07 Oct 2015 Location: Somerset Posts: 94   
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Evening all.
Just done an oil and filters change on the Landy and whilst I was having a good root around underneath noticed that I’m seeping grease(?) from the near side front drive shaft swivel ball. I’ve only covered 20k since new and that’s nearly all road use so I’m a little hacked off tbh. Anyone have any suggestions on what may be the cause before I take it down to the stealers. If I’m honest I’d like to have a go at it myself but I have limited tools and experience on this sort of thing. Advice & suggestions greatly appreciated as usual.  -------------------------------
👲🏻 1986 ex-Military 90 NAD 2.5 Soft Top. Sold 🇬🇧 2015 Defender 90 - Ripon Landrover Heritage 006 |
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19th Apr 2019 5:05pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1846 
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Hi,
I'd post a pic, let folk see what you're talking about. I don't mean to diminish the concern, but it's easier to judge with pics. Does the car steer OK, no wobbling or anything? If it is new, and all very tight, then it seems to me that's quite a low mileage to have the swivel seals go. I did mine - probably 10 years ago or so, at a rough guess. First time I'd done them. It's a bit involved, with a few bearings and gaskets involved. On the plus side, on a new-ish car things shouldn't be overly rusted/siezed. Could the seals have been damaged by something? I've seen someone put dinitrol/waxoyl onto the swivels, which then dried quite hard, and I think damaged the seals. 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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19th Apr 2019 5:19pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410
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Unfortunately and ultimately the seals perish and the grease oozes out. I am sure that the new Defender will not suffer from this age old LR problem... It was much worse when the swivel was filled with EP90 not grease.
Even though your Defender has predominantly only done road miles all it would take is a piece of grit to lodge in the seal for it to wear and fail. The fault could be;
your wheel bearing is worn or loose, the swivel pin bearings have worn, or alternatively that the swivel ball has worn irregularly and now the seals do not... seal... I presume the defender is your 2015 model you have covered 20k in and bear in mind that this response is utterly laced with a good quantity of assumption. Your Defender has not covered very many miles for its age, it is therefore possible that it has been stood inactive for quite some time. It is possible that the seal became fixed to the teflon coating of the swivel ball and upon movement caused the teflon to tear or wear. It would be worth getting underneath with a rag, cleaning the swivel ball up and making sure the ball is in good condition. You will need to turn the steering wheel from lock to lock to check the entire surface. Although wear is usually at the straight ahead position. Obviously any wear on the swivel ball could also cause wear on the seal too. Whilst you are down there jack the wheel up and see if there is any play in the bearings (wheel or swivel), it will be plainly obvious if there is, there should be no movement (apart from rotational). The repair procedure for replacing the seal is at least a 4 out of 5 in difficulty and requires a good assortment of tools to do the job right. I fully expect you are going to want a top notch job done on your low mileage Defender, I would... The alternative is (and I wouldn't do it this way if I had access to a garage or tools or time) if the swivel and bearings are all ok and the it is just the seal, then you can remove the old seal easily by cutting it off. Carefully cut the new seal at the top of the seal, slide it over the swivel throat, position it and bolt the securing plate back in place. This is a great bush repair, but it does leave a small weakness in the seal where water can get in. |
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19th Apr 2019 5:51pm |
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| Petronius4 Member Since: 07 Oct 2015 Location: Somerset Posts: 94
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Photos added. Thanks for responses so far.
 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge ------------------------------- 👲🏻 1986 ex-Military 90 NAD 2.5 Soft Top. Sold 🇬🇧 2015 Defender 90 - Ripon Landrover Heritage 006 |
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19th Apr 2019 6:02pm |
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| Balvaig Member Since: 19 Feb 2016 Location: Fife Posts: 732  
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Hopefully just the seal gone. Mine went at 2 years, although not as bad as yours. It was replaced under warranty at the second service. Not a big job for the garage - about 1 hours labour i think.
Definitely needs looking at though. |
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19th Apr 2019 6:27pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1846
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OK - I'd be a bit concernd about that.
In fact one of mine is getting to be that bad, but I can see that the seal retaining ring is virtually disappeared. I've got all the stuff ready to do the job in the next wee while. Your pic also seems to show a bit of grit mixed in with the oil. Maybe there's something in your local geology that's hard on seals? 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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19th Apr 2019 6:30pm |
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| williamthedog Member Since: 29 Dec 2012 Location: south wales Posts: 3441 
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Definitely a new seal at least
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19th Apr 2019 7:00pm |
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| lohr500 Member Since: 14 Sep 2014 Location: Skipton Posts: 1319 
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Having seen the photo, I agree. That is leaking too badly to leave and needs further investigation as per geobloke's comments
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20th Apr 2019 9:05am |
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| Landymatt Member Since: 31 Dec 2018 Location: York Posts: 191
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Petronius, how did you get on with your swivel seal situation?
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21st Jun 2019 7:12pm |
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| Petronius4 Member Since: 07 Oct 2015 Location: Somerset Posts: 94
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Hello @LandyMatt
Sincere apologies for only just seeing this! Yep was the seals gone. Took it into our local Indy John Dennis who did a sterling job and at a reasonable price too. Would’ve been perfect but then the bloody egr valve went futt two months later so in it went again. This time not so cheap 
Anyway no probs since and I’m now off down to Espana in it next week. ------------------------------- 👲🏻 1986 ex-Military 90 NAD 2.5 Soft Top. Sold 🇬🇧 2015 Defender 90 - Ripon Landrover Heritage 006 |
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31st Jan 2020 2:18am |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3645 
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if yours is a Heritage as per your avatar, have you had it corrosion protected it would be a shame not to, and its too late once the rot has set in DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,
I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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31st Jan 2020 6:25am |
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| Landymatt Member Since: 31 Dec 2018 Location: York Posts: 191
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Hi Petronius- thanks for coming back with confirmation - still no monitoring mine - if you could drop me a PM with what it cost you to have the seal done I’d really appreciate it 
And enjoy your adventure!! Matt |
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31st Jan 2020 8:52am |
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