Play in swivel hubs

[Jawsh]

Gday team,
I seem to keep discovering things that are wrong or neglected on my 1985 BJ70... Comes with the territory I suppose.

Today I removed the front left locking hub in order to regrease and adjust preload on the wheel bearing, as the wheel has a noticeable amount of play.

Making no progress, I realised that the play was actually in the swivel hub. When the wheel is rocked, there is movement between the large "outer" and smaller inner side.

Is this likely to be the swivel bearings? (not sure of exact name, but the ones at top and bottom of hub that allow for steering rotation)

Or more likely that the swivel hub casing is worn out?

They're definitely due for a refresh, as a reasonable amount of oil and grease has started migrating out. Hoping it's something I can solve with a rebuild, and don't need to replace the swivel hub.

Cheers

 

[Felde]

Hi
If it's not the wheel bearing, you probably need to pull the swivel housing (aka knuckle) apart and inspect each item.
Getting to the swivel bearings is quite a journey. You basically have to take off the knuckle.
There are shortcuts, but if reasonable amount of greasy oily gue is seeping out already, you are due for a complete knuckle job anyway.
Golden rule on that one: Do it all, do it once.

Get a workshop manual, a rebuild kit, including bearings and brass bushing. Check for brake rotors, too.
Tools needed (other than the usual stuff):
Hub nut socket 54mm, straight circlip plier, brass bar to drive out the old bearings, soft faced hammer to drive in new ones. No press needed.
Consumables: Rags, more rags, another rag, latex gloves, bearing grease, MoS2 greas, diff gear oil and some beer , and another beer
Just go for it. All well described in the manual. A day per side for a newbie.

Not sure what you call the lage outer and smaller inner side (probably knuckle housing and birf)?
Look here what the job is about. Also great to learn what parts are inside.

Good luck Ralf

 

[LDRF]

Hi
If it's not the wheel bearing, you probably need to pull the swivel housing (aka knuckle) apart and inspect each item.
Getting to the swivel bearings is quite a journey. You basically have to take off the knuckle.
There are shortcuts, but if reasonable amount of greasy oily gue is seeping out already, you are due for a complete knuckle job anyway.
Golden rule on that one: Do it all, do it once.

Get a workshop manual, a rebuild kit, including bearings and brass bushing. Check for brake rotors, too.
Tools needed (other than the usual stuff):
Hub nut socket 54mm, straight circlip plier, brass bar to drive out the old bearings, soft faced hammer to drive in new ones. No press needed.
Consumables: Rags, more rags, another rag, latex gloves, bearing grease, MoS2 greas, diff gear oil and some beer , and another beer
Just go for it. All well described in the manual. A day per side for a newbie.

Not sure what you call the lage outer and smaller inner side (probably knuckle housing and birf)?
Look here what the job is about. Also great to learn what parts are inside.

Good luck Ralf

Terrain Tamer has repair kits with all the goodies including the steering knuckle bearings and races (the small ones). Plus, since you are in there, do the wheel bearings and races as well (the big ones - inner and outer). They have a kit that includes them, as well as a kit with heavy duty wheel bearings and seals. SH3WB and SH3HP.

I've got all the parts for my HZJ73 and waiting for the warm weather to do it. From all the info/vids on the intertron, beer and rags are a requirement!

Good luck

 

[Jawsh]

Hi
If it's not the wheel bearing, you probably need to pull the swivel housing (aka knuckle) apart and inspect each item.
Getting to the swivel bearings is quite a journey. You basically have to take off the knuckle.
There are shortcuts, but if reasonable amount of greasy oily gue is seeping out already, you are due for a complete knuckle job anyway.
Golden rule on that one: Do it all, do it once.

Get a workshop manual, a rebuild kit, including bearings and brass bushing. Check for brake rotors, too.
Tools needed (other than the usual stuff):
Hub nut socket 54mm, straight circlip plier, brass bar to drive out the old bearings, soft faced hammer to drive in new ones. No press needed.
Consumables: Rags, more rags, another rag, latex gloves, bearing grease, MoS2 greas, diff gear oil and some beer , and another beer
Just go for it. All well described in the manual. A day per side for a newbie.

Not sure what you call the lage outer and smaller inner side (probably knuckle housing and birf)?
Look here what the job is about. Also great to learn what parts are inside.

Good luck Ralf

Hi Ralf, thanks for all the info. Sounds like I'll only figure it out by digging in. Hoping it's the bearings, and not the actual swivel hub housing that's worn out.
Cheers,
Josh

 

[Jawsh]

Terrain Tamer has repair kits with all the goodies including the steering knuckle bearings and races (the small ones). Plus, since you are in there, do the wheel bearings and races as well (the big ones - inner and outer). They have a kit that includes them, as well as a kit with heavy duty wheel bearings and seals. SH3WB and SH3HP.

I've got all the parts for my HZJ73 and waiting for the warm weather to do it. From all the info/vids on the intertron, beer and rags are a requirement!

Good luck

Thanks for the link. Terrain Tamer look like they produce the most complete kit, and the price is about what I'd expect for that many bearings and other bits - from the pictures, it doesn't look like the heavy duty kit includes wheel bearings, only a better set of swivel bearings. Is this correct? Because my wheel bearings definitely need doing.

 

[LDRF]

Thanks for the link. Terrain Tamer look like they produce the most complete kit, and the price is about what I'd expect for that many bearings and other bits - from the pictures, it doesn't look like the heavy duty kit includes wheel bearings, only a better set of swivel bearings. Is this correct? Because my wheel bearings definitely need doing.

The actual description for SH3HP is 'REPAIR KIT STEERING KNUCKLE WITH HD BEARINGS & HUB SEAL', so I'd think wheel bearings are included, as both the SH3WB and SH3HP are both well over $100 AUD more than the SH3

LANDCRUISER BJ73 11/1984- SH3 Complete Kit​

LANDCRUISER BJ70 11/1984- SH3WB Complete Kit inc.Front Wheel Bearings​

LANDCRUISER BJ70 11/1984- SH3HP Includes Heavy Duty Swivel Bearings & Hub Seals​

I'd just give them a call and find out instead of guessing and/or musings from us MUD folk.