Disco 1 Axle rebuild advice

Came to change the diff oils on the new landy (just before I got her a little hot - see my other thread) and dumped out the old oil. Rear diff fine, looked quite good. Front diff - black and turbid. I presume that the oil seals are gone and the swivels and axle fluids are mixing. It has the one shot grease in the front.

I need to attend to a little play on the wheel bearings anyway, so for the price I'm just going to do the lot - wheel bearings, swivel top and bottom bearings, and obviously now the axle halfshaft seals.

Paddock list kits that say 8mm and 12.5mm swivel seals? Not sure what that means - is it the width of the area that the swivel seal sits onto? Presumably if so I just measure the old one and buy appropriately?

Swivels are nice and smooth - no pits, not leaking so I will leave them well alone. They are chromed ones. Is it worth fitting the rubber gaiter/boots that you can get?

I dont anticipate problems swapping anything in there - have just finished a freinds Landcruiser but any advice on pitfalls etc and things to watch for appreciated. I know I need a hub nut socket. Any other special tooling?

thanks in advance again.

Hub nut lock washers .

My thoughts on the gaiters are that they could hold dirt and water. Also cover the swivel so you can't check it's condition.

Flossie said:

Hub nut lock washers .

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They come in the kit as far as I know. Is there something special I need to know about them - apart from fitting them that is.

chris-the-gerbil said:

They come in the kit as far as I know. Is there something special I need to know about them - apart from fitting them that is.

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No, nowt special, didn't realise you were getting a kit that's all. I had to change my discs and pads last weekend and forgot to order new lock washers.

That does bring up another question - is it worth just swapping the brake discs while Im at it? I presume every time you have to swap discs you at least have to set the bearing preload? (I have a good dial gauge and magnet arm though)

chris-the-gerbil said:

That does bring up another question - is it worth just swapping the brake discs while Im at it? I presume every time you have to swap discs you at least have to set the bearing preload? (I have a good dial gauge and magnet arm though)

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if they arent newish worth doing they are cheap enough, you dont need a dti to set bearings,just screw inner nut till any free play is just removed,after nipping nut first to seat bearings then backing off

Well, they are cheap! I read, many yrs ago, that tightening the bearing with the box spanner by hand as tight as you can (no bar, just grip the box tube) is about right. I've been doing that for 12 yrs now and have had no problems, still the same bearings.

Beaten to it! I must learn to type quickly!!

OK. So I need to figure out what the difference between the 8mm and 12mm seals is, and get the discs as well then.

Looks like both ends altogether are less than £100. Compare that to my mates Landcruiser - he does like to wax lyrical about his leather seats but I dont like his parts bills!