Axle swivels too stiff!

So, I have been slaving away all day until now rebuilding my hub and swivel. Got all to fitting the stub shaft on etc when I decided to just see how the swivel joint was (swivel bearings all replaced with Timken ones etc) - to find it was virtually unmovable! I slackened the bolts off the swivel pins and this improved things somewhat. Though I have found that unless the bolts are loose, the swivel certainly isn't right. I have virtually maxed out all of the shims and still no luck. What am I doing wrong? I don't want to go to Billing tomorrow in a Fiesta! HELP PLEASE

You've got the brake line bracket on? It spaces the bolts, which can go right through and contact the swivel surface.

Is the taper fully seated, sounds like it isn't

freelance said:

Is the taper fully seated, sounds like it isn't

Click to expand...

Could be, but tightening the bolts down would seat it, usually.

by that do you mean the top pin or the bearing races? Either way pretty sure both of them are in properly.

Oooh tho no I didn't have the brake line bracket on - however I did loosen the top bolts (helped a bit) but found removing the bottom pin very tight compared to the top.

That's a good sign. Means it isn't worn. Make sure it's all good and clean (seriously, really clean, you do not want any swarf in there, it'll undo all your hard work in minutes) and put it together with a bit of CV grease or whatever.

CV grease is great for this, by the way. It's got a slightly gritty consistency which shows up other grit and rough bits well under a finger.

OK will give that brake bracket a go to see if it makes any improvement. What else should I look out for because I am going to have to get up exceptionally early to go and fix it haha and if the brake bracket doesn't solve the issue I want plan B (that isnt a Fiesta )
Any advice re Shims would be good too

Make sure you're not trying to put the pin in with the brake caliper bolts or nuffin daft like that.

I sorted the stiff swivel problem, tuned out to be incorrect spacing circlip which caused the CV to press too hard into the stub axle making it impossible to move. Now however for some reason I find that the swivel is extremely loose on the bottom pin and has loads of play. Really confused, any ideas? Thanks

Taken the shims out? Nothing's fallen out?
You don't want to be doing this with the stub on.

Ok sorted the swivel issue and assembled all the hub back together. THEN the stupid drive flange wont go back in, the little shaft on it stops it about 5mm from the surface of the hub. WHY

Because you haven't shoved a screw in and pulled the end of the shaft out far enough

Also may not have seated the bearings correctly.

I've sorted it now. What a pain! Built some Patrol axles up no probs but this old RRC front end jeeeezeeee