Classic Swivel Pins..Shes a tad 'Wobbly'!

Chaps and Chapettes,

'93 Vogue SE on Gas, EAS, ABS, all the toys....

Progressively over the last few weeks when negotiating corners or roundabouts, the front end seems a little unsteady, also the rear end seems to be 'slipping' and not truly following the front!!

When I got home I jacked up each front wheel in turn and there is noticable rocking when grabbed top and bottom and rocked.

Took the wheel off and grabbed the hub...similar response when rocked at 12 & 6 0'clock, but there is no rocking when gripped 3 & 9 o'clock so I guess it is not wheel bearings.

I am suspecting swivel pins/bearings....

Also with the vehicle on the ground, I put a foot on the top of each rear tyre and rocked the wheel and I could feel a knocking through my foot, could this be wheel bearings, sway bar, or anti-roll bar??

Is it possible to replace the swivel pins and bearings without removing the Disc, Hub, stub, halfshaft and CV joint? by just popping one out at a time and replacing them?

Any help or ideas?

Thanks.
Anthony.

you will probabley find it a lot better to remove the lot time saved leaving things on will be lost struggling to the job as you will be able to see more of what you are doing, an extra 1/2 hour removing other bits first will save you more time at the end and the skin on your knuckles + the stress aswell

its best to remove everything and replace seals and gaskets as you go aswell. it also makes it a lot less heave when you come to put the lot back together.
if the disc wobbles and not the hub then its wheel bearings but if the whole hubs moves up and down on the swivel then its definately swivels.
you may be able to get away with taking a shim or two out of the top pins.
Basically:
wheel off, caliper off, track rod/drag link off so the hub swivels freely.
take the top pin out, 2 17(or 19)mm bolts, and see how many shims are in there. replace it without a couple and see what happens. you need to measure the force needed to move the swivel, this tells you how tight it should be (hence the shims) as every one will be different. I use one of those old type scales things that you hang things from(forgot what they're called!) I think its about 12lbs but check it.
If it still wobbles when theyre tight then the bearings are shot and you'll have to strip the hubs and do them, messy job!

i think if i was going in that far id do wheel bearings anyway.I have a swivel seal to replace and im gunna do bearings cos ill be in there.
If ya strippinjg stuff down then may as well put it back new.

Tig9619 said:

I use one of those old type scales things that you hang things from(forgot what they're called!) I think its about 12lbs but check it.

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Spring balance ....fisherman use them to weight fish.

12lbs of pull, once initial resistance is over come, with the swivel oil seal in place.

Did Ruby's swovel pin pre-load last weekend, found loads of shims in there, took a few out, spring balanced (6 - 7 kg) and much better now... didn't even take the calipers off!

Beast o Bodmin said:

i think if i was going in that far id do wheel bearings anyway.I have a swivel seal to replace and im gunna do bearings cos ill be in there.
If ya strippinjg stuff down then may as well put it back new.

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Ah the good old swivels. I remember them well. That's why I now drive a Freelander which as Beasty will tell you is best all round.

chromiumuk said:

Ah the good old swivels. I remember them well. That's why I now drive a Freelander which as Beasty will tell you is best all round.

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no class and it dont roar AND i beat you on fuel cost AND i can tow stuff