Rebuilt swivels, leaking at ABS sensor

S368 VOP · Jan 19, 2007

Well the title says it all.

Spent the weekend rebuilding both front swivels due to a leaky seal, stripped everything, cleaned everything, replaced all seals etc, set preload etc, everything sorted except that I now have grease coming out by the ABS sensor (on the top!).

Now I didn't replace the little seal on the sensor cos it looks fine, thing is how the hell is the grease getting up there (with enough force to come out) in the first place? Is it building presure as it warms up? I'm worried that if I replace the seal the grease will just find somewhere else to escape.

Anyone got any sugestions?

Jason2 · Jan 22, 2007

Hi S368 VOP

Can only suggest replacing abs seals and take it from there.

What kind of a job is changing all that lot??????

I have the same problem (leaking swivel seals) and would like to know if in your experiance after having just done it they are worth changing or keep an eye on topping up when need be??????

Thanks in advance.

Jason

S368 VOP · Jan 22, 2007

Hi Jason

Cured the leak on the abs seal with a spot of silicone.

What kind of a job is changing all that lot??????

A messy one !!!

Well not too bad actually, took me a day to do both sides. That was strip, clean, examine everything, rebuild, set preload, etc.
Could be done quicker but i'm a perfectionist so I check everything about three times.

The thing that really held the job up was needing to get new brake pipes, you need to remove the pipe to get at one of the top bolts, mine had rusted up so I had to cut them and get new ones made.
My advice would be, before you start take the wheels off and see it you can move the brake pipe at the caliper and flexi ends, just see if it is stuck, don't undo it or move it too far otherwise you'll need to bleed the brakes.
If it moves then you will be ok, if its really stuck or rounds off then get some new pipes made before you start.

Make sure you have lots of rags as it is quite a messy job!

Don't forget to get brake fluid as you'll need to bleed the brakes after you've done the swivels

Jon.

Jason2 · Jan 23, 2007

S368 VOP said:
Hi Jason

Cured the leak on the abs seal with a spot of silicone.

A messy one !!!

Well not too bad actually, took me a day to do both sides. That was strip, clean, examine everything, rebuild, set preload, etc.
Could be done quicker but i'm a perfectionist so I check everything about three times.

The thing that really held the job up was needing to get new brake pipes, you need to remove the pipe to get at one of the top bolts, mine had rusted up so I had to cut them and get new ones made.
My advice would be, before you start take the wheels off and see it you can move the brake pipe at the caliper and flexi ends, just see if it is stuck, don't undo it or move it too far otherwise you'll need to bleed the brakes.
If it moves then you will be ok, if its really stuck or rounds off then get some new pipes made before you start.

Make sure you have lots of rags as it is quite a messy job!

Don't forget to get brake fluid as you'll need to bleed the brakes after you've done the swivels

Jon.

Cheers Jon
Glad you got it sorted!

Did you buy a kit for all the joints etc......?

It's my swivel ball's that are pitied and leaking (minimum like),thought I might try filling em with some of that liquid metal stuff and sanding-worth a try & nothing to lose!!!

Otherwise £250 for both sides with balls just for bits!!!!

Jason

S368 VOP · Jan 24, 2007

Did you buy a kit for all the joints etc......?

No I just got the parts I needed. My bearings and pins are fine but I replaced all the seals.

It's my swivel ball's that are pitied and leaking (minimum like),thought I might try filling em with some of that liquid metal stuff and sanding-worth a try & nothing to lose!!!

I would replace them, don't know it the filler would hold up well enough but you could give it a go, only thing is if it dosn't work you've got to do it all over again and get new balls anyway.

Otherwise £250 for both sides with balls just for bits!!!!

Ouch!!!

discomania · Jan 24, 2007

When you did this job, did you replace the inner hub seals?

My inner hub seal is leaking, and I could do with replacing the swivel housing, but how far into the job do you need to go to get the inner seal done? So basicly would I be far enough into the job doing these seals that I should just do the lot?

Jason2 · Jan 24, 2007

I would replace them, don't know it the filler would hold up well enough but you could give it a go, only thing is if it dosn't work you've got to do it all over again and get new balls anyway.

No! The idea was to fill the pitied bits in situ to see if this was the cause of the leak!

Full on agree that if and when it all comes in bit's I will change everthing!!!

S368 VOP · Jan 25, 2007

discomania,

The inner hub seal is quite easy to get at (as long as your brake pipes arn't siezed up), basicly take off the brake calliper, remove drive flange, undo wheel bearings, pull off hub, relpace rear seal, regrease bearings, put hub back on, do up wheel bearings (box spanner is about 5 quid), refit drive flange, refit calliper, bleed brakes, job done.

Sounds easy dosn't it, if you want to make a day of it you could do the swivel seal as well while it's in bits but it is alot more work. Once you've had the hub and calliper off once you'll be able to do it a second time alot quicker so leaving the swivel for another day isn't a bad idea if it's not leaking to bad.

Jon.

S368 VOP · Jan 25, 2007

Jason2,

Go for it, its got to be easier than stripping it all down.

You're seal may be shot from rubbing over the pitted bits, so best thing is replace the seal the easy way by cutting it at the top (plenty of threads about it on here), not the best way of doing things but if done reasonaby well will seal fine (thats how both mine had been done in the past and only one was leaking and not at the cut).

Jon.

Rebuilt swivels, leaking at ABS sensor

S368 VOP

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Jason2

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S368 VOP

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Jason2

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S368 VOP

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discomania

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Jason2

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S368 VOP

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S368 VOP

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