Not sure if the following behaviour is normal: I changed the mounting brackets for the front flexible brake lines that are attached to the swivel housing. When I undid the two bolts that hold the brackets on, grease started oozing from the bottom of the swivel joint seal. So it seams the only thing holding the grease in is the vacum its exit would leave. I've not taken the swivel apart, but the metal is still shiny and smooth on the exterior visible bits. The seal also looks OK. No exterior signs of perishing and still supple to the poke. Oherwise I've seen no evidence of leaks. The grease isn't very thick. It flows with the same consistency as thickish chocolate sauce. Is that about right? It COULD be very old stuff.

Thoughts?

Thanks, Ben

Did it stop leaking when you tightened up the brake pipe mounting bracket and the swivel pin?

Cheers

neilly said:

Did it stop leaking when you tightened up the brake pipe mounting bracket and the swivel pin?

Cheers

Click to expand...

Yup. Only the bracket bolts. Haven't touched any others.

I realise this may lead to an answer along the lines of "Don't worry about it then"...

Basically for want of a better description, The swivel housing is held in place by the swivel pin, So when you released the brake bracket you loosened the swivel pin allowing the swivel housing to drop slightly , thus grease was allowed to ooze out of the gap between the swivel chalice and the seal.

So, Yes to use your terms.........." Don't worry about it" unless it leaks when all is tightened correctly.

Cheers

That makes sense. Cheers.

If you want to take the top pin out or loosen the bolts just put a trolley jack under the lower swivel bearing and take the weight, that will stop the housing dropping when you loosen the top pin and prevent any leaks