Symptoms
Oil weeping past the swivel seal, pitted chrome on the swivel ball, wandering or heavy steering.
The fix, step by step
- Strip the hub and swivel housing, fit the new top pin, Railko bush with bottom wafer, bottom bearing and race, gaskets and swivel seal.
- Rovers North says to soak the Railko bush and wafer in 75-90 gear oil overnight and to lubricate the assembly with 75-90 oil rather than grease packs.
- Set preload with top-pin shims (removing shims tightens it), measuring turning effort with a spring scale with the big seal removed and the bolts fully tightened.
- Take the preload range from the workshop manual for your model.
Tools & part numbers
- Spring/fish scale, torque wrench, hub nut spanner
- Rovers North RNA3181P swivel rebuild kit (IIA 1962–71 and Series III non-V8, one side, no ball)
- 75-90 gear oil
Where to buy the parts
RNA3181P swivel ball rebuild kit, Series IIA/III (one side)Rovers North ↗Amazon ↗
DA3181P swivel housing repair kit (without housing), Series 2A–3LR Direct ↗Amazon ↗
DA3181 swivel housing repair kit with housing, Series 2A–3LR Direct ↗Amazon ↗
EP90 gear oil, 1 LLR Direct ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Land Rover Series I–III parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.