Symptoms
Greasy gunk on the front swivel balls, steering that wanders, or play when you rock the top of the tyre with the wheel off the ground. On a GQ the swivel and CV bearings run in grease. If diff oil is leaking out of the swivels, the inner axle seal has failed.
The fix, step by step
- Jack up and support the front, then remove the wheel, free-wheeling hub, CV circlip, brake caliper (hang it up, don't let it dangle), wheel bearings and hub.
- Unbolt the swivel housing from the axle, pull the CV and axle shaft, and replace the inner axle seal while it's out.
- Replace the upper and lower kingpin bearings and the swivel cap seals (owners often damage the caps on removal), then reassemble.
- Set kingpin preload with the factory shims and fit new wiper seals on the swivel ball.
- Repack with fresh grease and, if any diff oil was lost, top up the front diff.
Tools & part numbers
- Seal driver kit
- bearing race drift
- 54 mm hub-nut socket
- circlip pliers
- torque wrench
- spring scale for preload
- CV and high-temperature bearing grease. Work clean and keep the parts in order: forum members prefer a good pictorial to the Gregory's manual.
Where to buy the parts
Basco/KOYO swivel hub kit for Patrol GQ Y60HD Automotive ↗Amazon ↗
Swivel hub (kingpin) bearing with rubber seal, GQ/GUPatrolapart ↗Amazon ↗
Genuine Nissan swivel bearing cap seal set, GQ/GUPatrolapart ↗Amazon ↗
Swivel hub wiper seal kit, GQ Y60Patrolapart ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Nissan Patrol Y60 (GQ) 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.