Can't get swivell ball tension right....opinions please.

[thixon]

I'm working on the passenger side swivell rebuild. New balls, pin, railco, etc.

I can't seem to get the tension right. I started with about 40 thou per the manual, but only got 6 lbs with the old fishing scale. I started subtracting shims to adjust. With no shims at all, the best I register is 9 lbs. Any ideas? I greased everything (bearing, and top pin) with mobil 1 synthetic grease. Should I have not greased the pin?

[rbonnett]

I did both mine this week: new top pins and raiko bushes - my swivel balls and bottom bearings were fine. I ended up with .04 on one side, .03 on the other. Both sides now at ~18 lbs., down from over 30. My scale only goes to 30 lbs. I did use 90W on the pins and bushes when I assembled it.

Silly question: are you sure your scale is accurate?

[thixon]

I did both mine this week: new top pins and raiko bushes - my swivel balls and bottom bearings were fine. I ended up with .04 on one side, .03 on the other. Both sides now at ~18 lbs., down from over 30. My scale only goes to 30 lbs. I did use 90W on the pins and bushes when I assembled it.

Silly question: are you sure your scale is accurate?

Unfortunately, yeah. Its brand new, and I tested it before I got started. Something aint right. I just don't know what yet.

[brucejohn]

Keep us posted, please.

I did mine a few weeks back, both sides. Old balls and housings with new railco, pin and bearings. With 0.065 in both sides I am still just over 20# each. I also used 90 weight on the bushing.

[JimC]

Thix - when you pressed the upper pin housing into the top of the new ball, did you ensure that the machined side is facing inboard? My machine shop put mine in wrong and it seemed to make a difference...

[SafeAirOne]

...only got 6 lbs with the old fishing scale. I started subtracting shims to adjust. With no shims at all, the best I register is 9 lbs. Any ideas? I greased everything (bearing, and top pin) with mobil 1 synthetic grease. Should I have not greased the pin?

Some thoughts...

My SIII bible says to lubricate with oil recommended for the swivel pin housing. Mobil 1 OIL is much more "slippery" than non synthetic oil. I don't know if the grease is the same or not.

It also says that you should be shooting for 8-10lbs. You must have passed 8 lbs to get to 9 lbs.

Also, make sure you are pulling from the correct tie rod end hole. The picture in my bible shows the hole closest to the swivel. I'm sure that using the other hole will change (lower) the readings due to less force required with the longer lever-arm.




Just some thoughts...Good Luck!

[greenmeanie]

Travis,
Did you remember to install the wafer washer thing in the bottom of the railco bush hole. No wafer = no preload.

[kevin-ct]

Travis,
Did you remember to install the wafer washer thing in the bottom of the railco bush hole. No wafer = no preload.

You took the words out of my key board

Make sure the wafer is there.

[thixon]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Jim - I'm not sure anymore which way its facing. I took it apart about 20 times last night before I realized I was frustrated and needed to quite. Gregor can tell you, I prefer welding/fabbing/bodywork to mechanical work any day. When things don't go smoothly, I just have to put it down and walk away. Otherwise, I might end up cutting it in half with the torch!

Mark - My manual (green bible) says 12 to 14 lbs. Maybe I read it wrong. Also, I am pulling from the right hole, although I tried both just for laughs.

Gregor and Kevin - I'm betting you're right. I bolted things up at about 3am before I left for singapore a few weeks ago, intending to finish when I got home. I have a habit of staying up all night before a trip like that to kind of pre adjust to the time change. I was sleepy, and beered up so maybe I forgot to put the little bugger in. That would explain the lack of tension. It would also explain the lack of a signifigant change in tension with either a pile of shims, or no shim.

Thanks all. I'll report back later today when I get home from work.

[bmohan55]

http://forum.landrovernet.com/forumdisplay.php?f=244&order=desc&page=2

I found this to be very helpful in my current swivel ball rebuild saga, (stalled while waiting for a simple O-ring!)

[TedW]

Travis,
Did you remember to install the wafer washer thing in the bottom of the railco bush hole. No wafer = no preload.

Not always, IMO. The railcos I used to rebuild my swivels had the railco material preinstalled on the bottom of the hole. It confused the hell out of me. When I tried to use the thrust washer the king pin stuck out by about 3/16". So I skipped the thrust washer and got the proper resistance (12-14 lb.) with what seemed to be a reasonable number of shims.

[thixon]

Ted,

In this case, I'm not getting enough tension, even with no shims. Its a good bet I did'nt put the wafer in. I really hope that's all it is.

[TedW]

Ted,

In this case, I'm not getting enough tension, even with no shims. Its a good bet I did'nt put the wafer in. I really hope that's all it is.

I'd say you need the wafer......................

[SafeAirOne]

Mark - My manual (green bible) says 12 to 14 lbs. Maybe I read it wrong.

Probably a difference in the swivels/swivel pins between the SIIa and SIII? If I'm reading it right in step 25 in the attached pic it says 8-10lbs...

[bmohan55]

Slight hijack, after I complete my swivel ball rebuild should I get a front end alignment? I really don't see anything that can be adjusted but again this is my first foray into the front end. The truck was pulling slightly to the right but I believe that was due to a very worn Railko bushing.