Repairing swivel balls on a budjet

[Spacemud]

Just something that I heard about and tried........

Recently got to the point of having to do something about one of the swivel balls due to the pitting and worn rubber seal. Whilst I would obviously have prefered to to replace the ball, I just didn't have the money at the time for everything. I had heard that it was possible to fill the pitted areas with filler and rub them down so decided to try it. I can report that after about 3 months it's still going strong with no leaks as yet. I have used one shot grease, not EP90 though.

Anyone else tried something like this?

[tomarse]

I was told that that chemical metal fillery stuff will do the job too. What sort of filler did you use?

Got some patches on one of the 101's swivels that could do with a dose.

[Spacemud]

Yes, that was the stuff! Bought a couple of tubes thinking I would need loads but didn't, of course  

[The Landy Guy]

sounds like a good idea

mine need doing and i cant really afford it atm!!

[Welshbreed]

hmm, still need to clean one on my vehicles up, it's swivels are black with grit and stuff, from previous owner, nevar actually looked at them, but if there bad, i could just swop the whole front axle, with the one on my long term project...

[Bob Ajob]

What's that metal stuff called, I too have pitted balls. I read that too, on though I can't remember where.

[edy]

ooo boba job, pitted balls, sounds painfull    :lol:

[Spacemud]

I used 'Chemical Metal' made by Plastic Padding, but I'm sure there are other similar makes. Personally, to me it seems just like car dody filler, but I used that hoping that it may be stronger in some way. It's in a tube.

[reriessandlover]

pitted balls is there cream you can get for it

[Sharpshooter]

There are lots on the market. The big names like Devcon, and Belzona are good. But more expensive. My dad repaired the ram on a forklift truck about 20 years ago with some from the local motorfactors. Up to this day its still not leaking. Well not from there anyway.

[johnty]

I read somewhere once that someone who did a similar repair on his balls finished them off by painting them with por15 (for its self smoothing and hard wearing)

[Spacemud]

Sounds like another good idea, if you have some. Quite expensive stuff to buy though, isn't it?

[The Landy Guy]

worth it though i would say

[Spacemud]

I guess it may be if you don't want the hastle of taking everything apart, so do it with the ball in situ. If not, the costs may be getting towards that of just buying a new swivel housing?

[The Landy Guy]

would say so

[Welshbreed]

swivel balls are very expensive now days though, well the chrome ones anyway

[Bob Ajob]

Can you even get chrome ones anymore? I keep on hearing about Teflon coated ones...

[Welshbreed]

some places still have them stock piled. i only know one and dont want them to dissapear, or go up in price.