The magazines get a lot of stuff wrong, and while some are indeed what they claim, many of their “experts” are anything but. LRM and LRO have both used Britpart for rebuild articles, not just in terms of parts but also workshop facilities. Most of us know what their parts’ quality is like, and apparently their workshop standards are similar.

Any oil seal should have its hollow side facing the fluid to be retained. By doing this, the lip is forced tighter against the seal-land when the fluid pressure increases. If a seal is fitted with the hollow side “out”, then the fluid pressure will open the lip of the seal away from the seal land and allow fluid loss.

I haven’t seen the article you mention, but when fitting hub seals, the hollow side always faces the bearing. Late SIIIs have a double-lipped seal (RTC 3511, as opposed to the earlier RTC3510), with an inner lip to retain the oil AND an outer lip to keep water out. The basic structure of the seal is still the same, though, with solid and hollow faces. I don’t know if the 3511 will fit the older axles, as they were made for hubs with identical inner and outer bearings. They make a good retro-fit for RR axles, which used the same identical wheel bearings as the post 1980 Series axles, and dimensionally similar single lip seals. They may fit a pre-1980 hub and stub axle if the dimensions match.

I hope that helps.

Nick.

I have been rebuilding the swivels acording to a series of Lindsay Ported published in Land Rover Monthly in 2005.

I am not sure they are right when they put the oil seal inner bearing hub with the TWO lips facing the swivel instead of facing it where the grease really is.

The manual says tha the oil seal lip must face the inner bearing.

What is your opinion ?

Regards

Good luck – you’ll find the steering and road holding totally transformed once the job is done, especially if you make sure the steering rod ends are all OK and the steering box is adjusted correctly while you’re at it.

Cheers,

Nick.