R26 Changed my swivel bearings today.......not!

My swivel bearings aren’t stiff at all so I doubt my steering will get lighter.
To be honest, I’d say mine feels too light!

It’s the play I’m trying to rectify.
There’s definitely unwanted movement somewhere and I’m pretty sure it’s the swivel bearings.

Even if this repair doesn’t alter the way the car drives, I’ll be happy if I can’t detect that play anymore.

I’m not surprised by your thoughts on the lowering springs.
I’m convinced they do more harm than good, on our roads! Good roads/track is a different matter.

I’d love to put a standard setup on mine and see if I prefer it.

 

All already done and/or extensively checked.

I’m pretty confident there’s play in my swivel bearings.
Someone’s been in before me and replaced the bearings and filed the rust off the inserts - I measured them and they’re down on size.

 

Either way, I’ve already purchased the bearings and seals and I’ve finished making the inserts now too.

It’ll tick it off the list for next to no cost.

 

I’m on 64k miles.

I’d guess it’s the original shocks but relatively new (3 years maybe) h&r springs.

I can’t change the shocks just yet but maybe in the future.

The play I’m referring to is not just felt in the steering wheel as vagueness, it’s when I’ve got the car in the air and I’m levering the wheels/suspension.

Initially, there was play in the track rods and ‘play In steering rack’ was advised on the last mot.

I replaced the track rod ends and steering rack bush and most of the play went away.

I still wasn’t satisfied! so, using a pry bar, I narrowed the remainder of the play down to the lower swivel bearing.......that’s where this thread starts, me changing the bearings....or not as the case was.

 

I’ve not done the inners but they were done in 2016 according to the receipts.

I can’t generate any unwanted movement in them and they’re still nice and stiff when disconnected.

2016 is also when it had the new springs and swivel bearings too by the looks of it.

I don’t get any torque steer but it follows ruts when cruising and braking feels a bit unstable at times.

 

That makes sense because I rarely drive it for more than 30 minutes at a time.
The engine’s barely warmed up at that, never mind the brakes or tyres.

 

FINALLY got round to re-fitting my swivel bearings.

Only had chance to do one side though (the worse side) but WOW! What a difference already!

I took a couple of videos to show the amount of play I was dealing with, but I’m struggling to post them at the minute.

A photo or 2 will have to suffice for now.




The old insert was 0.005” (0.13mm) down on size.

There is zero play on that side now so I’m eager to do the other.

 

There was actually nothing wrong with the bearing, both sides pivot freely. It’s play I’m looking to get rid of.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, someone’s been in before me and changed the bearings, but obviously not the inserts.

The inserts would no doubt have been rusted to sh*t and they’ve cleaned them up.

In doing so, the insert is no longer snug in the bearing.

And by worse side, I mean most play.

The slop in the bearing is amplified by the time it reaches the periphery of the wheel.
So it was pretty bad!

 

It’s crazy really because you’d never dream of changing half a bearing!
Yet that’s essentially what’s happening.

Once there’s ANY rust in them bearings, both the bearing and the insert need to be replaced.

I’ll post up a video of how much play 0.13mm generates......once I can figure out how to do it ha ha.

And yes, I bet the swivel hub assembly is not cheap from Renault. It would be interesting to know just how much!

 

[Video]

[Video]


Rattling ‘ell fire! [emoji85]

 

Did the other side this weekend and I’ve got to say, I’m chuffed to bits.

The steering is silky smooth and much more sensitive and precise.

I’m pleasantly surprised by the level of improvement!





Based on the state of this side, the receipt I have in the history for the swivel bearings was only for the other side.

None of the other parts require immediate attention now but, like others have done, I’ll probably work my way through the rest as it will all be tired by now.

I’m just debating doing the tracking again now.