A place for more technical discussions. Please make sure you post in the correct section on the site, this way it keeps the site tidy AND ensures you get a more relevant answer.
Any water even from a light shower will seep through the dust seal and lie in the bottom of the swivel housing. We use marine grease on the bearings in a desperate attempt to resist the water but it is a war we can't win.
Off roading through muddy water pretty much kills them straight away.
Some of the guys on here can change the swivel bearings in a couple of hours, including a teabreak, it is fairly easy
If it suddenly breaks, go back to the last thing that you did before it broke and start looking there