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.
In my experience failing kingpin bearings have no affect on the CV joint seal. The CV is well supported inside the spindle, which also carries the seal so it's a fairly robust setup. Wheel bearing failure will affect the seal behind the wheel bearing, and a new seal is usually included with the new wheel bearing for this reason.
I'm with Busta here, Cannot see how play in the swivel bearings could affect the seals in the hub. Most lip seals can take alot of misalignment before they fail, Not unusual to see tolerances up to 0.4mm of misalignment. Pulsing from run-out or a bad surface for the lip seals and contamination is what is the more common reason for them to fail.
The vehicle has the slightest of death wobble at 50mph, but very little and easy to accelerate at rocket speed through this up to the magic 70mph. So I don't think I have any kingpin induced failures. Have a few weeks of continent hopping before I return to the UK and will close my eyes, purchase the hubs, a few nails and cable ties, out with my leatherman and lets see what happens. Will update for sure.
Thanks to all!
Julian
2008 Gen 3 Manual
Being completely revitalised
Having had manual hubs on earlier suzuki models for many years I feel I must balance things a bit and say that manual hubs need service too, and vacuum hubs when working, will not force you to dive down into snow, mud, water to be engaged. I for one will Hunt for any vacuum leak for maybe up to an hour or two before ordering manual hubs.
On the SJ if it is Just a small bulb there, it is permanently on. Or if they say auto and they poke out 60mm or so, they are most likely broken, or if manual you see the knob to switch over.
