The ever so common vibration while accelerating problem.

Well, my disco started vibrating while accelerating...

I'm pretty sure I've traced the issue to the front, right wheel which has a small amount of play in it that the other side does not.

I've been trying to get the 1/2" nut off the top of the swivel pin housing to check the oil, but its seized. I've decided no amount of WD40 is going to loosen it up. Any suggestions to get it off?


I can't have this truck out of commission for more than a couple days and any parts for it are going to be a week's shipping away. What all should I be looking at ordering to cover all my bases as to what may be causing the vibration problem? How safe is it to be driving this vehicle while the bearings are slightly loose?

is it a scania or a volvo?

Oh Deer said:

Well, my disco started vibrating while accelerating...

I'm pretty sure I've traced the issue to the front, right wheel which has a small amount of play in it that the other side does not.

I've been trying to get the 1/2" nut off the top of the swivel pin housing to check the oil, but its seized. I've decided no amount of WD40 is going to loosen it up. Any suggestions to get it off?


I can't have this truck out of commission for more than a couple days and any parts for it are going to be a week's shipping away. What all should I be looking at ordering to cover all my bases as to what may be causing the vibration problem? How safe is it to be driving this vehicle while the bearings are slightly loose?

Click to expand...

Is the free play in the swivel or the wheel bearing?
If your swivel seals are dry and showing no signs of a leak then you could rightly (or wrongly) assume that they have lube.
When I've had trouble getting the filler bung out of a swivel I've had to hammer a very tight fitting sacrificial socket on and gently ease it off, you may need to gently heat the surrounding area with a blowtorch to get it to move

BOOMER said:

Is the free play in the swivel or the wheel bearing?
If your swivel seals are dry and showing no signs of a leak then you could rightly (or wrongly) assume that they have lube.

Click to expand...

From what I can tell the play is in the wheel bearing.

The main oil seal is slightly wet and looks like it may be slowly leaking.

While you've got the hub apart to do the bearing, check the swivel pre-load.

There is a 'how-to fred' on here somewheres.

Put in a tube of one-shot grease, it's better than the hub-oil I think, but take advise if you want.

yep one shot is alot better fill and forget method

firstly id check the prop UJs and get wheels balenced.

if it still vibrates then start to change other parts

as for the filler bung get the biggest hammer you can use safely and smash the end of the filler bung a couple times the shock should help your penitrating oil get in to were it needs to (good hard hits, better to hit it 2/3 times with a big hammer then beating the sheite out of it with a smaller toffee hammer) also hit the area directly around it with a flat punch.

dont overtighten your wheel bearing if it is loose/ you replace it. also repack the bearings with grease while your in there if your not going to replace it.

and as already said check swivel bearings. remove a shim from to top bearing if it is loose and recheck if you have no shims or have to remove them all get yourself some new bearings!

any clunk when setting off ? front prop shaft is a common fault and can feel like it's coming from a a wheel bearing if not good advise above !

Oh Deer said:

Well, my disco started vibrating while accelerating...

I'm pretty sure I've traced the issue to the front, right wheel which has a small amount of play in it that the other side does not.

I've been trying to get the 1/2" nut off the top of the swivel pin housing to check the oil, but its seized. I've decided no amount of WD40 is going to loosen it up. Any suggestions to get it off?


I can't have this truck out of commission for more than a couple days and any parts for it are going to be a week's shipping away. What all should I be looking at ordering to cover all my bases as to what may be causing the vibration problem? How safe is it to be driving this vehicle while the bearings are slightly loose?

Click to expand...

The play in the front wheel is more likely to be the wheel bearing I would suggest.

Take the front wheel off, remove the drive flange (secured by 5 bolts) then grasp the hub top and bottom and look in the bearing. If it looks loose, undo the twin retaining nuts, remove the hub, clean the bearing and repack with clean grease, reinstall, using just one the hub nuts for the moment.

Tighten the nut until it locks the hub so it won't turn, then back it off 90°. This should allow the hub to turn. Check for play.

Then put the new lock washer in place and snug-up the the locking nut - no great force required on any of this. Make sure there is plenty of fresh grease in and around, then replace the drive flange and black plastic cover.

Things to buy:

1x wheel bearing;

1x lock washer.


If you want to order parts for the swivel bearing replacement you will need:

1x swivel gasket set;
2x swivel bearings;
1x 'one shot' grease;
1x upper swivel pin;
1x lower swivel pin;


Good luck

Dave