I bought them from Craddocks. https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/217400-axle-case-oil-seal-front.html

Don't know if this is needed by the OP but here's a bad picture.. (!) The axle seal I'm talking about is highlighted in red, it's in the end of the axle tubing. A wider paper gasket does also go between the wider flange and swivel..

My axles (which are 2A axles, according to the numbers stamped on them) required me to order some parts by the S3 part number, for example, the swivel pin fixings were beefed up some time around 69. Seal could be another difference.

My 69 2A has oil seals in the axle ends. I fit new ones when I had the swivels off for a refurb.

ok, cheers chaps, I've fixed one side.. After a closer look I could see it was catching so slightly on the trailing shoe side when I offered the drum up that I thought it worth getting the file sander out again. Those front cylinders being a bit bigger than the rear explains why I've had this...

Anyone want to sell me some worn trailing shoes? :D

My lower black springs look like this, front and rear axles: https://bearmach.com/brake-shoe-spring-br-0505?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnb79BRDgARIsAOVbhRpOkZBiaVp0jEEvPV0bQ5a1Pf2vyqs2uftmfqUZwtd_UqKRZHMvI9UaAgGDEALw_wcB But I'm seeing some that look a little shorter around the...

There's a nice bit of free play on the pedal, don't think it's that. Seems to be boiling down to this: on the rear, when I pull the trailing shoe back, the black spring can overcome the piston and pull the shoe back in.. just. On the front, the piston is stronger than the black spring and is...

Yes, driven in reverse it grabs like a bastard, and I can't push it back in the garage by hand anymore. Which is a bloody good point.. I've been pushing it in and out the garage by hand for three years with all these new brake parts fitted. Then soon as I had those first couple of test drives...

Right, I've managed an hour and she hardly noticed I was gone. Chocolate brownies baking when I got back in anorl. ;-) - I checked the rear cylinder pistons do push each other out when pressed like the front ones do and they do, so they're alright. - The springs are definitely hooked up right...

The drums were new three years back and not been used much like the rest of it. I didnt think to check them. I could try moving the drum to a rear wheel where there's no catching and see if the problem follows it. That's a good idea. Also the chalk will show me better where it's catching on the...

@boguing - I don't actually know that my back cylinders don't do that, when I checked those before the front ones it was a cursory look because they weren't grabbing in any way. I took the drums off, eyeballed the springs were right, checked the pistons creeped out and weren't seized if I pulled...

Ok Rob that's good to know. I'm sure I've got all my shoes and springs correct. The leading shoe has a post on its back for the red spring which passes back under the adjuster cam to a post on the back plate. The black spring connects the two shoes, lower down, just above the anchor plate. The...

Have to admit I am wondering now if I'm imagining the front cylinders are suspect when I might just need to take a little more off the top edge of the trailing shoes on the front? :| My theory about the cylinders doesn't really explain how the trailing shoe would be catching the drum..

I fit new wheel brake cylinders all round on my 88" 2A about three years ago. I fit new master cylinders and pipes and bled the system to a good pedal about a year ago. First test drives have been the last couple of weeks. Good pedal, good brakes, but terrible brake binding in reverse. Tracked...

I've put 7.50 x R16 michelin tubeless tyres on a set of 90 rims on my 2A 88". What tyre pressures should I use? 25 all round by the series book would have been for tubed.. 27F / 38R is what I find advised for Defenders from 1983 onwards. Do they weigh very different? Do I want the rear that high...

Yeah. :) As I do these things I can hear my Dad whispering in my ear.. "I never had a bloody torque wrench my whole life and I never had any problems!" :D

I did notice it got strangely easier very soon before it snapped. Maybe this is where it crosses over from elastic to plastic, how you described it above - so the one on the other side that got easier and I stopped doing up is definitely suspect as if that's just happened on that one it's not...

Steamwally says in his video here he had some snap at 58ftlb, so did them to 45 which was ok but he did get some evidence of movement on the base plates next time he had them off. As I had them all clicking ok at 50lbft it looks like I might have to leave them at that unless someone can...

Luckily I had a spare which is on there now.. but not torqued up much yet! I can't remember if I put copper slip on them when I fitted them as it's a couple years ago now but as it's only been in the garage until now that would still have been on there..