Top Trunnion

[myoldjalopy]

OK peeps, I have put up with this for a long time now but wondering if there is any solution other than a new top trunnion. The issue is that when I grease it, a load of grease squirts out the very top of the trunnion (the flat bit)before it comes through at the bottom, meaning I am wasting quite a bit of grease and the job is messier than it should be. Any thoughts?

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

I have had this before but unless the trunnion is worn I would switch to EP 140 oil which will find its way down the threads.

[simmitc]

Are you raising the suspension take the load off befor eoyu apply the grease? That can make a difference.

[philthehill]

Grease escaping out of the top of the trunnion is a very common problem.
The 'flat bit' is a threaded plug which is screwed (and staked to stop it unscrewing) into the top of the trunnion.
The threads of the screwed plug and the trunnion are not a precision fit so grease will easily escape past the threads.
You may be able to do the following to help keep the grease in.
At the bottom of the of the trunnion plug threads there should be a machined seat at 90 degrees to the threads.
Unfortunately some seats are at 45 degrees which does not help but can be overcome with a bit of thought.
It is important that the screwed plug is retained level with the top of the trunnion.
If one or more shims/washers can be placed between the machined seat and the underside of the screwed plug so ensuring that when the plug is screwed tight into the trunnion the screwed plug is level with the top of the trunnion (many screwed plugs can be screwed to well below the top of the trunnion). The screwed plug can then be secured with Loctite lock & seal and additionally staked secure. The Loctite will ensure that the grease does nor escape past the threads. If the screwed plug is screwed down tight the rubber bump stop knocking on the top of the screwed plug will not loosen the plug.
When the shims/washers are fitted - ensure that the top trunnion when fitted to the swivel the shims/washers do not foul the swivel threads.

[myoldjalopy]

Are you raising the suspension take the load off befor eoyu apply the grease? That can make a difference.

Yes I am. Its only an issue on the top off-side one.....

[myoldjalopy]

Grease escaping out of the top of the trunnion is a very common problem.
The 'flat bit' is a threaded plug which is screwed (and staked to stop it unscrewing) into the top of the trunnion.
The threads of the screwed plug and the trunnion are not a precision fit so grease will easily escape past the threads.
You may be able to do the following to help keep the grease in.
At the bottom of the of the trunnion plug threads there should be a machined seat at 90 degrees to the threads.
Unfortunately some seats are at 45 degrees which does not help but can be overcome with a bit of thought.
It is important that the screwed plug is retained level with the top of the trunnion.
If one or more shims/washers can be placed between the machined seat and the underside of the screwed plug so ensuring that when the plug is screwed tight into the trunnion the screwed plug is level with the top of the trunnion (many screwed plugs can be screwed to well below the top of the trunnion). The screwed plug can then be secured with Loctite lock & seal and additionally staked secure. The Loctite will ensure that the grease does nor escape past the threads. If the screwed plug is screwed down tight the rubber bump stop knocking on the top of the screwed plug will not loosen the plug.
When the shims/washers are fitted - ensure that the top trunnion when fitted to the swivel the shims/washers do not foul the swivel threads.

Thanks Phil. Can this be done with the trunnion in situ and how do you remove the plug?

[philthehill]

It can be done in situ.
The top cap is just screwed into the top of the trunnion and can be undone with a flat screwdriver.
You may have to relieve the two stakes to make unscrewing easier.

[Nourish]

Phil - why do you have to shim the plug? - can't you just add plenty of Loctite and put it to one side to set and then stake it?

[philthehill]

Ideally the screwed plug should be not be below the top face of the trunnion so that when the bump stop rubber hits the top of the trunnion the bump stop is not chewed by the threads and hole of the screwed plug hole.
Unfortunately most if not all screwed plugs can be screwed deep into the top of the trunnion exposing threads and hole that can chew the bump stop.
The screwed plug is of 5.5mm thickness and fits into at a minimum a 8.5mm deep threaded hole. Constant impact contact between the bump stop and the top of the trunnion will soon loosen the screws plug even when staked.
The ideal solution is to pack underneath the screwed plug so that the screwed plug can be tightened hard into the trunnion but level with the top of the trunnion and secured in place by Loctite. With the screwed plug supported by the packing and secured by Loctite the screwed plug will not loosen or allow grease to pass through the threads.

[myoldjalopy]

To be clear, the grease escapes from what must be a hole in the top of the plug. Looks like a slot (by which I assume you unscrew the plug). It is not oozing out round the sides.

[philthehill]

There should not be a hole in the screwed plug. If there is it needs to be blocked or the screwed plug replaced.
The slot is there to enable a screwdriver to be used to unscrew the plug.
The stakes are usually at the end of the screwdriver slot.

[myoldjalopy]

As I thought. I will take a closer look when the wheel is off next..............

[Nourish]

Ideally the screwed plug should be not be below the top face of the trunnion so that when the bump stop rubber hits the top of the trunnion the bump stop is not chewed by the threads and hole of the screwed plug hole.
Unfortunately most if not all screwed plugs can be screwed deep into the top of the trunnion exposing threads and hole that can chew the bump stop.
The screwed plug is of 5.5mm thickness and fits into at a minimum a 8.5mm deep threaded hole. Constant impact contact between the bump stop and the top of the trunnion will soon loosen the screws plug even when staked.
The ideal solution is to pack underneath the screwed plug so that the screwed plug can be tightened hard into the trunnion but level with the top of the trunnion and secured in place by Loctite. With the screwed plug supported by the packing and secured by Loctite the screwed plug will not loosen or allow grease to pass through the threads.