Steering Ball joint Oil Seal Felt

[Scott Hamilton]

While searching for a modern day alternative replacement for the front steering ball joint seal on my Chev blitz, I came across oil seal felt.

The size that I found the best fit is 9.5 x 12.7 mm, and makes a good firm seal.

The 9.5 mm width is a good snug fit in the mounting channel of the ball joint.

The felt that I found on eBay is 100% wool and surprisingly still made in Australia.

Photos are of the item and the test fitment in the joint.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Engineeri...6-awi5LADvLN_w

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for posting that source of felt sealing strip on MLU. I am sure Aussie restorers will be glad to know where to get it. Nice too, you don't have to get it from overseas and pay $40 postage for a $10 item as is usually the case!

It got me thinking about other felt used on the trucks. I seem to recall a thin felt washer used in front of the pinion carrier oil seal also.

I have the remains shown below of what I think was 1/2" thick felt used to seal at the handbrake arm, clutch and brake pedals. and steering column. I assume it is original and not a "farm modification". Glad to stand corrected if it is not though. I also removed some felt strip glued into the channel at the cowl vent flaps shown in the far right. In that case I am more doubtful that it is original as I only ever found it on one cowl. If it is original I will be getting some from the source you mentioned.

If those other seals are also original does anyone know where to get 1/2" thick felt in Australia?

Cheers,

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Scott Hamilton

If you look for 'engineering felt' you should come up with a result for what you are looking for.

Searched on eBay and found a lot of options......

This might be what you are looking for.......A4 size sheet 12.7 mm thickness

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Engineeri...iw1NjbR5eZcieQ

This is sold by the same seller as the item above......Ballarat Bearings.

Hi Scott,

Thanks again for that info. "Engineering felt" is the way to go. I had tried other search combinations before using "felt" and usually wound up at arts and crafts sites.

Now if anyone else can confirm that felt was used at those locations to seal the handbrake lever, clutch and brake pedals etc at the cabin floor that would be great. It looks like original fitment to me but I have been wrong before on that type of thing.

Cheers,

[hrpearce]

Yes my C15A had old felt as seals in the cab, now I will have to replace mine.

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by hrpearce

Yes my C15A had old felt as seals in the cab, now I will have to replace mine.

Hi Robert,

Thanks for that confirmation. Still have my doubts about the felt inside the cowl vent flaps being original? Anyone else has seen it there?

Founds another place where felt strips have been used for sealing. Where the inner mudguard joins the cowl at the rounded section there appears to be a strip in there.

Looks like the boys at Ballarat Bearings will be getting a bit of business from me shortly.

Cheers,

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by Jacques Reed

Still have my doubts about the felt inside the cowl vent flaps being original? Anyone else has seen it there?

I've seen felt to seal the ventilators on at least one Canadian Chevrolet.

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Grant and Scott,

Thanks both for your info.

Think I will get some Bunnings felt seal for the cowl vent channel. The chance of two vehicles being bush engineered on two continents with the same material I would say are rather slim.

Anyway it is easy to fix if it is not meant to be there. Wonder why they would go to all that trouble to make it weather tight with all the other gaps in the cab. They are not exactly VW beetle airtight! Only the original designers would know.

Thanks again for all the info and replies.

A Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year to all.