Cessna R/TR 182 Pilots and Owners

We asked BAS to define what they do to overhaul a brake swivel fitting and they replied below.
We also asked if they ever get returned overhauled swivel fittings that were leaking. Geoff Watkins advised
in the 10 years he's worked at BAS they've not yet received a returned overhauled brake swivel fitting.
$500 core charge for old swivel. 90 day return policy. BAS list 36 parts for 182RG on their site at https://baspartsales.com/search-results ... %20182rg#/

Hello Scott,
After speaking with our ordering manager I found out that there really isnt a kit for these to rebuild. Basically we order the seals, Orings, etc as individual items using the part numbers for those items out of the IPC for rebuild. All of the soft internals like orings are replaced when we rebuild these. As for stock I have 9 of them with out torn safety wire holes available and I have 1 with a torn hole available as well. If you need any more info on these please feel free to reach me anytime!

Geoff Watkins
Sales
BAS Part Sales

970-313-4823
970-414-7154 Direct
geoff@baspartsales.com

baspartsales.com
575 Ed Beegles Ln, Greeley, CO 80631

I installed 2 of the BAS overhauled swivels 3 years ago in my R182 (I tried to rebuild mine myself with no luck . . . .) and they have performed perfectly. Would totally recommend these as they are half the price of new ones from McFarlane.

RussS wrote: Thu Oct 02, 2025 2:25 am I installed 2 of the BAS overhauled swivels 3 years ago in my R182 (I tried to rebuild mine myself with no luck . . . .) and they have performed perfectly. Would totally recommend these as they are half the price of new ones from McFarlane.

I think BAS needs a little more track history. Approaching 10 years on repairing the swivels is good, but still may not worth repairing versus just buying new ones, assuming McFarlane can replenish their stock. Anybody know when McFarlane may replenish their stock?

Permaswage is the manufacturer of the swivel assembly for Cessna, prior to McFarlane getting in the game. About 12 years ago, me and another R182 owner came "this close" to having Permaswage take our then leaky swivels and repair them. We even had written correspondence from Cessna and a Permaswage engineer at the time, Steve Macdonald, said that the swivels could be repaired.

However, the head of sales at time, Mike Bond, stepped in and shot it down and reversed what Cessna and the Permaswage engineer said and would not allow Permaswage to repair, stating that the swivels have an internal bearing and race that experience wear and are not replaceable. However, the bearing and race are rated for vastly more cycles than any GA aircraft will ever put on them - rated for 2000,000 impulse cycles and one million rotational cycles! See last page of brochure from 1986 (attached) when the swivels were built by Deutsch Metal Components.

Most of Permaswage swivel sales for for military applications which put far more impulse cycles and rotational cycles on the swivels!

https://www.pccfasteners.com/companies/ ... swage.html

...Me and the other R182 owner had an A&P willing to do the repair, Bill BIrch, of Northwestern Aviation Specialties in Traverse City, Michigan, to repair the swivels in early 2012. Took the pins out, replaced the internal Teflon rings and o-rings, re-assemble, and he had an hydraulic test chamber that he could test, before returning to us. He did a phenomenal job! Charged us next to nothing for the repair.

The repaired swivels lasted nine years and nine months - almost 10 ten years before leaking again in 2021.

...In September 2021, McFarlane had come up with theirs and I bought two new for a little over $1,100/each.

The thinking was that although I was happy with the performance of the repaired swivels - almost 10 years. There was some hassles involved in gathering the correct internal seals and Teflon rings, and roll pins, etc. and having them repaired - but otherwise worth it.

However, the original Cessna swivels lasted 34 years before giving any trouble. With McFarlane creating new and supposedly improving the design, the hope is that the McFarlane new swivels could last 20+ years without issue, far longer hopefully than a well-repaired swivel, and perhaps 30+ years like the original Cessna (Permaswage).

And, with having plans to maintain long-term ownership of the R182.

So far, my McFarlane swivels are going on five years with no issues.

....BTW, I have detailed files/notes on the swivels. If anybody wants to see these let me know. I can share my Google folder. Very interesting the history, how the swivels have evolved, the intricate internal parts, etc.

Todd

... one more thing, BAS is not technically "rebuilding" the swivels. They are "repairing" the swivels. To rebuild, requires strict accordance to manufacturer's procedures. Permaswage has this but were not willing to repair, but even then the Permaswage engineer said they could "repair" the swivels before the head of sales shot it down.

Also, the more important aspect, any A&P can perform a "repair" if they are willing, but not any A&P can "rebuild" something.