Bad Front Wheel Bearings

[Grand Fan 4eva]

Well, i took my jeep to the dealership BUT it was only for an alignment and no one else could get it in. i got a call and they said they couldn't do the alignment because the wheel bearings were too loose, which im sure is true beacsue i could hear them and i knew they were going. the kicker is that they wanted $290 a piece just for the parts! i said no thanks and they ended up charging me 50 bucks anyways even though they didnt do anything i looked around and the cheapest i could find locally was $136 a piece for the hub assemblies. VIP told me they sell the bearings and seal kits for $13 a piece but its nearly impossible to press them out, is that true? do most people just replace the whole assemblies or change the bearings?
Thanks

[ktmracer419]

2wd have replacable bearings
4wd you gotta buy the whole hub assembly.

It's a straightforward job, but might be a pita if they have never been removed before.

$136 sounds about right.

If you look around on the internet I have seen them for as low as $90 apiece, but I couldn't wait for the shipping.

[Grand Fan 4eva]

are they different for 97+ or are they all the same? i did some searching and it looks like some have abs which i dont want. i found this one but is this one of those things were you get what you pay for? i dont want to be doing this again in a year....
http://www.1aauto.com/1A/wheel_bearing_front/Jeep/Cherokee/1ASHF00026/417623&ovchn=OTHER&ovcpn=GoogleBase&ovcrn=&ovtac=C MP

[ktmracer419]

that's for 84-89. I have been told that they changed the design slightly in 1990-91.

Just go to an auto parts store, ask for front wheel bearings for a 97 4wd xj, if they tell you that you need to buy the whole hub assembly, then you gotta buy the whole hub assembly.

[Boomhauer]

It's a non-serviceable assembly, gotta replace it as a unit.

[Rock Kustoms]

Originally Posted by Boomhauer

It's a non-serviceable assembly, gotta replace it as a unit.

SPOBI

that IS what they say.

if you have a press, you can press the hub apart, its a $7 timkin bearing, grease it, press it back together, and go

[JFM626]

Originally Posted by tealcherokee

SPOBI

that IS what they say.

if you have a press, you can press the hub apart, its a $7 timkin bearing, grease it, press it back together, and go

Perhaps you would have the courtesy to supply the bearing cup and cone numbers, and any seals required so that I may get them in anticipation of a bearing rebuild

[Grand Fan 4eva]

how sophicated of a press are we talkin here? i replaced my u-joints and removed the hub but i havent had a chance to look at them real good since then and it was a while ago. my friend built a pretty basic 20-ton press... is it just one bearing per hub?
Thanks

[CKUPQ]

Originally Posted by tealcherokee

SPOBI

that IS what they say.

if you have a press, you can press the hub apart, its a $7 timkin bearing, grease it, press it back together, and go

I've done it before too but I don't know the numbers please enlighten us.

[Boomhauer]

Originally Posted by tealcherokee

SPOBI

that IS what they say.

if you have a press, you can press the hub apart, its a $7 timkin bearing, grease it, press it back together, and go

SPOBI my @ss, 'they' being DaimlerChrysler, state in my FSM that later model years at least from 96+ require the unit to be changed as a complete assembly.

Yes, do enlighten us...

[Rock Kustoms]

Originally Posted by Boomhauer

SPOBI my @ss, 'they' being DaimlerChrysler, state in my FSM that later model years at least from 96+ require the unit to be changed as a complete assembly.

Yes, do enlighten us...

ill post some pics tomorrow, from a 96

trust me, everything is not what they say

[91xjgawes]

hes right, if you know what your doin you can do it but, its pretty simple if you have the 140 just to buy the whole assembly

[Boomhauer]

Originally Posted by tealcherokee

ill post some pics tomorrow, from a 96

trust me, everything is not what they say

Well it wouldn't surprise me if you can do it. lol Don't yell SPOBI though teal, it was FSM info, not like i made it up. lmao

Looking forward to seeing this. Cool.

[mikeypmcg]

i found new wheel bearing hub assemblies for 90 bucks through my local auto parts shop...

[toledotimber]

It "can" be done (or so I've read), but also a post on NAXJA claimed that trying to do this broke some shop's quite-heavy-duty press.