[Beefcake7777]

my rear differential would always pop when i put it in gear, and the rear drive shaft would do a quarter of a turn. it would get real hot just driving about 10- 15 miles. hot to the point u couldnt touch it. i took it to a reliable mechanic and he took it apart and showed it to me and when i had a friend spin the tires the top spider gear would jiggle up and down i circled it in the picture. (thats not a pic of my rear differential just one i found on google.) when i had someone put it in drive and reverse the top spider gear would vibrate up and down horribly. we had it up on jacks of course. but hes telling me if the bearings are shot it will cost 40 dollars a bearing and like 250 for replacing the spider gears because they have worn down by the heat and what not.

heres the pic of the gear im talking about.


when the tires were spun they would spin freely a second then lock up real tight then spin freely again. i thought the 8.25 was a stout rear end? whys it doing this? and do you think the prices are fair?

comments appreciated

[CJ7-Tim]

Stop by the junkyard and see what they want for a complete used rear axle assembly. The junkyards are full to the fences with Cash 4 Clunkers and everything but the engines are in great shape on most of them. Around here the U-Pull-It junkyard gets $80 and the full service junkyard gets $150-200. You can swap a rear axle in your driveway in a few hours with common hand tools.

[eshew]

craigslist is your friend, go brows the Autoparts section for "Cherokee"