Replacing rear wheel and rear axle bearings?

pulsepb · 02-20-2009, 07:10 PM

I searched and the search was acting all funny so i couldnt find any info.

i developed a whir in the back of my jeep about of week ago. i took it to pep boys and had them look at them. one of the guys used to work at a chrysler dealer. he took it out drove around looked at it and said i need new wheel bearings and new axle bearings.

my question is this hard? they said couldnt do it and it would be over a grand at the dealer.

im rather mechanically inclined. i think i can do it. but im wondering it the diff needs to be cracked? what special tools i will need?

and they said the pinion would need to be set up again and something would need to be shimmed. i cant see any reason it would need to be done.

thanks for any help

elmer_fud · 02-20-2009, 07:31 PM

the wheel bearings you could do yourself. There is a writeup about it on here somewhere. WJ's are c-cliped, so a writeup for zj's wont work

As for the carrier or pinnion bearings, I doubt you could do those yourself. Those are fairly complicated and require setting up the gears. I am assuming this is what the mechanic was calling axle bearings.

DigitalVex · 02-20-2009, 11:03 PM

Whirring in the back is often the pinion bearing. Have to open the diff and dissemble everything in the housing to fix. While you're at it (since you'll have to remove both axles) change the wheel bearings!

indept · 02-20-2009, 11:32 PM

The rear outer bearings on your jeep are pressed onto the axle and require a hydraulic press to remove and install. Remove the rear caliper & bracket & rotor. Then there are 4 nuts to remove, then the axle (with bearing & seal) will just pull out. Find a part store with a machine shop, like a NAPA store and they will sell you the new seal & bearing (they must be replaced together) and they will press it on for a fee (about $35 labor if I recall correctly). I did the right rear on mine about 2 years ago. I pressed it on using a 20 ton press I got from Harbor Freight but if that's all you're going to do it's not worth buying a press just for that.

phant0omx · 02-21-2009, 01:47 AM

there is a write up for the d44a over on ju for the rear bearings, which may get you in the right direction.