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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Bearing or Rear Axle Replacement 97 JCGL

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Expert: - 11/28/2004


Question
Sir,
 I suspect the rear axle bearings on my 97 JCG limited need replacing.  There is a "roaring" noise (No I don't have aftermarket tires) :) comong from the back of the vehicle. My father, (lots of manufacturing experience) thinks it is the bearings too.  These bearing were replaced about 2 years ago at a great deal of expense. I can figure out how to do the bearing myself (I have the book), but I need to know before I start spending cash:
1. Is the axle housing bad and causing the problem to re-occur so quickly?
2. Is this common?
3. Which rear axle is on my jeep? or how do I determine? It has the Quadra track system.
4. If it's just the bearings, what else should I replace while I have it torn down?
Thanks a lot!
Shawdaddy


Answer
Mark,

First of all, I'm not familiar with the term JCGL.  That year Jeep should be a TJ Wrangler, XJ Cherokee, or the ZJ Grand Cherokee.  The axle bearings should last longer than that, unless you are going through a lot of water, silt, or sand.  In that case, you need to check them fairly often.  If you have the manual for your Jeep, it should tell you which rear axle you have, as you would need to know that to order bearings.  Most Chilton, or Haynes manuals are fairly good at telling how to identify components.  If it's the Dana 35, they had weak axle tubes, and they were susceptible to bending.  If this is the case, you would need to replace the whole rear end.  There is a chance that the noise could be coming from the differential itself.  A pinion bearing, or a carrier bearing could be bad.  The gears in the differential may be worn, and causing this noise also.  It wouldn't hurt to check the alignment of the ring and pinion gears.  Anytime you change the bearings, you need to replace the seals.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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