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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/rear wheel bearings

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Expert: - 4/17/2006


Question
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 1998

I have been told that the rear  wheel bearings need to be replaced on my jeep (both inside and outside). The back end is definitely amiss.  My jeep has 130,000 miles on it.  The question is do you buy new parts or seek to replace parts with used ones. Benefits versus risk?  I have been quoted $1000.  Does this sound out of line.  
Thanks for any help.  I am a novice when it comes to cars.  My jeep has had no major problems

Answer
Michele,

Take the Jeep to a reputable shop, and get another estimate.  As far as new, or used goes, never replace bearings with used ones.  
When they say inside, and outside bearings, I have no idea what they are talking about, as there is a set of bearings in the differential itself, and a set of axle/wheel bearings that are pressed onto the rear axles.  The differential bearings are just that, and not called wheel bearings.   
It is unusual for both sets to go bad, unless the differential has run out of gear oil, or it has been run under water, and the oil has gotten water in it.  The differential bearings do go bad, but not as often as the axle, or wheel bearings.

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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