Wheel bearing/rear end replacement question?

[dagod16]

So My 2001 Jeep Xj has had the back left or drivers back wheel...the bearing has been replace 3 times over the last 100K. The last time the mechanic replaced it for free for me. The last time I talked with the guy he said if it goes bad again then it's probably a rear replacement issue.

So I talked to my mechanic recently since I don't work in the summer and I have time to fix it....about it and he said that maybe the rearr end housing got bent at some point and the bearing is being pushed in a goofy position and that is what causes the grinding I'm hearing. Even after I get a new bearing it will start grinding within a week. It grinds, at a low level, I hear it but I can live with it. And I can make it last but it would be nice not to hear the noise. He said to fix it, that maybe I would need to get a used rear axle housing and guts. IT could be $200 to $600 for a used one not including labor.

Any thoughts on this.

Should I just live with it and just replace the bearing once in a while?
Or go fix it?

My son will be driving it in a few years.

Could it just be the shaft and not the housing casing?

Just wondering.

Thanks.

Also I think my manifold has a leak or crack, sounds rumbly, is this hard to fix. Can I just wrap some tape around it?

[Brasscatz]

Hard to say on the bearing issue... I wish there was a way to know for sure before you drop that much money on it. I suppose that we can hope that that fixes it and that the cost of the housing will pay for itself soon enough as opposed to buying bearings all the time. Have you tried a different bearing? I bought Timken rear bearings from RockAuto.com for cheap and they're supposed to be pretty darn good.

As for the manifold, are you talking intake or exhaust? A crack on either usually requires replacement. You can probably pick up a good cheap one from the junk yard if need be.

[dagod16]

Well is it possible the actual rear shaft on that one side was bent in some way and not the housing, to damage the housing I would have needed to hit it pretty hard and I have not done so, ever!. Maybe the shaft is just bad? Maybe.

Exhaust manifold, IT has 207K on it, Actually it has that pretty cool rumbling truck sound at the moment but I can tell it sounds a bit rough for normal, if that make sense.

[Brasscatz]

Yeah, I suppose it could be possible. Not to hard to snag a new axle shaft from the junk yard either. Might be a good place to start.

[dagod16]

So maybe try and replace the shaft and not the housing?

Thanks

Rob

[4.3LXJ]

Which rear end do you have?

[dagod16]

No idea? Sorry

[4.3LXJ]

The thing about bent axles is that it will make the wheel wobble when driving. Been there on that one with a D44 back in my youth. Bent housing should be evident by looking at it

[dagod16]

I totally understand that, the wheel isn't wearing goofy or anything? That's why I'm confused. IT's just the bearings that aren't working correctly. Could the metal on the shaft the bearing rubs up against be dented or damaged?

[4.3LXJ]

Robert, we need to know which rear end you have. The D35 for instance could have bearings that ride on the axle without an inner race and that surface can be pitted causing premature failure etc. So the next step is to know what you have

[dagod16]

I will look on some of the paperwork when I get home, thanks
Rob

[dagod16]

Ok I can't figure out what type my rear end is?
How do I figure this out?

[4.3LXJ]

Take a look at the rear differential cover and compare with this

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/JeepDiffs.jpg

[dagod16]

So funny that you put up pictures like that.

Ok I have a D35

[4.3LXJ]

OK, many of those axles have a bearing without an inner race. The axle shaft itself becomes the inner race. Being softer than a bearing race, it can get pitted and worn. So, if that is the case you have two options. If it is not worn too bad, you can use the one piece bearing that has an inner race and fix it that way or you will have to replace the axle shaft.

[dagod16]

Can you show me a picture of the bearing I probably have and then a picture of what I should get? I think I know what you mean.

[4.3LXJ]

I don't have any pics of the two piece bearing. It consists of a separate race and inner bearing. Here is a thread that shows the one piece bearing

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7256

[dagod16]

So instead of the small little rollers touching the axle rod, It will have a metal ring(race) on the inside touching the metal rod, but this race will spin as if it was a bearing? Does that sound correct?

Hmmmmm Maybe I would go with that instead. Cool.bHow much and how do I find one?
Rob

[dagod16]

What if the axle has a pit will this new bearing with the race on the inside still work without making the noises?

[4.3LXJ]

I think it is the only bearing some companies make for the d35 now. I got one from Payless 4X4, a former vendor here. Just ask the parts counter for a pic of what they sell. And it will not affect the new bearing unless it is so worn that the bearing is loose on the shaft. If so, it will need to be replaced

[dagod16]

SO this should stop the bearing from going bad right away!! Hmmm Is this the correct link to buy one. I think my mechanic has been installing the older style.

Amazon.com: Timken SET26 Bearing Set: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zLiu2HzXL.@@AMEPARAM@@51zLiu2HzXL

[4.3LXJ]

The one I bought was twice that. The wheel bearing has a safety ring that also goes on. You can see it in the pics in the thread. That one does not show the safety ring

[dagod16]

What is the safety ring?

So instead of replacing the entire rear end would this solve the issue?

[4.3LXJ]

It is an extra ring. Look at the pice and you can see it. It helps hold the axle in if the inner race cracks

[dagod16]

So have you done this with your jeep?

Do you think I should go for it with mine?

IM sure the new style bearing is designed to fit now that an inner race has been add to the part.

[4.3LXJ]

The pics in the install thread were of my Jeep

[dagod16]

I wonder why my mechanic would need to replace the entire rear end, why not do what we are talking about?

[4.3LXJ]

I cannot say or speculate on that. We are assuming some things that need to be verified by a tear down.

[dagod16]

Is it fair to say the housing is bent in some way forcing the bearings to put in an uneven way on the axle

Or B

The axle has pits and the bearing goes bad quick because of this.



If the housing is bent will this new style bearing still work.

[4.3LXJ]

If the housing is bent, then no

[dagod16]

I just don't see how the housing can be damaged like this. I really think it is the axle rod being pitted or so.

So what happens if I put this fancy new bearing into a not perfect housing?

[4.3LXJ]

Probably the same thing

[dagod16]

So maybe I should just get a new housing then?

[4.3LXJ]

Robert, I can't tell that from here. Put a straight edge against it and see if the tubes are true. That is all I can tell you, and is what I would do if it were me. But unless you have hit something very hard, that is not likely the case

[dagod16]

I will show a picture of the bearings with the inner race to my mechanic and see what he says. We shall see.

Thanks
For all your help