I got new bearings and seal for my rearend and Im going to be installing them soon. I have a 94 JGC and need to know the simplest way to remove the Axel's. A guy at the dealership said to just use a slide hammer puller and pull em out. I can't imagine that there is not a clip or something holding it in. I will look closely when i tear into it but was hoping someone else had done this before and can save me some time.(I have heard that the rear end bearings going out causing the rear end to whine is a common problem).
Thanks in advance!

First of all - welcome to AF

second - find out which axle model you are working on. Probably a Dana 35 but could be a 44.

Third - get a manual that shows the bearing replacement proceedures and specifications.

Fourth - get a manual...............

To answer your question about the axle removal, they are held in with clips at the end inside the diff cage and side gears. You will need to remove the pinion shaft from the diff cage, push the axles in and the clips will likely drop out easily.

I just finished doing the rear diff bearings in my 96. Things went well but I have done diffs before. You will need a 0 - 60 inch/pound torque wrench to set the pinion bearing preload and a dial indicator to check the ring gear back lash before you remove the gears and after the diff is back together. A FT/LB torque wrench is needed to tighten the carrier bearing caps and you need some way of holding the pinion when setting the preload as it will take over 200 ft/lb torque to crush the new sleeve to set the pinion bearing preload to the rolling torque spec of around 25 inch/lb.

and last of all - feel free to come back here with any questions you still have.

JD

Thanks for the help.

Does the hanes manual have a good enough instructions in the rear end repair area to show me how to set the torques. What would you say the estimated time for me to make this repair would be? comparing to a rear main seal that I changed by myself for the first time in about 8 hours?
Maybe 5 or six hours?

I'm glad i got your information before i took it apart, or i would have missed work today LOL.. there was a reason i looked for this board!!

JD,
I need to change out the bearings in my rear diff now.......well I have had to for the past year actually.....I was wondering if you could tell me how to determine if the gears are messed up other than the obvious, if teeth were missing? Like wear on them. I have a 97 w/ dana 35c. I bought a master bearing kit and plan on getting them changed real soon. Should I replace the ring and pinion too? And if so, do you know what size factory ones are? I've had a grinding noise when I release the accelerator and have read that its more than likely the outer pinion bearing, but I should replace all of them if I need to change one.

Thanks for the help.

Does the hanes manual have a good enough instructions in the rear end repair area to show me how to set the torques.

I'm not impressed with the haynes or the chilton for most repairs except for maintenance for a new DIY'er.

I don't know of any FSM's on line for the GJC but here are FSM's available at this link for the cherokee.

http://www.lunghd.com/Downloads_and_Links/Downloads.htm

Use the one for the 1993 model. The diff section will give you an idea what is involved even though yours may have different specs.

Also, there is a very good generic manual at the website ringandpinion.com

http://ringpinion.com/downloads/yukoninstman.pdf

It is a PDF that you can download and print. It even has some good tips and a few specs though I don't see a dana 35 diff listed...


What would you say the estimated time for me to make this repair would be? comparing to a rear main seal that I changed by myself for the first time in about 8 hours?
Maybe 5 or six hours?

Most shops that do these all the time will quote 4-5 hours for the job.

Mine took me about 8 hours "effective" shop time over about 3 weeks with all the emergency and family stuff that came up. I have done several before but I don't have a hydraulic press or some of the pulling tools so I had to borrow them.

You know your equipment and capabilities so you will have to decide how much time to allow and over what time period to do it.

I'm glad i got your information before i took it apart, or i would have missed work today LOL.. there was a reason i looked for this board!!

If you have more questions, come on back

JD

JD,
I need to change out the bearings in my rear diff now.......well I have had to for the past year actually.....I was wondering if you could tell me how to determine if the gears are messed up other than the obvious, if teeth were missing? Like wear on them. I have a 97 w/ dana 35c. I bought a master bearing kit and plan on getting them changed real soon. Should I replace the ring and pinion too? And if so, do you know what size factory ones are? I've had a grinding noise when I release the accelerator and have read that its more than likely the outer pinion bearing, but I should replace all of them if I need to change one.

So long as the gears havn't overheated (run without oil), have teath broken, or have indentations in the drive side face of the teeth you should be safe to reuse.

Make sure that you take backlash readings before you dissassemble so you can use that as you target when you reassemble.

If you are just changing bearings, keep the shims in the original locations when it goes back together and you should be all right.

Installing new or other used gears in the old case is another story.....


this link will give you some good pointers.

http://ringpinion.com/downloads/yukoninstman.pdf

JD

Turns out my carrier bearing was shot, but I changed out all my rear diff bearings in 3 and a half hours with help from my friend. It's totally easy with the right tools. It would have taken days if I didn't have them. The Jeep is running better than new again. All the teeth were still in good shape. I will have to change out my pinion probably with in a few years though due to some normal wear.