'02 TJ with i4 -- Mid Life Crisis

[rejeep]

the gears still move without the DS...
beauty of unit bearings..

you dont need to re gear to fix.. just a new bearing..
not really that big of a deal, just time consuming..

I would address before it turns into a larger problem..

[mr.mindless]

yup, it needs to be investigated sooner than later, especially without a plan to regear in the immediate future.

[etk300ex]

ya

[Callelle]

Couldn't he just remove the front drive shaft and inner axle shafts to hold him over for now?

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[rejeep]

thats 3/4 of the work to go nowhere..
and leaves the axle housing open to crap

[Callelle]

I don't really see how it's that much work. If he's able to do gears soon, I would say to just do that. But if he can't until spring, it would get him by until then. Would it open the housing to crop? Yes, but it's not like anything would be moving in there. Stuff a rag in the ends of the tubes if he's really concerned about protecting the gear set he's replacing any way.

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[Ryan]

Fix it right or dont drive it. Its not a dd right?

[jaysenodell]

It is my DD.


I don't mind the idea of the work (I've smike was nice enough to let me see how it is done). Timing is more the issue (see opening line). As long as I don't have to get into setting backlash and such I should be able to get it over a weekend pending obtaining parts. I could pull shafts very quickly thanks to sMike being in there so much recently.


BAH.


Mark, got a spare can of gas and a book of matches?

[Wingman]

You cannot leave the unit bearings without a stub shaft installed.  The bearings need the preload to remain functional and not come apart.

Have gas/matches.

[jaysenodell]

Remove locker and ds? That would leave the pinion attached to nothing...


Of course another 2hrs and a hammer later and the whole thing would be fixed...

[rejeep]

Like I said.. Once the shafts are out your talking about 30 min max to put a new pinion bearing in...

And mark is correct about the unit bearings..  I wouldn't drive a love front axle without shafts..

[cracker]

this is why I will always say the best upgrade I ever bought for my Jeep was my car.. now I don't have to worry about every little squeak and if something does come up the jeep just gets parked til i have time to get to it..

[jaysenodell]

Started building a parts list and realized there are two bearing sets. I'm guessing I need to replace both sets, replace outer seal and replace shims on inner bearing. Didn't see anything like a kit to make it easy. Did I miss anything? 

[M4wdFab]

outer and inner bearings / races, pinion seal

will need to replace the crush sleeve or shim the crush sleeve to reset preload.  no changes to shims unless the gear set is so hosed and needs to be changed to reduce backlash to spec.




i pointed out the front axle had a little play but not terrible the first time i looked at the jeep.  Mike Wolfs or Joes TJ was driving with 1/4" slop at pinion yoke.  Wonder 1.0 came back with the inner race spun and grenaded the housing.  i have seen and fixed it all....

[rejeep]

yes.. i can get you a full D30 bearing and seal kit..