Wrangler front wheel bearing

[seekngod]

I went to Firestone at FLW the other day to get my tires balanced and I was told that my passenger front wheel bearing was going bad. (There is some movement when you move the tire). It was suggested that I try to find an aftermarket bearing that can withstand the use of 35 inch tires. Any recommendations by anyone on this topic? If not, it looks like I might have to spend around $400 to get it fixed.

[91YEEPER]

if you want to save $150 buy a wheel bearing, bring it over to my place, give me $50 and you leave an hour later with a new wheel bearing while drinking beer and watching. there arent any "better" wheel bearings out there. unless you swap knuckles and bump up to a ford style hub unit bearing. i ran 38.5" swampers and severely abused the D30 axle, the hubs held up fine for what i was doing.

[Tiff]

I agree with 91. Your bearings don't have that many miles do they? I can believe the ball joints may be worn, but I smell fish..........

[Fred]

what year? I have a Wheel Bearing in my garage for a 96 and up I will send you you pay shipping. It is really easy to swap, like 30 min if you have ever done one before

[Fred]

looking at your profile pic your lucky a wheel bearing is all thats bad!!

[seekngod]

Fred: I have upgraded axles since then and my Jeep is a 2005.
Tiff: Your right about mileage. I only have 19000 miles on the Jeep.
91Yeeper: I may take you up on your offer.

[91YEEPER]

Fred: I have upgraded axles since then and my Jeep is a 2005.
Tiff: Your right about mileage. I only have 19000 miles on the Jeep.
91Yeeper: I may take you up on your offer.

what did you upgrade too? D44's? D60's? anything other than a 30 has more options as for "better" hub unit.

[Kevo]

Well when I got my Jeep in, one of my front bearings were bad big time. The po put 35s on it and drove a while, so I put new ones on mine recently. I found advance cheaper around here w/ free shipping on both. We shall see if they hold up well. I am thinking of going to 33'' x 9.5s instead of huge MTZ on it now.

[Jeffb_79]

Replacement wheel bearings are about $150 from Napa. I'm pretty sure they're listed as hub assembly from most parts stores. If you're running larger than stock tires, they can wear out rather quick. I replaced my 1st set at 30k miles... that was running 33" tires for about half those miles on light to moderate trails plus dd'ing.
If one's bad, chances are the other's going. I'd either plan on replacing both at the same time, or at least get a 2nd to have on hand if it does go out.
Replacing the bearings is one step more than changing a shaft... maybe an hour tops, very easy to do.

And lastly, a link that will walk you step by step. Same process for D30's and rubicon D44's, same part numbers as well.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/unitbearing/unitbearing-1.htm

[91YEEPER]

i really think the D30 gets a worse rap than it deserves most of the time. i laugh at guys paying 2500 and up to swap in a LP44 in place of a HP 30. this D30 lived a VERY, VERY, VERY, rough life with an extremely well built 4.7 in front of it and a nut in the driver seat.

after prolly 100 or jumps easily clearing 4' of air under the rig i eventually killed it by ripping out the lower ball joint from the inner C.

try telling my that the stock hub unit bearing arent up to holding 33/35" tires and ill tell you youre nuts.

*edit* the wheel hub units were both over 100k miles and never failed with the abuse.

[Fred]

on my TJ on 35's I went thru 5 Unit bearings in 3 months, the guy at Napa knew me by name. But worse on D30's are Ujoints and R&P

[91YEEPER]

on my TJ on 35's I went thru 5 Unit bearings in 3 months, the guy at Napa knew me by name. But worse on D30's are Ujoints and R&P

you shouldnt have an issue with the XJ D30 since its a HP, if youre breaking R&P you need to skip 44's and go 60's, or a blinging 9".

out of all the abuse ive given a D30 ive bent tubes, ripped C's out, snapped the pinion off at the yoke but never a R&P. numerous shafts though.

[Fred]

same TJ went thru 3 sets of 4.56 gears, my XJ D44 is missing 4 teeth right now, I have destroyed countless shafts, never bent a tube but I am about to truss my D30 anyway just in case, never broke a C, or even ball joints.

[seekngod]

91 yeeper: I have a Rubicon with Dana 44. I only upgraded the axle shafts to the Chomalloy a couple of years ago

[Terrible2]

I refuse to change my U-Joint. andy come over here and replace my U Joint and Wheel Bearing. Im serious. ****. Im so discouraged here im selling my Jeep.

[Ghost00TJ]

anyone check the Vendor Thread for a better deal on Hub Assemblies?

[Terrible2]

My computer keeps freaking out so i cant check it out. Good news, I got the U Joint unstuck but I think im just goign to buy the pre assembled axle shaft w/ U Joint.

had another question, Detroit lockers D30 are 28 spline? or 30?

Quadratech has a hub assembly $140
http://www.quadratec.com/products/52417_05.htm

how do I know if I have composite rotors? or one piece

[Ross]

When I went for 33s to 35 I would wear through the bearings in a year or so and my Jeep is not a daily driver. I also went through u joints faster. I have now gone back to 33s.

[HillBillE]

how do I know if I have composite rotors? or one piece

Once you have the unit bearing (hub) out, you can measure it.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n274/hillbillecj7/Broken%20Jeep%20stuff/2010-05-01174734.jpg

Hub on the left is from a '90 to '99 1/2 non-composite disc, the one on the right is from a composite disc D30


What year/style is your rig?

[Terrible2]

well its an 05 TJ with 99 axles, the thing is 99 year axles came as composite, but sometimes one piece.

[HillBillE]

well its an 05 TJ with 99 axles, the thing is 99 year axles came as composite, but sometimes one piece.

Yep, they changed them mid year. Had the same problem with my XJ. I pulled the unit bearing and brought it to the store. Luckily I had my truck as a back up rig, becuase the parts store is 20 miles from the shop. Turns out I have the 'later' style. which were also more expensive.

[Terrible2]

Its an easy unbolt and bolt right? I havent taken it off yet as I lost the handle to my bottle jack so I cant exactly get my Jeep in the air

[Jeffb_79]

Took me an hour this 1st time I did it. Think I can get it done in about 20 minutes now. Have a bfh handy to smack the old hub if it's stuck. Make sure you've got the proper size nut
for the end of the axle. Make sure you use the proper size 12 pt socket for the 3 bolts on the rear of the hub. Soak everything with pb blaster the day before.

[Tiff]

36mm and 13 mm

[Terrible2]

Im hoping to get on it this weekend