Rear Axle Seal and Bearing Replacement Jeep Grand Cherokee

This video shows you how to go through the process of replacing a leaking rear axle seal on a WJ (1999-2004) Jeep Grand Cherokee. This procedure would be very similar for many other solid axle Jeeps as well as many other vehicle makes and models.

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks for watching! Please give me a thumbs up and subscribe!

[@privateer177666]

Good job on the axel & VIDEO... No useless chatter box bullshit just some descriptive directions. Again thanx

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks!

[@jammils38]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm going to have to fix my stepdaughters and now I know exactly what I'm getting into an I have all the tools.

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks for watching, I’m glad it’s been helpful!

[@gordongman3423]

The only thing needed to show is the bearing orientation. Good DIY video.

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks for watching! I do state at 6:28 to note the order and orientation of the old parts before removing anything.

[@rustybum9709]

Actually can see the orientation of the bearing quite well in the video.. Great video @stuffyoucando2

[@tofinoguy]

Loved the content, resented the music.

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks for the feedback. I can’t always please everyone, so use of your volume button is encouraged if you’re unsatisfied with music choices in videos that contain no narration.

[@anthonycoughlin801]

Great video. Thanks. Any chance you could explain how to know at what point do you stop pressing the new bearing and retaining ring (?) on the the axel? Thanks again!

[@stuffyoucando2]

You should press on the bearing until it bottoms out on the shaft. As I mention in the video, make sure you pay attention to the orientation of the parts, both to what you removed and to the new ones before you press everything on. It would be no fun doing it again because you forgot to put the new outer seal on or something like that. Thanks for watching!

[@anthonycoughlin801]

Great, thanks for the fast response!

[@robinhoodfixumfree2185]

Not trying to sound like a know it all but in the future while removing the bearings get the wheel and reattach it to the hub with the lug nuts so the axle will stand straight up when you lay the wheel face down.. so you don't have to worry about it rolling around while you are using the hammer and chisel.. just a suggestion

[@stuffyoucando2]

Not a bad idea, I’ll have to give that a try next time I do these.

[@markrodgers1965]

How can you tell if the problem is the bearing or wheel hub?

[@stuffyoucando2]

There really isn’t a separate wheel hub here, that would be the axle shaft itself since it’s all one piece. If there is no visible damage to the shaft there really wouldn’t be a reason to suspect it or the end of it as the problem. The bearing, seal, and backing plate do most of the work and one of those would likely be the cause, all of which are replaced in this video.

[@88ezkill]

Hello Is this the same thing as a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.7L V6 SUV

[@stuffyoucando2]

No, it is not. The 2005 Grand Cherokee uses a Chrysler axle instead of the Dana used in previous years.

[@williamwilhite9193]

I'm confused why you didn't show top of shaft? I have half an idea now anyway 🤣.

[@stuffyoucando2]

Top of shaft? What are you even talking about?

[@williamwilhite9193]

@@stuffyoucando2 sorry, the whole axle.

[@stuffyoucando2]

I’m not sure what you think you’d need to see. Nothing about this job has anything do with the end that goes into the differential. Everything needed to do this job is shown in the video.

[@GenX...MCMLXV]

background tunes A+

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks, sometimes it's hit or miss with the KZbin audio library. When I use music, I try to pick something that's fairly neutral and not really abrasive, but I'd also rather it not sound like we're in an elevator.

[@anthonyvenable2083]

Do you just Hammer the axle back in?

[@stuffyoucando2]

Maybe a gental tap with a rubber mallet once you lined up the splines, it shouldn’t require a ton of force.

[@marckendrick3163]

Is this a d44 or d35? New to wj as I've had xj, yj, cj, mj, etc... do the wj have the c clip that needs removal? Thanks.

[@stuffyoucando2]

This is a d44, but it’s the same for either. There are no c-clips. Removal is as shown in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@marckendrick3163]

@@stuffyoucando2 awesome. Thank you. WJ is new to me as jeeps go. Keep up the great informative work!

[@stuffyoucando2]

I liked mine a lot, I no longer have it. It was my second one. There are some common problems with them, but overall they're a good vehicle.

[@jaredmalmend1489]

Great vid man thanks! Also air chisel works good 👍🏻

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks! Right about the air chisel, I didn’t have one when I did this, I do now!

[@axelgonzalez7910]

Hello, I was wondering what the names of the parts that you purchased were. Was it a rear axle seal kit or assembly? Or is it the rear main seals and the axle shaft retainer separately? I just want to be able to get all the needed parts rather than taking everything apart to find out I left something at the store. Thanks!

[@stuffyoucando2]

Thanks for watching, the parts I bought were the Timken 2146 seal, Timken SET31 bearing/collar, and Omix-Ada 16536.39 retainer. If you’re doing both sides, you’ll need two of everything.

[@renegade9758]

@@stuffyoucando2 yout dont need open de diff and remove the lock pin or bolt for that?

[@stuffyoucando2]

No, these are not c-clip type axles, it will pull out as shown.

[@renegade9758]

@@stuffyoucando2 no in duff?

[@renegade9758]

@@stuffyoucando2 diff?

[@BUDDHA74]

I have a 2004 jeep grand cherokee and I'm thinking the rear bearings are bad can you describe what the sound would be like???

[@stuffyoucando2]

Check out my video showing the sound of bad pinion bearings, which are at the differential itself. kzbin.info/www/bejne/noC1hnStebeGeck In my experience wheel bearings tend to be more of a rumbling sound when they start to go bad. In the case of this Jeep, there were no noise indications since the bearings themselves were fine. It was the seal that failed, causing a leak.

[@laurenbostic8659]

Will this work on a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo ?

[@stuffyoucando2]

Unfortunately it’s different, the 2005 Grand Cherokee used a Chrysler 8.25” axle instead of the Dana axles used in previous years.

[@edwardthayer9386]

Hello, may I ask why the new bearing you pressed on looked didn't than the bearing you removed? Thank you for your time.

[@stuffyoucando2]

I’m not sure what you mean, the replacement was the same. What did you see that was different?

[@edwardthayer9386]

@@stuffyoucando2 look @ 4:54 and 9:12. In the first frame you can see the bearings and it looks tapered. In the second frame the bearings are not visible plus there is no taper.

[@stuffyoucando2]

Ah I understand. That's because at 4:54 when the axle shaft was pulled out, it left the bearing race in the axle tube, so you weren't seeing the entire bearing assembly like you were in 9:12.

[@Trollet456]

No inner seals in the WJ like the ZJ has?

[@stuffyoucando2]

Different setup, what you see here is all the WJ has.