Please report back if passenger side resolves. I went through this about two weeks ago and it was the passenger side hub. Good luck.

 

I hope the passenger side is the issue; it's proving a bear to get the current hub off. Too late to beat on it too hard since the kids are sleeping. Will report back tomorrow.

 

Knock out the potential of heat shields and stupid loose metal?

 

No luck. Passenger side didn't fix it. Dealer says it's the rear end bearing. They won't take care of it. I'm out of money for a while, so it will have to wait.

 

Can you have somebody sit in back and put ear on wheel well to see which side? The rears are not as expensive to change but you have to open the diff and pull the axle and get a bearing puller to slam it out. Its more time and money on the rear.

Do you see signs of leaking seals on either of the rear wheels?

Thanks for the update.

 

Well, I should have paid someone to perform a thorough inspection before I traded the car. Finally got it in to a friend's shop today:

Rear differential has a mess of metal particles in the fluid. No pinion seal leak.
Crud in the front is even worse. Still no leak around the pinion seal.

Woulda, shoulda, coulda.
Don't have the money for this right now.

 

What did you pay origanally? Still very clean.
Life is still a shot in the dark.

All mechanical componants are prone to failure.

 

I essentially got it for $6k, and it is pretty clean otherwise.

Currently weighing the options for rebuilding, or buying surplus and rolling the dice with that route.

 

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Drivetrain-Differentials/XJ-Rock-Jock-Dana-60-Rear-Axle-Assembly-4-88-Ratio-35-Spline-Axles-With-Eaton-E-Locker-And-Disc-Brakes.aspx?t_c=12&t_s=475&t_pt=7572&t_pn=g%2f2xjr jr488ed&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_c ampaign=product&emlprox=out&ppcfon=1&gp=1&gclid=CJ Dv6t6Jr8ICFcRDMgodZVIADQ

 

The cause has been found. Front carrier bearings. There's a little bit of noise in the back, but nothing to worry about now. 95% of what I'm hearing is coming from the front.

I'm new to this vehicle, and new to Jeep in general, but I've learned through this that I already have the Chrysler 8.25 rear, which I understand is a good thing.

I got what seems to be a good price from East Coast Gear Supply to deal with the front.