I need to replace my front wheelbearing and hub assemblies. It says I need one of two different types of bearings. Are these cast or composite rotors?

 

Some more pics:

 

Look cast to me

 

I think they're cast iron too. This is a FEB 1999 build XJ.....if that helps.

 

Looks cast to me as well. I had to answer the same question when I did mine. The is a measurement for the lug nut stud length to identify which you have. I found this in a couple of posts on this question. Unfortunately I did not bookmark them to provide the links.

 

I say cast since composite doesn't rust.

 

I've been reading and have another question. Technically, my XJ should have composite rotors (early 99 build) but they look like they might be cast.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/a...e-hubs-360959/

If I just buy the cast bearings and new cast-type rotors, there's no reason I need to worry about all this crapola? At this point, it seems the cast rotors are superior and they are cheap at $24 each.

Can I just convert the whole thing to cast-type bearings and rotors by just replacing those?

 

http://naxja.org/forum/showpost.php?...95&postcount=6

 

I was trying to be lazy and not remove the calipers. Really looking for an answer to this:

 

Yea just make sure to get BOTH of the same style.

 

I agree with all the other posts, but two things:

1) the calipers are real easy to remove. A veritable pleasure compared to the F*rd I was working on previously, you've no idea how much I hate those stupid F*rd squeezy slider pins once they get all rusty and greasy.

2) Centric rotors have a real nice coating on them and are $44 + free ship from Amazon (yeah, really!) if you want to keep things looking nice.


Those are the late '99 cast style; I can verify this as I bought them for my late '99 and they work.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I don't like surprizes.

 

Yea, I know, I've done plenty of brake jobs in my life. I agree, the Ford sliding pin system sucks. If yours are gunked, be sure to buy new ones and grease the living chit out of them. They are hollow so I pack that with grease too. When they well taken care of, they pop right out and, in some ways, they are actually a lot easier and faster to remove compared to having to use a wrench.....or worse, an allen or torx head.

 

I wanted to follow up since I finished this job. I hope this helps someone down the road.

My XJ has a build date of FEB 1999, from all that I've read, it should have had the composite rotors. However, it did not, both of the fronts were cast! Also, the bearing/hub assemblies appeared to be FACTORY when I took them out. I could see no indication that someone else had worked on these, the axle nuts were extremely rusted and required a good bit of torch work to remove with an air impact.

So, in this case, I did get a bit lucky by ordering the "wrong" bearing/hub assemblies based on my visual inspection WITHOUT removing the calipers. The bottomline, the tables posted on the web stating that XJ's manufactured upto mid-year 1999 were all composite rotors may not always be accurate. If you want to be positive before ordering bearing/hub replacements, take off the caliper and measure or you might find yourself either returning the parts or buying new rotors.

GOOD LUCK and THANKS everyone for their help.

 

So just to clarify cuz im slow sometimes lol. if i order brand new hubs, rotors, and pads (which i have to do because they are all shot) i can order either one and it wont matter what is on there right now? are the brake calipers different if they are the cast or composite set up?