bluj99

Hi,

Im new here so I hope that some of the questions are not repetitive.
I own a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport, 4x4. It is a 4.0L V6. I have never owned a Jeep or a 4x4 prior before. Just recently I have been hearing some noise from my driver side front. It sounds like a howling or a mack truck, and its quite loud, and sometimes my steeing wheel drifts and I have to correct the heading. I have been told it could be a few things ranging from the Hub to the Axle U-Joint. I also hear a slight clicking noice when I reverse, or when Im turning into a parking spot, The clicking is noticeable at about 5 mph. The howling noise is loud between the speeds of 25-45mph. I decided to investigate and brought 2 axle Ujoints. After I removed the wheel, the first thing I noticed was gear oil leaking where the seal meets the u-joint assemblly. The gear oil was evident on both sides of the axle so I had to buy 2 oil seals is there a special tool used needed to replace those rings?. Attempting to replace to still replace the Ujoint, I ran into a problem, and I am stuck. After removing the brake Calaper, and rotor, there are 3 bolts that hold the whole hub assemblly. I have tried to remove the bolts with a 12 point 13mm socket but the bolts are so rusted and corrorded and will not budge. I was wondering if someone could explain to me if it is the hub, Ujoint, or bearing that is making the noise and what action is needed to remove those 3 bolts, I was thinking an impact socket-wrench, or should I use heat to expand. Any help is greatly and deeply appreciated.


Thanks in advance
Mike.

jpdocdave

well you're on the right track. it is 13mm 12 point. and an impact should work, or a breaker bar. they look terrible, but they always come loose everytime. when you get the hub off, spin it in your hand, if it is very stiff, or rough feeling replace it, and replace the u joints obviosly. as far as the oil leaking, there's seals inside the differential, and i've never had to do them, i've heard they are a pain. make sure the fluid isn't just over full, people love to jam too much fluid in and cap it off right away, fluid should be just to the bottom of the fill plug, if it comes pouring out when you remove the fill plug it is too full.

XJdude2000

for the three bolts you will probably want to spray some PB Blaster on them, now that you own a jeep that will be your new best friend when ever you work on it....

BuckB91XJ

There is only one way that I have found to get those 3 bolts out. Lots of penetrating oil and a breaker bar with cheater pipe. You better just know at this point that you will be needing new bolts for both sides. I got new ones from a donor XJ in the local JY. If you're in a rust prone area, it would be best to buy new ones. Once you get the bolts out, you will need to thread them back in about halfway then get a BFH. Beat the bolts until the hub breaks loose. This will severely round out the bolt heads. This is where the need for the new bolts comes in. Keep these beat up bolts in your garage for whenever you need to do this again.

bluj99

thank you for the speedy reply's I will be working on it tommrow. I will get a 13mm 12pt socket and yarn on it with air.

bluj99

do I need to buy the 3 bolts at a deeler?

BuckB91XJ

I would try Napa before the "Stealership". LIke I said, I got my replacements from a JY donor so, I've never sorced new ones. I would bet that Napa can get them for you. My Napa store has never let me down other than being the highest priced parts store in town. Sometimes it's worth it though because they have or can get, anything!!

bluj99

thank you. I will post tommrow when I finish the work.

best Regards
Mike.

BuckB91XJ

No worries, Bro. I hope you get it fixed up!!

caged

i've run into that problem. both my 13mm and 1/2 inch 12 point sockets just rounded the head off on those bolts.
i ended up using my "jeep sockets" easy out sockets. even they rounded one of the bolt heads off, so i had to get out the welder and build it back up so i can use a bigger easy out socket. that worked.
heat didn't really work, besides, if the bearing is good, you don't want to destroy it with too much heat. heat disperses all the grease, and they're not greasable.

good luck

jpdocdave

i never have to replace the bolts. if you use the bolts to get the hub off you will though. the best is a hub pulling tool, but most people don't have that. but if your parts store will loan one out that is best, it threads onto the lug studs, and pushes on the axle and pulls the hub out effortlessly. or use a big drift and pound on the front mounting surface of the hub, moving it in a turning motion, clockwise or counter to turn it free.

it sounds like you will be replacing your hub anyway, so i would avoid beating up the bolts.

caged

btw, those 12pt bolts are a dealer only part. and i don't want to imagine how much they want for them.

bluj99

Update:

I got the 3 bolts off using a torque wrench with air. I called about a gazallin places and nobody stocked them. The dealer did but they had to send away and was priced at $6.87 a piece. Ayway, I got the Hub, and axle Ujoint apart. The U joint was shot. I couldnt even beat it in half of its direction. Anyway I reaplaced the U joint without much elbow grease. After I put everything back together again, I still get the howling noise but the clicking noise is no longer there. The howling noise is very evident between 15-40 mph at this time. Is it possably the bearing inside the hub?
Lettme know what you think, and as always help is greatly and deeply apprecated.


Best Regards
Mike.

jpdocdave

so did you feel the bearing while it was out like i said, spin it in your hand and feel for excessive stiffness or rough feeling?

a little resistance is normal, bur binding, or rough rolling feeling means its shot, it most likely needs to be replaced.

bluj99

yea sorry forgot to mention that-we spun it and it has some resistance but nothing like bur binding or rough rolling. Before we took the U joint out we had spun it and you could feel a little rough rolling and some clicking but, after the ujoint replacement that all went away.

Best Regards
Mike.