I have a 92 xj and I've been feeling something jumping when I turn or go over a bump and hearing a clunking in my back driver side tire so upon investigation i shook my jeep and it sounds like my brake drum rattling. I took it all apart and the only thing that moves is my hub. It's not falling off my axle but it has about 1 or 2mm off play. Is that normal or what's the problem?

 

Sorry it's a 91 not 92. Typo.

 

Check the bearing at the end of the tube.

 

Guess what's in your rear on the drivers side?

The spare, had the same problem, it was the spare tire clunking over bumps, tightened the hand nut dealy-ma-bopper and it was fixed.

 

Lug nuts good and tight? Happened to me recently, same sort of symptoms. Turns out my lugs needed a good tightening lol

 

Definitely not my lugs. That was the first thing I checked and my spare tire is solid. Like I said my hub moves up and down just a little bit. How hard would it be to do the bearings? I've never worked on the axle before.

 

They have to be cut off and the new ones pressed on.

 

Are you sure its coming from the tire?

Worn shock bushings could cause the shock to make a noise like that when it becomes metal on metal. Extremely easy to check that

 

Shoot. There's no way to do it yourself? No tools you can rent?

 

No... You can do it yourself. You need a slide hammer.

 

Well anyone in Arizona with a slide hammer I can use? Haha

 

Autozone rents tools. Give them a call.

The deal is you buy it at retail, keep it as long as you want, and take it back for a 100% refund. Sweet deal on those specialty tools that you don't need very often.

 

either buy one or rent one. if im right,you have to take off the diff.cover and remove the c-clip at the end of the axle shaft,but first remove the brakes and remove the bolts holding on the back brake plate,once the c-clip is removed,pull out the axle shaft. at the end of the tube you"ll see the seal and behind it is the bearings, and check to see if they are bad. anyone back me up on this? I have to do mine too,maybe, not sure if that's whats wrong with mine. I have grinding/growling after a bit of driving coming from back there too.

 

Yup, open the diff, remove the C-clips, take off the wheels, remove the axles. Pry out the old seal, using a slide hammer (easier with the bearing removal adapter) remove the bearing. install the new bearing and seal, install the axle, replace the C-clips, reinstall the diff cover and fill with fluid.
**NOTE** If yours is anything like my '92, the bearings will be a bugger to get out. That'll be the hardest part of the whole thing.
Auto Zone (or just about any parts store with a "loan-a-tool" program) will have the slide hammer and adapters needed. You pay a "deposit" when you get the tool and then get your money back when you return it.

 

Good Lord this sounds expensive if you have a mechanic do it.